MOTHER nature in all her glory appears to be the theme of the spring exhibition of Bridgwater’s Chandos of Artists.

There are scenes from Brittany, Tuscany and yes, Somerset. Fields of sunflowers, bluebell woods, autumn vines and apple trees takes the viewer on a nature trail - with just the occasional break such as Beth Maddock’s dogs and Johann Phillips Rainy Night in Paris. Glastonbury Tor features in Richard Field’s work while Dorothy Bark has her own take on the Somerset hill – and spreads her view to Snowden in North Wales with an etching.

Audrey Reddy’s sunlit fields of what must be Provence of Tuscany have a vivid and life enhancing feel while her painting From Fontmell Down reveals a beautiful sweeping landscape on a summer’s day.

Back indoors Pat Preater gives a classic oil on canvas depiction of her own artist’s studio complete with brushes and lines of heavily used tubes of paint – the universal symbols of every artist’s space from Van Gogh to David Hockney.

The Chandos Society was founded in 1961 with Jean Rees RWA as one of a group of artists who were the driving force behind the group – and who was also a founder member of the Bridgwater Arts Centre in 1946. Fittingly the two organisations have been intrinsically linked ever since and the centre which is the venue for the current show which runs until March 24 in the Castle Street gallery.

There’s a lecture at Bridgwater Arts Centre on the work of Jean Rees on Saturday, April 30, at 2.30pm.

Harry Mottram.