A music teacher has proved the sky's the limit after being named an associate of the prestigious Guild of Aviation Artists.

John Hunter, who has been head of music at Heckmondwike Grammar School for 15 years, has been drawing planes since an early age when he lived near RAF bases in Lincolnshire.

His father was also in the RAF during the war and so a young John became familiar with a number of different aircraft and has gone on to draw many of them - including the much loved Spitfire and Hurricaine.

"I did A-level art then made the decision to go into music - I thought it would be more stable," said John.

"For about 13 years, I didn't do any drawings, but then started again four or five years ago after I saw some drawings in a magazine sent to me by the RAF Benevolent Fund and sent some of mine off."

The RAF Benevolent Fund advised him to contact the Guild of Aviation Artists and, after success at two exhibitions at The Mall Galleries in London, he was named an associate.

"It is supposed to take six years to become an associate and it only took me two or three, so I am very pleased," said John. "Nowadays, although specialising in aviation art, I have produced cars, trains and even landscapes, although commissioned portraits are proving extremely popular.

"The new addition of A.G.Av.A after my name certainly gives my work extra credibility in what is quite a competitive market."

The 43-year-old, of Rastrick, specialises in aviation montages with a watercolour of a plane in the centre, surrounded by smaller images encapsulating RAF life around the edges. Several of his drawings have been reproduced by the RAF Benevolent Fund on its greeting cards and he is currently illustrating a book by a 1960s Lightning jet pilot.

As well as the Mall Galleries in London, John has displayed his work at the Edinburgh and Coventry Aviation Museums, is a member of the American Society of Aviation Artists, and has work for sale at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, York. His dream would be to open his own gallery displaying and selling his work.