THE talents of North Yorkshire artist, Elizabeth Smith, have been recognised by one of the country's leading art societies.

The Royal Society of Marine Artists has rewarded the consistently high standard of her paintings by electing her to membership.

Mrs Smith, who lives in Ingelby Arncliffe, near Northallerton, has exhibited with the society since 1989, and was elected to associate membership in 1998. Full membership was accorded at its recent annual meeting in London.

With membership numbering only about 40 artists of national and international renown, the selection procedure is long and sets the highest standards.

An opportunity to see some of her work takes place next weekend when she holds her annual show in Swainby village hall. On Saturday and Sunday, November 17-18, about 40 of her pictures will be exhibited, including some that were hung at the most recent RSMA exhibition in the Mall Galleries in London.

There will also be a number of local landscapes and still-life paintings. The exhibition is open from 10am-4pm daily.

Much of Mrs Smith's work for the marine society results from frequent visits to the coast and occasional trips abroad. She is attracted by the special quality of light associated with the sea and by the diversity of the coastal landscape.

Subjects include fishing villages and harbours, working boats and yachts.

She works in pastel, combining careful observation with a strong sense of design, composition and colour.

Mrs Smith has also contributed for many years to exhibitions of the Pastel Society and to those held by the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists. Her work is to be found in many commercial galleries in this country and in private collections worldwide. Occasional commissions have included work for BASF, BP, National Power and Targor.

This year, she also showed work at RSMA exhibitions in New York and in Connecticut.