ARTISTS from the Bradford area are exhibiting at a Christmas exhibition in the town.

Work by Bingley artists Jane Fielder and Helen Shearwood, Bradford-based Amy Charlesworth, and Josie Barraclough, former head of art at Bradford Grammar School, are among those exhibiting at the Bingley Gallery, which Jane ran until her retirement earlier this year.

Jane captures local scenes in what have been dubbed locally as ‘Janescapes’. From the towering chimneys of the town’s former textile mills, to the colourful boats on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Shipley Glen and neighbouring Bradford and Ilkley, her panoramas are both quirky and captivating.

She has recently finished three beautiful new Janescapes, one over six feet long, painted from a balcony overlooking Greenhill, near Micklethwaite Lane, to celebrate the natural beauty of a place soon to be built on.

The other two are painted onto silk, which is something new for her.

Helen, from Australia, who is Jane’s niece, exhibits contemporary works in a range of mediums, including watercolour, collage and acrylic.

Fine art graduate Amy is based in Bradford and covers a diverse range of subjects in oils, painting whatever appeals to her. A particular speciality is robins.

Her style is ‘hyperrealistic’. As Amy says, she ‘likes things to look like they look.’

A painting of Hewenden Viaduct near Cullingworth is among those she is exhibiting.

A former pupil of Heckmondwike Grammar School, Josie studied at Batley College of Art and Bretton Hall. She works with different elements of oil and mixed media to create vibrant and emotive works such as a colourful study of jays in a rowan tree.

Work by West Yorkshire artists Judith Levin, Stella Verity and Rob Thomson will also be on show as will artwork by Clarke Avery.

Clarke studied archaeological sciences and is fascinated with the past, which inspires his work.

Expressive brushstrokes, strong colours and drips suggest subjects ranging from imaginary seascapes and turbulent seas to political metaphors and the quantum world.

“We are lucky in this area - you do not have to go far to find some really good artists,” says gallery owner and artist-in-residence David Starley, whose work is also on show.

“Also on display in the exhibition is a magnificent copper owl from Kawa Saed, not to mention a range of 3-D artworks,” says gallery owner and artist in residence David Starley, who is also exhibiting.

Bingley Gallery is joining with some of the new and older independent shops along Park Road for a late opening night on Thursday December 5, to 8pm.

“This includes our new neighbours Mason and Rose Home Fragrances, the new Five Rise Records, Gather gifts and party supplies and Park Road Newsagents, which surprisingly has a room of exquisite, hand-knotted carpets,” says David.

The exhibition will run up to Christmas and possibly beyond. The gallery, in Park Road, will be open daily until Christmas Eve.