Former England wicketkeeper Jack Russell was a wonderfully quirky and instantly recognisable presence in cricket but he actually made more money as an artist. The Ashes legend was often seen wearing a distinctive old flowerpot sunhat, sunglasses and sporting a bushy moustache.

Quick on his feet and remarkably swift with hands protected by thick, black gloves, the Gloucestershire man was a rare beacon of excellence during a lacklustre period for English cricket. Regarded by many as the finest wicketkeeper of his era, Russell accumulated 54 Tests and 40 ODIs throughout his decade-long international career. This was in addition to more than 900 appearances for his county.

However, Russell's exceptional skill with his hands extends far beyond the boundaries of a cricket ground. Two decades after retiring, the 62-year-old has swiftly built a reputation as a remarkable artist.

It began with a familiar source of annoyance for cricketers – the English weather. Speaking to The Telegraph, Russell said: "I did it to fill in time when it was raining and I was stuck in cricket pavilions.

"1987 it was. It seemed to rain a lot that summer and I just got fed up, wasting time and sat doing nothing. And I thought, 'I'm going to teach myself to paint,' and I thought, 'If Rembrandt can do it, so can I.' That was my pig-headed attitude towards it."

He brought his paint set along on his maiden tour of Pakistan later that year and hasn't stopped since. Following his return to the UK from the six-week tour, Russell showcased 40 of his sketches at a Bristol gallery.

The entire collection sold out within two days. While numerous cricketers, past and present, opt to relax with a round of golf, Russell would instead seek out a peaceful location and arrange his canvas. 

He said: "It helped me totally switch off, which is not always easy when your career is on the line every ball."

Russell's sideline has also proven to be a profitable venture, with some of his paintings commanding bids of up to £25,000. "Back in our day, we got paid well, but not like now," he added.

"Players today, if they play for England for 10 years, they can retire comfortably. But I don't paint for the money. I do it for the love. Still, yes, I've probably earned more as an artist than I ever did as a cricketer."

Russell now runs his own gallery in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, and frequently exhibits his work in London. He has created portraits of figures including fellow wicketkeeper Eric Sykes, Sir Bobby Charlton, Eric Clapton and the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and names Rembrandt, Turner and Constable as major influences on his artistic style.