Richard Dawson has produced 70 paintings after studying the life and work of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (c.1592-1610), who is famed for his realistic observation of the human state in the Baroque period.

His later paintings often used dramatic contrasts of light and shade – known as chiaroscuro – and as his work often focused on religious scenes. Caravaggio’s most famous works include Martyrdom of Saint Matthew (1599-1600) and David with the Head of Goliath (1609-10).

For Richard, he began his love-affair with Caravaggio paintings after watching a documentary on the life of the Italian painter, who died aged 38.

He said: “Three years ago, I watched the documentary Who Killed Caravaggio and his life story inspired me.

“At the same time as knocking out religious paintings that stunned the world he was on the run with a death warrant on his head.

“The whole thing is totally weird, but I loved it.” The 59-year-old still hasn’t finished all the paintings he hopes to complete, but he is taking a break to try something different because Caravaggio-style paintings are intense to produce.

Richard explains: “The painting is very controlled, detailed and dark, so it is good to break away.

“It is not the figures that are difficult it is what they are wearing, sometimes I redo things several times until it is right.

“I still have one or two more I would like to paint, so I haven’t finished yet, I am still working on some at the moment.

“But each painting can take up to a month to complete, it differs from painting to painting. Some you need a magnifying glass to see all the detail and some I go back to and change a month later because I’m not happy with.

“It can be a long process.” Richard is hoping to exhibit his work together, because he believes they should be shown in a group rather than individually.

But he will keep a few that he loves because it is the only way he will ‘ever be able to own a Caravaggio’.