Why the artist formerly known as Vic Reeves is hooking up with a Harrogate art gallery

Called Yorkshire Rocks & Dinghy Fights, the exhibition by Jim Moir aka British comedy icon Vic Reeves will be launched at RedHouse Originals gallery next month.

It's the first time the multi-talented, Leeds-born Moir has brought a solo exhibition to the gallery.

Best known for his double act with Bob Mortimer, Moir's route to comedy fame began with Vic Reeves Big Night Out, which had begun life as a performance art show at Goldsmith's Tavern pub in New Cross, London before being launched as a TV series on Channel 4 in 1990 leading to more success for the duo with BBC hits including Shooting Stars and The Smell of Reeves& Mortimer.

Also a talented actor, presenter and occasional musician, Moir, in fact, studied art at Sir John Cass College in Whitechapel before his comedy career even began.

As well as being one of Britain's most popular comics, he has also built up a reputation for being an anarchic, Dada-esque surrealist across a variety of artistic media including paintings, drawings and prints.

His work has been exhibited at spaces including the famous Saatchi Gallery in London.

If anything, recent years have seen Moir pursued the artistic side of his creative life with greater focus.

Moir’s inspirations are wide ranging, ranging from celebrity, nature, architecture and pure fantasy assemblages.

Birds - and shoes - are a particular favourite.

Moir said: "I think putting your imagination on canvas or a television screen is the same thing. If you've got an idea you have got to have an outlet for it.

"So if it's painting, poetry, singing or acting it all comes out somewhere."

Initially established online, RedHouse Originals Gallery has been actively involved in exhibition work since 2006, hosting major collections by the likes of Sir Peter Blake, Eduardo Paolozzi, Gered Mankowitz , Peter Doherty, Goldie, Candie Payne and Horace Panter.

Yorkshire Rocks & Dinghy Fights - Jim Moir (Vic Reeves) is at RedHouse Originals Gallery from Thursday, September 22 to Saturday, October 8 at 15 Cheltenham Mount, Harrogate.

For more information, visit www.vicreeves.tv/ and www.redhouseoriginals.com