BLUE plaques have been put on display to remember a county artist who is regarded by some as the "jewel in our artistic and cultural crown."

Brian Hatton was a Hereford artist born in 1887 who even as a child showed an extraordinary natural talent for drawing and painting.

He documented the county's landscape and agricultural work through his art before he was killed in action fighting in Egypt in the First World War, aged 28.

Many believed that if it was not for his untimely death he would have become well known as a talented artist.

In his memory, the first blue plaque was placed at Carlton Villas on Whitecross Road at the corner of Ranelagh Street, which is where Mr Hatton was born.

The other is at 64, Broomy Hill, where he moved to when he was five and lived and worked.

Catherine Gilling, who asked for the plaques, said: "The plaques mark the importance of the artist and also pays respects to all of those men who gave their lives 100 years ago."

Mrs Gilling set up Fugue Visions with Jason Hodges and Randolph Alexander in 2014- a not for profit company which promotes history and culture through the arts.

Mr Hodges said: "I was surprised there were not any blue plaques to Brian Hatton considering the cultural significance of his work."

Fugue Visions is working on an educational programme about Mr Hatton to take out to schools across the county.

At the same time, Herefordshire Museum Service is holding displays, events and activities this year to mark the centenary of Mr Hatton's death- he died on April 23, 1916.

The museum service boasts a collection of 1,061 pieces of Mr Hatton's work, which, at the moment, do not have a permanent display.

Mr Hodges has made an animation out of Mr Hatton's work and Mr Alexander has written music to accompany the images.

They showed the piece in High Town in Hereford on April 23 and in the autumn it will go out to schools.

Mrs Gilling said they want to raise the profile of Mr Hatton's life and work. It will also be shown to the community.

She said the paintings show a snapshot of English life at that time.

As a young man, he travelled at home and abroad.

In 1908, he travelled to Egypt as part of the Petrie expedition.

He continued to love Herefordshire, where his work was inspired by local people and places.

On his travels and later as a soldier, he recorded the people and places around him.

The collection is currently kept at Friar Street in Hereford and his letters, including letters to the poet laureate, John Masefield, are kept at Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre.

Mrs Gilling said: "The collection is the jewel in our artistic and cultural crown."

Fugue Visions is supported by the Mayor of Hereford, Jim Kenyon, Hereford City Council, the Hereford Community Foundation and Elmley Small Grants of the Arts.

Mrs Gilling added: "I can't think of any other English artist whose collection is so intact as this."

To book tours and appointments to see the Hatton collection call 01432 383383 or email herefordmuseums@herefordshire.gov.uk