AMBLESIDE and District Art Society holds its annual exhibition from Wednesday, October 15, until Sunday, October 26, at Ambleside Parish Centre.

This year's show is a milestone for the revered society - its 40th, and will be opened by Val Stangoe, chief executive of St Mary’s Hospice Ulverston.

St Mary's has reached its 25th anniversary year and to tie in donations will be taken for the hospice during the society's exhibition period.

The exhibition will feature the work of Mary Lauritzen, Marylin Tordoff and Mike Labrum, as well as emerging Lakeland artists, which demonstrates the diversity of talent within the society. Marylin is known for her beautiful watercolour landscapes and Mike for his distinctive style in oils.

Some of the region's big names such as Jim Ingham Riley, Marion Bradley, Martin Tomlinson and Christine Baines, are exhibiting members; they also belong to the prestigious Lake Artists Society.

The Ambleside society was founded in 1974, following an advertisement in The Westmorland Gazette asking anyone interested in forming an art society to attend a meeting in a room over the Ambleside Library. Seventeen people turned up; 40 years on the society has more than 100 members. As always, new members are welcome provided they live within a 10-mile radius of Ambleside.

The exhibition is open 10am-5pm daily, except Sundays opening at 10.30am; last entry on the final Sunday at 3pm.