EDGE is the latest solo exhibition by Frances Winder, one of the region's most prolific and highly thought of painters.

Working from her home studio at Kendal, Frances exhibits far and wide: the Royal Watercolour Society at London's Bankside Gallery, the Royal Academy Summer exhibition, Upfront gallery, near Penrith, and closer to home, one of the north's finest artistic gatherings, the Lakes Artists Society show at Grasmere, which is running until September 5.

Frances will also exhibit her ceramics at Potfest and paintings and ceramics at other art fairs across the area.

Awash with rich tones, Edge runs at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre's sought after Sugar Store Gallery space until September 8.

She explains that in Edge her paintings explore the boundaries between areas in her environment or states of time, decay and erosion.

"I am interested in the decay and changes we see caused by age and time. Ancient trees, wind formed rock, eroded river banks and the decay and rebirth of plants and trees in the hedgerows and woods.

"I always love to paint the shores of lakes and the sea. I explore shadow lines from dark to light in an orchard, sometimes I have a more analytical and representational approach, and at other times I dive in with an intuitive reaction to light, mood and colour.

"I search for the essence of the landscape I see, often feeling that a very accurate representation leaves no gap for the observer to put in their own memories or experience. I want to cast a hook to personal memories without making a dogmatic statement - to share my delight, not my detail.

Frances uses a variety of methods and materials, often experimenting with gesso or playing with cling film, salt and fusing colours in an experimental way. She's also had a go with a series of works using acrylic inks overlaid on gesso or using wash techniques for vibrancy.

"I use rag and card effects with acrylic paints as well as watercolour effects with layers of built up colours," adds Frances. "Drawing too has always been important to me and is a big part of my work. Some work may be totally abstract to look at but is based on things around me, and my reaction to words or music."

Mossy eroded stumps, a glowering sky and shimmering fields of flowers are all a delight to Frances. Each in their own way.

"I enjoy the world and always want to share my enjoyment. The visceral pleasure of painting with rags and card, boldly putting on colour or using the vibrant dribbles of acrylic inks to create images gives me both pleasure when it works and anguish when it doesn’t. I hope people can share my delight in painting and drawing and find threads in my thinking that resonate with them."