COLOURFUL creations by members of a thriving local art group have gone on public display.

Work compiled by mainstays of Blackhill Art Club, in Consett, over the last year has been mounted for public viewing over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend.

The brush work of 17 group members features in the three-day Blackhill Art Exhibition.

Most have been put up on individual stands in the main hall at Blackhill Community Centre, but the off-shoot room where the group meets each week has been dedicated for this year’s themed paintings.

Members were asked to create pieces inspired by The Lady of Shalott.

The Arthurian-based ballad by Victorian poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson has spawned a dozen further works.

Group chair person Kathleen Slater said the annual exhibition is a chance for members to showcase their work over the previous 12 months.

“We’ve got work by virtually all of our members on show, with a maximum of eight per artists.

“We meet on Wednesdays through the year and apart from our individual pieces it’s nice to have a theme to concentrate on.

“This year it focuses on telling the story of The Lady of Shalott."

Such is the popularity of the group that there are no vacancies, due to space restrictions in the community centre, while there is a mounting waiting list of would-be members.

The final day of the exhibition, at the centre in Derwent Street, Blackhill, is on Monday (May 4), from 11am - 3pm.

Apart from the art work on display, some of which is available for sale, there is also tombola, raffle and book-sale.

Admission is free.