Throughout his career, Thomas Wilkinson has commissioned a number of art works picturing the South Shields coastline and has even handed work over to the Queen.

Thomas was one of three brothers brought up by their widowed mother during the harsh times of 1920s. Born on February 29, 1920, he often joked to his family that his real age was only 21.

A former pupil of St Hilda's School in South Shields, Thomas Wilkinson later served in the RAF during the Second World War, with the 38 Squadron Middle East Command in Palestine, Egypt and Libya. After the war he made the most of his artistic talents working as a painter and decorator and as a sign writer, before turning art and picture framing into his profession.

A well-known watercolourist, Thomas loved to paint his favourite scenes of South Shields, the River Tyne.

One of his proudest moments was meeting the Queen during the opening of South Shields Magistrates' Court in May 1997, where he gave her a picture of his work.

In 1986, the artist painted the prize of the Gazette's Tall Ships Race picture competition with his watercolour of a tall ship leaving the Tyne in full sail without even seeing the race.

His son David, 57, says: "He was a very well-known artist in South Tyneside and painted for a lot of people. He continued to work throughout his retirement and has work displayed across the world".

"When he handed his work over to the Queen he said 'it's no Christopher Lloyd', who is a famous royal artist."