RUN - don't walk - to the latest exhibition at Newport's GPF Gallery, and you'll have made the artist very happy.

Sextio: A Retrospective of Prints, Drawings and Paintings by Mike Rowland, provides a look at decades of work by a man more famous for his work in more physical pursuits. Mike studied printmaking at Newport College of Art, but has spent his professional life training runners including Steve Jones.

He said: "I am a life member of Newport Harriers, although these days I seem to do more with my paintbrush.

"Running has been a big part of my life, which is reflected in my work, but more and more I've become interested in landscape.

"My mind fixed on Twyn Barllwm one day when I was out running, and the image stayed to come out in my pictures."

The show was opened by round-the-world yachtswoman and charity runner Rosie Swale, (pictured) a friend of the artist.

Gallery owner Janet Martin said: "There are a couple of different strands to the show. Some of it is about running and the strain on the body and achievement.

"The other strand is the artist's fascination with Twyn Barllwm, which is quite special to the Newport landscape.

"He also worked and lived for quite a chunk of his life in Sweden, so there's that influence on his work as well as some landscapes from Scandinavia.

"There's a lot of work about Emil Zatopek, who won three gold medals in the 1952 Olympics, paying tribute to his achievements.

There's a series of pictures not much more than one inch square of him, which have been used on a BBC2 programme.

"I've known Mike for about 15 years - I used to frame for him, and he's shown here before in the group exhibitions.

"He's part of the furniture here, really. He helps us run the place." All work in the show is for sale and prices range from £60 to £2,000. The exhibition runs until March 15 at the GPF Gallery on George Street.