A WOMAN who has made a living out of art since she the age of 18 but only realised her dream of studying it at university when she was 34 is looking forward to her first exhibition in her hometown.

Narrative, by Lesley Holmes, opens at Bewdley Library, tomorrow, and will consist of a host of mixed media, watercolour, pastel and acrylic paintings influenced by narrative verse and folk tales, including Benjamin Britten's opera, Peter Grimes.

The 46-year-old artist has previously exhibited in her university city of Derby and has high hopes for her showing in Bewdley - intending it to be the first of a series of showings at different venues.

She explained she had first been inspired by narrative verse and folk tales while undertaking a different project a few years ago and had returned to it because she "loved it".

She is also a part-time assistant at the library and started her career hand-painting pottery.

She then spent 10 years painting snuff boxes in Birmingham's exclusive Jewellery Quarter and completed a foundation course at Kidderminster College and a BA honours degree in graphic design and illustration after being made redundant.

The artist, who moved to Bewdley from her home town of Walsall in 1988 and has also painted some design panels for Bewdley Museum, said: "I've exhibited in Derby before but never in my home town, so this is special for me. I hope it will lead to other exhibitions."

More information on her exhibition, which runs until Thursday, May 19, can be obtained by calling the library on 01299 203303.