Artist Mario Parga has swapped his paints and brushes for a truncheon.

Mario, 31, is pictured with one of his paintings of Cupid - copied from a French original - outside Bicester police station where he will be based from October after finishing his training.

Mario Parga

He said: "I have spent many years doing a lot of jobs so I could pursue my career as an artist. I have always had an interest in the police and now I thought it was time to make art my hobby and do something else."

**Picture: Antony Moore