MEMBERS of the Ledbury and District U3A group might be forgiven for studying their five pound notes with extra care this week.

After all, they might have a fortune in their wallets or purses; and this Thursday, (January 19), the man who attracted national media attention for his engraved miniscule portraits of the novelist Jane Austen, on four new style "plastic" five pound notes, is set to address a Ledbury audience and explain how he did it, with an illustrated talk about his art.

His portraits of Jane Austen are just visible to the naked eye, but only special lighting and magnification allows them to be seen in their full glory. Two of the four notes have been found so far.

Royal Engraver and micro-artist, Graham Short is also well known for having engraved The Lord’s Prayer on the head of a pin and a portrait of The Queen inside the eye of a needle.

But it was his engraving of the Georgian novelist Jane Austen which really attracted media attention, shortly before Christmas, with reports that each one of the four engraved notes in circulation was worth a cool £50,000 or so.

Mr Short, who lives and works in Birmingham, is widely considered one of the world's leading exponents of micro-art.

Ledbury U3A spokesman, Sue Sutton said: "We have been looking forward to what is sure to be an amusing and fascinating insight into the lengths Graham goes to for his craft."

His lecture, in the Community Hall, Lawnside Road, was set to start at 2.30pm, on Thursday.

Anyone seeking further information about Ledbury U3A, its meetings and interesting talks should email - membership@ledburyu3a.org.uk