Proud painters earn cash for their fine efforts on canvas

Her depiction in oil of Low Tide at Bosham was snapped up by an early visitor to the Rotary Club-organised event.

It was one of three works which she had on show during the four-day Observer-backed celebration of artistic talent.

She said: 'I'm quite pleased to have sold the painting. It's satisfying that someone likes my work enough to want to own it.'

Aged 86 from Shripney Road, she has been painting for 15 years and is a member of Bognor Regis Art Society.

She took part in the early years of the exhibition from 2003.

'This is a nice exhibition,' she stated. 'There is plenty of space to stand back and look at the paintings. Some exhibitions are so cramped you can't do that.'

Hers was among 18 paintings sold well before the halfway mark of the show at the Gordon Centre in Canada Grove.

It featured more than 400 paintings to be the largest event of its type in the town centre.

Plenty of visitors were attracted by the chance to look around the range of subjects on show. They included an artistic tour of the world from the Pier at Bognor Regis by Frank Garner in pastel to Elizabeth Gordon's acrylic scene of New Zealand's Cape Foulwind. Along the way on the journey came Venice, Toronto and Arundel Castle. Four of the views were provided by Worthing man Tom Kay. Viewers of his works were transported to the Scottish islands, the Isle of Wight and Ashford in Derbyshire. Each of the scenes captured his imagination as he passed by them.

He said: 'I've been in this exhibition four times. It's one of the best in the area and people come to view it from a wide area. The standard is quite high.'

Mr Kay (76) has regularly sold paintings since he picked up his paintbrushes in 1998.

He belongs to three art clubs in his home town and regularly exhibits his works with them.