THE region's oldest art club is staging its 25th annual exhibition next month.

From September 7 to 28, the North of England Art Club (NOEAC) will stage the exhibition in the Newcastle Arts Centre, in Westgate Road.

The club can trace its origins back to the Newcastle Society of Artists (NSA), which was formed in 1835 by a local group of professional artists including J.W.Carmichael, T.M. Richardson junior and senior, and Luke Clennel.

In 1927, the membership stood at 60 and included E.M.O'r Dickey, who is represented in the Laing Art Gallery's permanent collection.

A club spokesman said: "It was the need for better studio space which led to the members founding the North of England Art Club in the present studio in Bolbec Hall, in 1977.

"The two clubs continued with their separate identities until 1982, when further difficulties with accommodation led to the NSA merging with the NOEAC to form the current flourishing organisation."

The club is thought to be the only one in the North-East with its own studios which are used every day by painting and drawing groups.