MEMBERS of Windermere Art Society have truly upped the ante this year with one of its most outstanding and innovative annual exhibitions.

The standard just gets better each year.

Standout paintings include Mary Wealleans Green Lane, Langdale; Gordon Young's Birch in Autumn, Coline Pearson's Elterwater, Eve Wilson's Beside the Verge and Skelwith Bridge by Alan Barlow.

Works by Mary Kelso, Jean Cope, Don Mounsey and Julia Heyworth also impress and David Best's acrylic At the Regatta is further proof of his artistic potential. Check out of his 'fractural' style.

However, this year's best in show belongs firmly to the exceptional brush strokes of Jean Wedgebury with a terrific body of work, including her oil painting of Venice, The Grand Canal, an irresistible and slightly impressionistic picture that captures beautifully the early morning light of the great Italian city and landed her

the society's Robin Lowry Memorial Cup.

For me, Jean is among several of the Windermere society's membership worthy of a slot in a Lake Artists Society exhibition.

I have to say, the society's preview night was one of the most exciting that I've ever attended. There was a tremendous buzz around the Ladyholme Centre living up to its 'Tate Windermere' tag.

Adding a fair chunk of creative flair and sparkle to the evening were talented students from The Lakes School at Troutbeck Bridge, who had entered artwork for the inaugural Colin Heighton Memorial Prize. The award is a fitting tribute to the society's popular and much admired past chairman and president, Colin Heighton, a talented watercolourist and former headmaster of Kendal's Stramongate Primary School, who died in February aged 88.

Colin's daughter Julia was on hand with her son Tom to present the prizes.

Winner was 16-year old Jenny Wood with her excellent, engaging George Braque-like mixed media Still Life. Jenny received a cheque for £100 with runners up Sally Harrison and Lucelia Price taking home £50.

From bold, figurative paintings, striking portraiture to delightfully detailed and precise pieces and a picture with a sense of movement that dances to a vibrant city beat, it really is hugely heartening to see such gifted young artists have their wonderfully expressive artwork exhibited in the society's annual showcase.

The summer exhibition runs at Windermere's Ladyholme Centre until August 12.

ADRIAN MULLEN