Modern art is too “bleak”, complained comedian Tim Vine this week as he brought laughter to a crowd at the opening of a community art exhibition.

The funny man and one-liner specialist opened the Local Artists’ Art Exhibition, at the Lantern Arts Centre, at Raynes Park Methodist Church, on Saturday.

He said: “I think you will all agree it’s great that in this area there’s an arts centre... in this amazing church with an organ... encased behind that balsa wood fence.

“It’s absolutely marvellous. I’ve already done one tour and paused briefly at the sausage roll structures – that was a really good exhibition.

“But what I really like about these pictures... I’m not an expert – no really I’m not – but what I like is there’s a lot of happiness in these pictures, they’re uplifting. A lot of art these days strikes me as rather bleak.”

Mr Vine is a friend and patron of the arts centre, which aims to give Merton residents the opportunity to display meaningful paintings and photographs.

The exhibition runs until Saturday, September 22, and weekly art classes are also provided.

For more information visit lanternarts.org.