LYNN Bates, Hilary Devereux and Deborah Nickolls, who are all alumni of the Royal Academy of Arts, are showing their work at the Theatre by the Lake until July 26.

Lynn and Hilary studied together at the RA, leaving in the late 1980s; Deborah left in the late 1990s . They have since relocated to Cumbria where they find constant inspiration for their work.

All three have previously exhibited in London galleries, the Royal Academy Summer Show, the New Grafton Gallery and the Cadogan Contemporary Gallery .

Deborah, who is an expedition leader as well as an artist, is hoping to raise money from the sale of some of her work for a project in Borneo, where village people have been affected by hydro-electric developments in their region .

Lynn, a former scenic artist for the BBC on primetime programmes such as Dr Who, EastEnders and Blackadder, now prefers painting 'plein air' in all weathers, attempting to capture the changing light and moods of the Eden Valley and the Lake District.

Meanwhile, Hilary has travelled with her paints and brushes in India and Nepal and looks for a more spiritual angle to the landscape, choosing subjects such as Castlerigg Stone Circle and Long Meg and her Daughters.

The exhibition is on show in the Keswick theatre's Friends Gallery.