MORE than 50 artists have put their work on display at an exhibition in Thornbury.

The event by Thornbury Art Club runs until Saturday, August 6 at the Methodist Church Hall, with a great deal of the town’s artistic talent being featured in the annual showcase.

Opening the event at a special private viewing on Friday, July 29, was National Portrait Gallery award winning artist, and Thornbury resident, Sophie Ploeg.

During her short address, Miss Ploeg talked about how life enhancing she finds art, and how more is seen and appreciated when people try to record it onto paper.

She said: “Painting is a voyage of discovery, something to enjoy and experiment with.

“And yet it never ceases to amaze me that despite all this, it is just applying some goo to a surface.”

Tricia Latham, the club’s chairman, said: “Following our rather special 50th year exhibition last year, the bar has been set high.

“A lot of effort and organisation has gone into getting the summer exhibition up and running, and we are pleased that with such a great variety of paintings, there are many imaginations at work,” she went on to say.

During the week, visitors to the exhibition can vote for the painting that appeals to them the most, with the winning artist being given more vouchers for art materials of their choice.