FORGET, for the moment, Pete McKee's unique talent as an artist. Ignore the fact that he needs nothing more than a few matchpots and a piece of MDF to create something special.

McKee's other great strength is that he loves people and instinctively knows what matters to them. He also loves his home city with a passion.

Mix those elements together as McKee mixes his emulsions to come up with Beer Mat Orange or Knee Plaster Yellow and you get 22 Views of Sheffield, which goes on show at The Bowery in Devonshire Street from Monday.

"I wanted to make these paintings for Sheffield and the people who love it,'' he declares in a break from the brushwork at the converted chapel at Wincobank which houses his new studio. "I wanted an exhibition that people could get excited about.''

And it seems they have.

A week before the exhibition opened, seven of the 22 had already been sold. As had more than 70 pre-ordered copies of the 200-run special edition signed book which accompanies the collection.

So what's all the fuss about? The first painting completed and the opener in the book is the Fish Tank in the Hole in the Road. Then there's Cockles In Castle Market, Fishing On The Don, 2p Bus Ride Into Town and Top Splash At Sheaf Valley Baths.

Throw in A Night At The Dogs, Silver Blades and Wedding At The Cake and you start to get the picture. These are the images and memories which have shaped a generation of Sheffielders, including the man himself.

McKee grew up on Batemoor, went to the old Rowlinson Comprehensive and has been the Telegraph's much-loved cartoonist for the last 16 years.

He started painting full time about four years ago. His first ever piece sits proudly above the fireplace in his studio and, although the characters are unmistakeably McKee, the colours are a bit more vibrant than his current pallette. "I actually did that with the paint left over when my wife Jane had been decorating, so that gives you some idea of what the house looked like! And if you look on the back it's still got the 50p price tag I paid for the MDF at B&Q.''

There has always been a strong Sheffield feel about Pete's work but this is the first collection which concentrates entirely on the city. "They are just a few of the things that stick with you from childhood, through teenage years and up to the present day.

"There's one called Upstairs At The Hallamshire, which was one of very few places live bands could find to play at that time. To be honest I can barely remember what it looked like now but I remember what it felt like to be there. That's what these paintings are about.''

That's certainly true of Upstairs At Harrington's, the legendary Castle Market stall where thousands of teenage Sheffield lads developed their fashion sense, for better or worse. But only after negotiating that staircase into the loft and checking out the latest two-tone Sta-Press.

There's no significance to the number 22 ("It's just a nice amount for an exhibition'') and Pete came up with the title before he started thinking about subjects. So was it a struggle to get to 22? "Quite the opposite,'' he says. "In fact there are four sketches in the book which didn't make the painting stage, so there was never any shortage of material.''

The originals are on sale for £2,000 each (although Pete is as aware of the economic climate as anyone and quite happy for customers to pay in instalments). There are also 22 special edition prints of each on cotton paper with accompanying handwritten text at £150 framed, £100 unframed.

The special edition books, meanwhile, come in at £50 and have an Italian linen embossed cover. "They're Beano Annual size,'' says Pete. "Only 200 will be printed and they will be numbered and signed. After each of the pictures is a page with the accompanying text and you get to see the whole collection together, which is something I was very keen to do.''

As part of the launch at The Bowery (the exhibition will also run in tandem at The Cricket Inn, Totley, until December 23), Pete has organised a treasure hunt giving fans the chance to win one of the sought-after 200.

He explained: "Somewhere between the bottom of Division Street and The Bowery there are eight prints in eight different shops. Anyone who finds all eight will go into a draw to win a personalised copy.''
Softback versions of the books, identical apart from the binding, will also be on sale at various outlets, priced £20.

Pete will be signing copies at The Star Shop, York Street, on Friday December 5, 12noon-2pm. Signed copies can also be pre-ordered by calling 0114 2521374 .

Full details at www.therealmckee.co.uk



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