A 59-year-old artist, under the pseudonym of Pierre Cromer, has brought the tradition of caricature art to Cromer and has revealed his ambitious mission for the summer.

He hopes to create portraits of every shop owner in the town by the season’s end, and has already begun with portraits of mini cab drivers, fishmongers and many others.

“It has been an amazing thing to bring people together and I hope to highlight the local businesses,” he said.

“It was nice to discover and it does make me laugh as well.”

John Davies, the owner of Davies Fish Shop in Cromer, next to his caricature. (Image: Pierre Cromer)

Laura, of Davies Fish Shop, next to her caricature. (Image: Pierre Cromer)

Caricature of Pierre Cromer himself. (Image: Pierre Cromer)

Among the portraits which have been completed include John Davies and Laura from Davies Fish Shop, a family-run business in Cromer.

The artist, who has lived in the town for the past four years, was inspired by a trip to London earlier this year.

While he was walking around Leicester Square, he noticed several caricature artists with queues of people all eager for their own portraits to be done.

And even though he has been creating art since he was a child, this was one form he had not yet explored.

He said: “I taught myself how to do it and just kept pushing myself.”

David Gee of Furniture Fayre, where Pierre Cromer is based. (Image: Pierre Cromer)

Aaron of Pungleperry’s Ice Cream next to his caricature (Image: Pierre Cromer)

A caricature of Phoebe Ozanne, an Eastern Daily Press and North Norfolk News reporter (Image: Pierre Cromer)

All of his work is done by hand and he hopes to do an exhibition at the end of the summer with all the portraits together.

He is working in a studio at Furniture Fayre, but is open to covering events as well.

His project comes as the town is also gearing up to celebrate the pier’s 125th anniversary this summer, with a wide range of events planned in the area.

Caricature portraits are a form of art which modifies or exaggerates particular features for a humorous or satirical effect and has been linked back to the Renaissance period.