Some of the region’s most excellent artists are exhibiting at Finestra Gallery in Kirkby Lonsdale this Christmas, as the gallery celebrates its fifth year.

William H Jones has completed new paintings exclusively for this exhibition comprising Kirkby Lonsdale winter scenes, including one of the Town Square (right). There are paintings by Kerry Darlington, who has become well known for her very contemporary mixed media paintings, and paintings by Lancashire artists Mike Howarth and Barry Hilton.

Yorkshire artists James Wheeler and David Allen are also featured. James paints atmospheric landscape views in oil on a cork surface, with an unusual depth and texture. David is an outstanding pastel painter, and is a member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists at the prestigious Mall Galleries on London’s south bank.

A favourite in the gallery is ceramicist Christine Cummings, who with John Bradshaw is exhibiting her exquisite animal figures, alongside Karen Lainson’s superb ceramic horse sculptures. There is also a collection of bronze and ceramic hares by Paul Jenkins.

Angela Smyth, whose pictures of humorous characters in everyday life (including The Casting Couch, left), is also exhibiting, and there are paintings from two of the founder members of Green Door Studio, Fiona Clucas and Thuline De Cock. Louis Morton has completed some stunning new watercolour paintings, and this year there are remarkable animal paintings by David C Lyons.

There is a continuous display of contemporary glass by Alexandra Hamilton, Janice Bradshaw and Christine Romano, alongside jewellery by Val Brammer, Della Clark and Kirkby Lonsdale’s Sondra Gray on show at the gallery.

This new Christmas exhibition starts on 29th November, and runs until the 31st of January 2009, and the gallery is open every day from 10.00am to 5.00pm. Contact gallery owner Bernadette Jones on 015242 73747 for further details about any of the artists featured.

Visit the Finestra Gallery web site