A STORM-damaged gingerbread shop sign has been renewed by one of the UK's most controversial artists.

Michael J Browne infamously depicted footballer Eric Cantona as Christ 20 years ago, and he has now added the creator of Grasmere's famous gingerbread to his portfolio of work.

Joanne Hunter, co-owner of the shop, said she was delighted with the new hand-painted sign, which replaces one damaged in a recent storm, and is the 10th since the tiny bakery store opened in 1854.

“I think Michael has really captured Sarah Nelson’s steadfast character," said Joanne. "She defied terrible personal tragedies to reach the age of 88 before she died in 1904.

"Unlike most modern shop signs which are digitally produced, our new sign is hand-painted on wood and it is an authentic piece of art in its own right."

Manchester painter Michael explained: "I went from old sepia photographs of Sarah Nelson to get her look exactly right.

"Her eyes are strong and determined, even as an old lady, and I really wanted her powerful aura to come across in the overall shop sign."

The artist's infamous 1997 oil painting, The Art of the Game, was said to portray Cantona's career comeback after his kung-fu kick on a football spectator.

The new sign at Grasmere Gingerbread Shop took him a month to complete using ordinary outdoor paint finished with a coat of varnish.

Michael first met Joanne several years ago when he depicted her in a painting called The English Garden for a BBC documentary, Made in England.

A contemporary artist who works in a Renaissance-inspired style, he recently painted a scaled-down version of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling at a Manchester restaurant. He has also painted pictures of famous Manchester United football squads in Renaissance-style settings.