A visitor recently surprised a few residents in St George with some unique artwork of their homes.

Like many tourists, self-taught artist Paul DeMelin, 62, took hundreds of photos during his cruise to Bermuda in 2019.

A couple of years later, he decided to recreate one of his favourite photos – drawing it on his iPad using an Apple Pencil.

The photo that he decided to replicate was taken in St George, at the intersection of Chapel Lane and Duke of Clarence Street.

“I loved all of the different houses [in the photo], the pastel colours, the tree in the centre and so on,” Mr DeMelin explained.

To date, the piece is Mr DeMelin’s most detailed work. Containing more than 85,000 brush strokes, it took 72 hours to complete.

“I always said that if I ever returned to Bermuda, the people who live in the houses of my image are going to get a print of my artwork.”

Mr DeMelin, of Quincy, Massachusetts, is a man of his word and when he returned to Bermuda for another visit last month, he handed the residents – total strangers to him before that point – his prints.

A gentleman from the Philippines was one of the people who received a print. According to Mr DeMelin, he was thrilled with the gift.

Mr DeMelin said: “I can’t even begin to explain the feeling of making complete strangers so happy with a personal gift. It was the best part of my trip.”