The National Portrait Gallery will exhibit Bob Dylan’s artwork later this month, with Bob Dylan: Face Value showcasing 12 pastel portraits by the 72-year-old musician.

Dylan’s artworks are inspired by real people and fictitious characters collated from his imagination and memory.

The musician is thought to have begun painting in the late sixties, but only started to make his work public in 2007.

The exhibition will not be Dylan’s first however, as his work has previously been displayed in the Halcyon Gallery, London, at the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitzin, Germany and in the Gagosian Gallery, New York.

Director of the National Portrait Gallery, Sandy Nairne, said: "Bob Dylan is one of the most influential cultural figures of our time. He has always created a highly visual world either with his words or music, or in paints and pastels.

"I am delighted that we can now share these 12 sketches which were made for display at the National Portrait Gallery."

The National Portrait Gallery has also revealed that a major new painted portrait of contemporary artist Damien Hirst will feature in a headline display of artwork by Jonathan Yeo in September.

Last Monday the gallery hosted its first-ever private viewing exclusively for young people between 14 and 19, giving them a free, exclusive opportunity to enjoy after-hours access to the BP Portrait Award 2013 exhibition.