WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE artist Lynne Clarke is looking forward to Wotton Art Group's annual exhibition this year for a particular reason - "I hope it will be the last one I have to organise", she said. Lynne is standing down as chairman of the group after Christmas.

The exhibition, during the weekend of December 8 and 9, will also be special for another reason - the art group is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

The group was founded by Muriel Dormer; and artist and tutor Lynne Clarke is also a founder member.

Muriel Dormer has chosen the Motor Neurone Disease Association as this year's exhibition charity, in memory of her brother who died of the disease.

The show will be held at Wotton Civic Centre - it is open between 10am and 4pm.

Admission is free and refreshments and cards will be available through the day, in addition to the art which is for sale.

Lynne Clarke said: "Art is generally a good investment of course - it will give you pleasure, and the chance to call yourself a collector: that must be worth something."

She added: "I can't promise we have the next collectable artist in our midst, but we have many very talented men and women artists."

Alongside the exhibition is a display to celebrate Eileen Martin's 95th birthday - Eileen, an accomplished pianist and art tutor who trained at the Royal West of England Art Academy, has lived in Wotton all her life: her parents owned Marmont, the drapers' shop where Clarence's is now.