Artist Len Gets A Ceil-ing of Approval

It may not have the grandeur of the Sistine Chapel or the the artistic detail of Constable.

But visitors to Len Ede's back garden garage cannot fail to be impressed with his sheer hard work and dedication.

The hand of God from Michelangelo's masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel features on the garage ceiling,and there are also several cartoons and in jokes - including Len himself portrayed at the top of a ladder in an awkward corner.

And outside stands his other work of art...a scale model of the Millennium Dome!

In the garage,all the oil cans and rusty nails have been moved to one side.

Every square inch of wall and ceiling space has been covered in a montage of brightly coloured paintings with subjects ranging from hot air balloons to the eclipse.

The mural is the latest masterpiece by handyman Len,whose home is fast becoming a mecca for "alternative" art students.

Len launched into the Sistine Chapel-style mural after completing a replica of Stonehenge in his back garden and then building his own Millennium Dome over it.

After countless hours' work,he has finished the huge work of art which adorns his garage walls.

He said the work was inspired by a disabled friend who spends most of his time staring at the ceiling of his room at a local hospice.

"He comes to visit once a week and it is really the only chance he gets for a change of scenery" said Len.

"He spends most of his time in bed staring at the celiling,so coming to see us is a nice change.

"He suffers from MS and cannot get into the house very easily so we all sit in the garage.

"I thought it would be nice for him if he had something other than plain walls to look at."

Len began the work of art with a giant Millennium Balloon on the end wall of the garage.

Once he started painting,he found he could not stop and now,more than four months later,there is not a scrap of wall which hasn't been decorated.

"Some days I was in here at five o'clock in the morning ready to start" said Len.

"I haven't bought any paint at all - it is all what I had left over over from other things."

Len,who was enthusiastically supported in the project by his wife Joyce,says all sorts of things inspired him.

The total eclipse of the sun occurred while he was at work - so an eclipse was promptly included in the painting.

Not only has Len completed the work,but he has also found time to write a book entitled Millennium Miracle.

It took him ten days,and eight ballpoint pens,to complete.It tells the story of two friends and their dog who travel round the world in a hot air balloon - and Len has high hopes for it.

"I enjoyed writing it,but now it's finished I suppose I'll have to look for something else to do" he said.