PAINTINGS of one of Italy's most picturesque cities will be featured in a new exhibition, opening in the Lake District this weekend.

Artwork from the new book Venice: A Watercolour Journey, by Phil Hobbs, will be on display at The Old Courthouse Gallery, in Ambleside, from this Saturday until November 5.

The Yorkshire-born artist has lived and worked as a painter in the English Lake District for more than 40 years, and he is a past president and honorary life member of the Lakes Artists Society.

Working predominantly in pure watercolour, he has participated in many national exhibitions and held a number of solo shows in the UK, USA and Europe. His time more recently is divided between painting in the UK and Italy.

The exhibition, entitled A Day in Venice: a Watercolour Journey with Phil Hobbs, will include a selection of exquisite paintings of Venice, all of which feature in Phil's new book.

The paintings will be available for sale during the exhibition, as will both standard and limited edition copies of the book.

Phil has been visiting and painting around Venice for more than 20 years and together his paintings and his book give an insight into both the city in all its splendour and the working life the painter.

As well as the watercolour paintings, which capture the essence of the place, the book's text provides a gentle and simple guide to many of the well known and some of the lesser-known treasures of Venice.

Lavishly illustrated with more than 165 of his exquisite drawings, sketches and paintings, there are also six hand drawn maps showing the various locations that were the inspiration behind them.

Paul Jones, co-owner of The Old Courthouse Gallery, says: "All of the paintings are originals as featured in Phil’s new book.

"We are delighted to be able to bring both the book and the paintings to a wide audience here at our popular gallery in Ambleside. We believe visitors will be just as moved and amazed by Phil’s work as we are."

A Day in Venice: a Watercolour Journey with Phil Hobbs will be on display at The Old Courthouse Gallery from Saturday October 21 to Sunday November 5, and is open every day during our normal gallery hours.