A LOVE of animals has inspired a Bewdley artist's latest exhibition of paintings.

One Man and His Dog by Lesley Connolly is on display at Bewdley Library and features 16 pastel pictures of creatures, including cats and horses.

Mrs Connolly, of Thurston Court, began painting in her spare time 15 years ago and has been a member of Kidderminster Art Society for seven years.

The 52-year-old upholsterer said: "I find it thoroughly relaxing at the end of a hard day. It is something to fill my time and keep me out of mischief. It is purely for pleasure and painting animals of all sorts has turned into quite a passion for me over the years."

One of her favourite subjects is her pet lurcher, Flash, who appears in many of the pictures on display, and she also has two kittens and a horse which she says provide her with plenty of ideas for her work.

She added: "I am constantly taking photographs of them and sketching them. I like to do rough drawings and work from them. I also enjoy painting landscapes and whatever else takes my fancy. One of my favourite paintings is of trees in the Wyre Forest and I am very pleased with it."

Other paintings in the exhibition, which will run until Saturday, June 17, are of Bewdley's many ducks and geese.

Mrs Connolly, who is a member of the Wildlife Art Society as well as the Society of Equine Artusts, has previously exhibited work at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists gallery in the city as well as in Ludlow and Malvern.

She said she was hoping her exhibition would be popular and will be donating 10 per cent of the proceeds from any work she sells to the Ceila Hammond Animal Trust.

The charity runs low-cost neutering and vaccination clinics across the country as well as rescuing and rehoming unwanted pets.

For opening times contact the library in Load Street on 01299 403303.