By Claire Elliot

A COUPLE have turned their love story into a work of art - 32 years after they were told their romance would never last.

Bob Dickson was 20 years older than his wife Issie when they first met back in 1977.

At the time everyone said their relationship was destined to fail as he was “old enough to be her father”.

But the couple, from Aberdeen, married four years later.

To prove their love has stood the test of time, they have now turned their touching story into a work of art, which is on show at Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Their tale, from when they first met to the present day, is depicted in four giant hearts, as part of a Printed Word exhibition.

Mrs Dickson, who met her husband while working in an envelope printing factory when she was 23 and he was 43, said: “The artwork is a love story about how me and Bob met.

“A lot of people said we wouldn’t last because of the age gap.

“They said he was old enough to be my father and not to get involved because it was never going to work.

“But here we are 28 years married and still going strong.”

The couple decided to turn their story into a piece of art while working on a project with their local Seaton Art History Group, which is supported by Aberdeen City Council’s arts development team.

Each heart, which carries part of their story, is made from dried flowers and then screen printed in red as a symbol of their love.

A black and white print of their wedding day in April, 1981, is also included in the masterpiece.

Mrs Dickson, who is now her husband’s full-time carer, said: “A bit of the story is told within each of the four hearts.

"I was a bit embarrassed at first. But I’m glad I did it.

“We didn’t think we’d get such a reaction to our story.

"But lots of people have come up and spoken to us about it and are enjoying reading it.”

The Printed Word exhibition, which runs until Sunday (May 17), celebrates Aberdeen’s role in the 500 years of printing in Scotland.