Midsomer Norton artist, Annie Davenport, is to stage her first solo exhibition at Wells this month. The display is entitled ‘Celebrating Somerset’, and Annie will be exhibiting some of her most recent paintings, inspired by her surroundings, and depicting a selection of the county’s most iconic landmarks.

Annie studied graphics at Bristol Polytechnic, and since then has had a long and varied career as an artist, designer, printer, and textile maker.

She also writes and illustrates children’s books. Storytime Island Books are her most recent children’s book titles. She has supplied illustrations for the Times Educational Supplement and designed covers for Bristol’s Business Directory publications. Annie was proud to be asked to create a portrait of war hero, Oliver Brooks, who won the Victoria Cross in WWI. This is on permanent display in Midsomer Norton Town Hall. One of her paintings was also featured in Leisure Painter magazine last year.

She is a member of the Old Bakery Artists, exhibiting with the group, as well as curating several exhibitions in Bristol.

Annie will be presenting her solo exhibition at the Wells and Mendip Museum, 8 Cathedral Green, from Wednesday 9th to Thursday, 31st May. The

display will be part retrospective, with examples of costumes Annie has designed adorning the large cabinets, as well as a new series of paintings which celebrate Somerset.

They will include her depictions of Wells Market, Bath Abbey and Pulteney Bridge, Glastonbury Tor, Ashton Windmill, Clevedon Pier, Chew Valley Lake and Burnham.

Annie said: “I am so excited about staging my first solo exhibition in this beautiful room in the museum, which looks out over the Cathedral Green. Most of the exhibition will also include open studio events, where I shall be painting.”

In an adjoining room, Annie will be joined by other members of the OBA; Penny Lloyd, Diana Walker, Janet Jackson, Richard Prentice and Frank Reeves. The show is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and closed on Sundays.