A series of screenprints from John Patrick Reynolds of the spinach munching sailor Popeye will be on show in May in the Brook Gallery, Budleigh Salterton.

Reynolds has produced a series of eight screenprints, featuring some of the landmark events in Popeye’s career.

These include the very first panels in which Popeye appears, on January 17, 1929. Popeye is making his entrance some 10 years into the history of the strip in which he appears: Thimble Theatre. He arrives fully formed, complete with pipe, tattoos and sarcasm.

There are also panels of the first time that Popeye eats spinach, the first time he hits somebody, the first time he makes a pass at Olive Oyl, and the first time he meets his arch enemy Bluto.

By European law, copyright restrictions of a creation lapse 70 years after the artist’s death and American Elzie Segar – who invented Popeye – died in 1938.

John specialises in using images of comic characters in his work. Apart from the Popeye images, he also makes a series of images from classic British comics including the Beano and Dandy.

The Brook Gallery opens everyday during exhibitions, except Sunday mornings, from 10.30am to 5pm. Call 01395 443 003 for more information or email info@brookgallery.co.uk

• The Brook Gallery’s summer exhibition will feature the work of Paula Rego