SALTBURN artist Tony Earnshaw, quietly working away in a tall terraced house near the sea, keeps a low profile in his adopted town. But this modest unassuming man is

a giant in his own field.

  Tony is one of the country's foremost surreal artist.

  His career spans more than half a century and in addition to painting, drawing and model-making he's written poems, collaborated on two successful novels, and had a spell as a cartoonist.

  His work has been recognised on television and radio and he's exhibited, both in one man shows and with other artists at a string of venues in this country and abroad.

  Tony has lived in Saltburn for eight years since his wife Gail, also an artist came to the area to work at the Cleveland Gallery in Middlesbrough.

  Tony was born in Ilkley in 1924, after the death of his father. He had to leave school at 14 and became an apprentice fitter and turner and then worked in engineering factories for the following 20 years.

  His wife Gail explained: "He's an entirely self-taught artist. But he was always painting and drawing.

  "When he was in the factory they used to say 'that daft Earnshaw's painting pictures again'.'"

  "But it was through his interest in poetry and literature he discovered surrealism. He says simply: "It changed my life".

  Surrealism was far from fashionable but it would seem the perfect vehicle for his wide-ranging imagination and quirky, off-beat humour.

  His continuing interest in art, finally led to escape from the factory floor - he was invited to work part time at Harrogate Collage of Art, teaching mature students.

  During the 1960's his work became increasingly well-known in exhibitions in London and throughout the country. Jazz musician and entertainer George Melly became one of his fans and a close friend. He exhibited with Man Ray and Glen Baxter - another friend.

  And it was about this time that cartoon character Wokker first saw the light of day. Wokker was the product of collaboration with Tony's oldest friend Eric Thacker - then a Methodist minister from Rotherham. Tony and Eric had met in their teens through a mutual enthusiasm for jazz.

  With the help of George Melly, Wokker was included in an exhibition of comic strips and was taken up by the Times Educational Supplement where it ran for a year in the early '70s. Since then the cartoon has appeared in other publications and in 1988 Wokker had his own exhibition in Halifax.

  The Earnshaws' guests are able to keep themselves amused with a whole series of Wokker strips which, with their lively off-beat humour, decorate the walls of their spare bedroom. Tony is especially fond of Wokker and would love to find a home in print for him again.

  The character's name, incidentally, has nothing to do with Chinese cookery. "It came from a very early poem of Eric's when he tried to reproduce the sound of rim-shots made by a drummer - wok wok, wok wok," Tony explained.

  In addition to his own exhibitions, Gail and he also hold joint shows of their work entitled "Another G and T".

  Gail's highly detailed and colourful paintings depict intricate patterns based on fruit, flowers, animals - and since she came to live by the sea they now often include fish. Although her work seems very different from Tonys they are currently painting a picture together.

  At 72, Tony's fertile imagination is as active as ever and he continues to plan future work. For the past 17 years one oh his main fields has been in box pictures incorporating elements of modeling and sculpture - and, like most of his pictures usually making an ironic comment.

  And, of course, he would like the future to include a new home and new friends for his beloved Wokker....