GAZETTE & HERALD: Hundreds of visitors attended an exhibition of pictures by the Chippenham and District Artists on Friday and Saturday.

People packed the preview evening on Thursday to enjoy a glass of wine, view the 197 paintings on show and listen to Carolyn Long from the Cellar Gallery extol the virtues of art as she formally opened the annual exhibition.

Judges Bob Rudd and Liz Smith and lay judge Sarah Singleton of the Gazette and Herald awarded joint best in show for members to Beryl Marks for her tender gouache painting A Place in the Country and to Gill Marriner-Edwards for her large bold painting in emulsion and acrylic called Five Sisters of Kintail.

A separate award for best in show for non-members went to Yvonne Auld for her charming etching Puffins. Nine other works received highly commended awards and altogether 21 pictures were sold, three times more than last year.

Students' work from Chippenham primary schools and colleges was also exhibited. During the exhibition visitors were able to vote for their favourite painting with the winner being a watercolour by Jane Davis called Caen Hill Locks, Devizes.