THE Old Courthouse Gallery celebrates its 21st birthday this weekend with the start of a special exhibition.

And the highly regarded Ambleside arthouse has lined-up many big names in the region's arts world to participate in the Cumbria titled show, which runs until October 17.

From fells, lakes and tarns, forests, pastures and seashores, lush woodlands, wild moorland, rivers, streams and waterfalls, to ancient stone circles, castles, towers, ruined abbeys, old churches and chapels, the Cumbria exhibition puts the county's many fascinating contrasts in the frame.

In total, 40 artists across all mediums will contribute artworks, including Ian Walton, the Edmondsons, Libby and Nigel, Paul Smith and Sian Pitman, with paintings, wood and metalwork, ceramics, jewellery and glass, all in the mix.

OCG has established itself as one of the finest of galleries of its kind in the north of England. A magnificent space, the gallery's success story all began when Andrew and Sylvia Brammall visited Hereford College to see not only their son, Christopher’s work at the graduate show, but all the other students. They were so impressed that it proved to be the spark for the opening of OCG in Ambleside's Market Place.

After much renovation work the gallery was up and running, with the help of daughter Amanda and daughter in law Heidi, with all the fittings and stairs designed and made by Chris.

The gallery was, and still is, very much a family affair.

Saturday (September 12) is billed as an 'open day,' from 10am-4pm, with some of the artists dropping in to celebrate the gallery's milestone.