Michael Yewen had always wanted his bright and colourful work to adorn the walls of Taupō museum.

While they’re now about to go on show, the 50-year-old remains a missing person some three months on from his out-of-character disappearance.

His collection of bright, fun, cartoon-like pieces make up the Sunshine from a Tube exhibition that will run from May 13 to June 6.

Friend Miranda Jeffries said she received an email from Yewen before he went missing, telling her he had put some of his art in a box and to donate them to the Taupō Museum.

“The last I heard from him was Thursday, February 3. After numerous failed attempts of contact, I reached out to his family only to find they shared the same concerns and their last day they saw him was also February 3. Michael was officially reported missing on his 50th Birthday.

“Upon entering his home, we found his e-bike missing.”

Jeffries said they found enough information to suggest he had been home on two separate occasions on February 9 and 22, both times in the evening.

“We are desperate for any information on his whereabouts even if it is just sightings of an abandoned e-bike.”

Jeffries said Yewen grew up in Taupō and moved away for university. Later, he taught music at Ngāruawāhia High School. He shifted back to Taupō about 10 years ago.

“He was a very quirky and bright man. He was a very giving man.”

Jeffries said Yewen loved cartoons and used bright colours, yellow being one of his favourites.

She hopes the exhibition will be a celebration of his quirky sense of fantasy and realism.

Yewen would teach children at a holiday programme how to draw cartoons, having previously said that he loves the joy that people get from his art.

He said previously: “I really enjoy teaching kids how to draw cartoons from scratch. It’s incredibly rewarding to see these brand-new artists off on a lifetime of cartooning.”

Yewen would mainly paint in oils on small flat canvases.

He enjoyed challenging his 3D painting ability, and would choose to use only small brushes, some as small as 1mm in diameter.

Each painting would generally take him between 20 -70 hours to complete.

Yewen loved to paint things that are unrealistic, inspired by surrealism.

“One of my motivating factors for pursuing a career as an artist is how much I enjoy colour and sound. I like getting 'sunshine from a tube' on a rainy day.”

Being both a musician and artist Yewen liked to paint while listening to his own music, which tended to be jazz-based.

Taupō museum exhibitions officer Kerence Stephen said it is good to be able to show off the colourful fun Yewen had inside him.

She said the museum was limited to what they can accept, and his work didn’t fit the criteria, yet they’ve still been able to hold the exhibition.

“It’s such a shame as Michael always wanted to have a solo exhibition, and I just wanted to do something to help. It will be really nice to have his work on display.

“His work is beautiful, and whimsical.”

Michael’s sister Toni Sharp said in statement that the exhibition is important as it’s her hope that by showcasing Yewen’s artwork under the umbrella of men's mental health it could encourage others to speak about psychological challenges they may be facing.

“Being kept in the dark on the actual psychological state of mind of my brother leaves me feeling empty and hopeless; if he had openly shared his situation then I could have potentially done more to prevent his disappearance three months ago.

“Michael’s ‘Sunshine In A Tube’ exhibition is able to be a guiding light of inspiration to one and all.”

Yewen had sold some of his work internationally.

Anyone interested in owning an original Yewen artwork can enquire with the family. All money raised will be donated to men's mental health.

Anyone with information on Yewen is asked to contact police on 105 and reference police file number 220228/8304. Alternately information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Credit: Stuff.co.nz