BEAUTY is in the eye of the beholder, it is said.

Well, that may apply when eyeing up one's lifetime partner, but with art, and especially paintings, what is and isn't good is usually immediately clear to everyone.

Sonia Priest for instance, an artist of some 25 years, produces images of plants and wildlife that are uncannily lifelike and 'alive'.

A housewife and resident of Hunstrete, Sonia (who describes herself as 'middle aged') says she has been painting ever since school.

"But not seriously until three or four years ago," she said. "I needed some form of relaxation and living out in the countryside enabled me to get out and look for my subjects.

"Capturing the beauty of a simple flower takes you away from the busy humdrum of ordinary life. I usually paint flowers because I've always adored them."

A keen gardener, Sonia says her ambition is simply to keep enjoying the pastime.

"I paint in acrylics," she says, "because it is a very forgiving medium, although I do occasionally work in watercolour.

"I paint nearly ever day, about an hour each afternoon, and I suppose it takes me anything up to a week to complete each new painting."