Reclusive artist to show ‘extraordinary’ work in UK for first time in decades

Henry Orlik withdrew from art world after early success but his surrealist-influenced paintings are now to go on display

A reclusive artist whose work hung alongside masters such as Rene Magritte and Salvador Dali has agreed to the first major exhibition of his dream-like paintings half a century after he withdrew from the art world.

Henry Orlik, now 77 and living near Marlborough in Wiltshire, was in his 20s when his talent was recognised as exceptional. In the 1970s, he showed at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and had a sold-out one-man show at the Acoris surrealist art centre in London, also taking part in its mixed Surrealist Masters exhibitions with some of the world's greatest names.