He took to appearing in various local concerts, and although not a very good singer, his performance and his materials were always appreciated by the audience.
He was also a talented artist, and using water colours and pencil, produced some more than acceptable works of art, but none appear to have survived.
He wrote numerous songs which appeared in John W Chater's "Keelmin's comic annewal", entered many into the various competitions run by John W Chater and others, winning many prizes and medals.
He also produced a book of over 40 pages (published by Stevenson and Dryden of Newcastle) containing his own songs, mostly songs which had been previously included in John W Chater's books, periodicals and chapbooks and which appeared in print in 1874, after his death.
[2] These include :- Geordie dialect words Dunbar's local songs and recitations 1874 Thomas Allan Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside Songs and Readings John W Chater Chater's Canny Newcassel Diary and Remembrancer 1872