A WOLVERLEY woman is celebrating her first joint art exhibition with the art group she co-founded.

Semi-retired physiotherapist, Gill Smith, from Kingsford, set up the 2plus1 art group with her former pottery teacher, Peter Heathcote and another of his former students, Maureen Childs, earlier in the year and is delighted their paintings are currently on display at Bewdley Library.

Mrs Smith explained the trio were no strangers to exhibiting their paintings, having all shown individually before, and with the Dudley Society of Artists, but never as 2plus1 and on such a large scale.

The exhibition, which runs until August 19, includes more than 30 mixed media, pastel and acrylic pieces on a variety of subjects, including landscapes, flowers and buildings.

"I've been painting in a serious manner for the past 10 to 12 years but, basically, all my life," Mrs Smith said, adding she and her co-artists were also Friends of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.

"We all met at Dudley College - Peter taught me pottery there from about 1970 - then he switched to painting and, over the last 12 years, I've been one of his art students and I met Maureen, who was also one of his students, about six years ago," she said.

"We set up 2plus1 in the last few months for the purpose of this exhibition but will continue as that - and we're hoping for many more exhibitions together - we've really gelled as a group."

The 59-year-old, who works as a part-time project worker in the health service, added the group was also set to display their work at Bridgnorth Library in October.

More information on the Bewdley showing can be obtained by calling 01299 403303.