ALTHOUGH Windermere Art Society has arguably one of the region's smallest memberships, with around 20, it lacks nothing in the quality of work it creates.

In fact, many of its members are up there with some of the region's finest.

Gordon Young, Jean Wedgbury, David Best, Alan Barlow, Coline Pearson, Don Mounsey, Mary Kelso, Norman Lang, et al (just to name a few) are some of Lakeland's most talented painters and in this year's exhibition, running at the Ladyholme Community Centre until August 13, all have raised their creative bar.

Gordon's turning his skilful hands towards photo realism; particularly outstanding in this year's show is his St John's in the Vale watercolour. Alan Barlow's The Square, Soller, drenched in the Majorcan sunshine is another captivating image, and David 'Picasso' Best never fails to impress; his seductive African Sunset oil and cubist/abstract style works are another very good reason to see the society's 2016 summer show.

Fresh to the society this year are striking abstracts by Peter Temple, and Mary Kelso's Wild Flower watercolour is a delicate and exquisite alternative to many of the bold pieces exhibited elsewhere in the 'Tate Windermere' space: honeysuckle, forget-me-not and hawthorne, add a lovely botanical element.

For me, Jean Wedgbury's Misty Morning, Grasmere, A Winter's day has a wonderful ethereal quality and among the best paintings in the exhibition, a close second to Mary Weallean's Kirkby Malham, Christmas Walk, which landed Mary this year's Robin Lowry Memorial Cup for the best work in the exhibition. Mary's wintry, quite magical moonlit scene, oozed atmosphere. You could almost feel the chill.

I love discovering new artists and it was great to be introduced to Mary's work.

Her detailed watercolours have a colour composition and freshness that immediately engages you. A real star who apparently returned to painting a couple of years ago following a nine year hiatus.

The exhibition is open 10.30am-5pm.

Ladyholme Community Centre is on Lake Road.

Adrian Mullen