CHRISTCHURCH-based artists, Jan Clyde and Carol Owen, have joined forces for their first art exhibition for the New Year at the Regent in Christchurch.

The pair will be exhibiting around 35 pieces of their work, consisting of still life scenes in oils, watercolours, acrylics and pastels featuring some local scenes.

Jan Clyde is no stranger to the Regent, having been one of the centre’s longest standing volunteers. This will be her fourth exhibition at the Regent.

She started painting at the age of six having been inspired by her father who, during World War II, took whatever free time he could find from the conflict, to paint scenes of war-torn Holland, Belgium and France.

Ever since, Jan has always packed her paints and taken them wherever life has taken her with her family and friends.

In 1987, Jan was invited to teach Art as a volunteer with the University of the Third Age in Surrey. The following year, she moved to Christchurch and has continued taking classes for U3A at Beaufort Community Centre in Southbourne, together with classes for the Salvation Army in Boscombe.

Every summer for the last 27 years, Jan has exhibited her paintings of Hampshire and Dorset coastlines together with the animals from the New Forest, including the horses and the birdlife, at the annual Bournemouth Gardens, Pine Walk Exhibition.

Carol Owen took up painting when she retired following a successful career as a secretary in the financial sector. She enrolled with Bournemouth Adult Education on a fine art course and then went on to take her A-levels in 2005.

Carol, who is a member of Christchurch Arts Guild and Highcliffe Art Fellowship, says her inspiration comes from nature which is reflected in her paintings of flowers, landscapes, exotic birds, animals and wildlife in their natural habitats.

The exhibition opens on Saturday, December 30 and runs until Friday, January 19. Free entry.