A scenic artist who lives near Bicester continues to secure production contracts for film and TV at an impressive age of 102. 

Tony Strong, who grew up in Maidenhead and now lives near Bicester where he has resided since 1980, was the creator of artwork seen in many films, including the tarot cards in the 1973 film Live and Let Die.

He has worked his entire life as a scenic artist for film, tv and theatre, and has collaborated with many film directors including Stanley Kubrick, Ken Russell, David Lynch and Sidney Lumet.

READ MORE: Bicester road set to be closed for roundabout improvements

Tony's extensive list of film credits features many popular films including The Shining and Gulliver's Travels 

Also on the list is Murder on the Orient Express, which featured a 400ft wide backdrop created by Tony, measuring around 13/14 ft long when stretched out. 

In the past 18 months Tony's artwork has secured over ten contracts, some still in production, with three of them being for Netflix.

One of the productions was A Good Girl's Guide To Murder which was released on BBC on July 1.

Another production Tony's artwork has secured is a Netflix Cillian Murphy movie, Steve, which is in production now.

Speaking about his father's career, his son, Graham Strong said: “He was interested in art from the get go - his uncle was an artist who also worked in the film industry. 

"He grew up in a creative family - his mother was a singer and his father was a cinematographer in the 1920s, so working in the creative industry was not unusual.”

“His father, Percy Strong, was one of Britain's most sought after camera men.

"Tony would follow his dad into the studio aged 10 or 12 in London wherever his dad was filming, and seeing all the incredible craft left a lasting impression."

When World War Two came along, Graham said that his father was already skilled and talented with drawing and painting, and carried on his art throughout the war.

Immediately after the war he kickstarted his career in Covent Garden working for the Opera House.

READ MORE: David Cameron resigns from role of foreign secretary

"His theatre work continued until the early 1960s, and then dad did what was thought to be a crazy thing in that he gave up that part of his career in order to take a job and work in a brand new job in the TV industry," said Graham. 

In 1972 Tony went full-time freelance, starting his own company.

Speaking about his father's skills, Graham said: “Any good scenic artist had to be adaptable and have a huge variety of techniques.

“I think dads skills that we’re talking about are rare, and that’s why he is so sought after.”

Graham said he visited the film studios occasionally growing up and found it "incredible".

Tony's artwork is now stored in a gallery in the Classic Prop Ltd showroom in London.