A NEW three-month exhibition is set to open at the Coach House, in Ulverston, at the start of July.

Artist Lesley Maddock, whose work is influenced by Klimt and Van Gogh, has a solo showcase at the gallery, situated in Ford Park.

She uses colour and texture enthusiastically in an attempt to share her love of nature.

Oils, acrylics, metallic finishes, ink and collage are frequently applied to the same canvas with brush, pallet knife, fingers, sponge and anything else that seems appropriate at the time.

The Newcastle-born artist settled in the Lake District in 1983, and for a time was the owner and manager of Cartmel Craft Centre, exhibiting her own paintings and those of several other artists.

She says: "Over my career I have been greatly influenced by the work of Gustav Klimt and Vincent van Gogh - especially their treatment of landscape and flowers.

"I aim to express my love of colour, light and texture through paint.

"I have enjoyed watercolour but now prefer the density and intensity of oils and acrylics.

"Recently I have included metallic finishes and some collage to enhance surface textures. A painting should not be considered as part of interior decor blending with the wallpaper, but stand out in its own right, inviting the viewer to look again and again, seeing something new and stimulating every time."

Lesley's artwork will be on display at the Coach House, in Ford Park, throughout July, August and September.