A PARTNERSHIP forged over the past ten years has produced one of the most stunning art exhibitions ever presented at the Old School Arts Workshop in Middleham.

Ruth Rowland, who lives at Richmond, began her career as an artist by attending courses run by Peter Hibbard and Alan Turnbull at the workshop. She was then accepted on a full-time degree course at Newcastle university, completing this with an MA in fine art.

In her postgraduate work, she particularly used pinhole photography to explore images of the past, and the pleasure of arranging the space she lived in to her own personal satisfaction.

This was beautifully captured by Peter Hibbard in the layout of the exhibition which is entitled Interiors. The first startling impact upon entering is the vivid use of white space to set off a series of pinhole photographs.

The images in these photographs are developed with a set of grey and white miniatures in acrylic on linen, and finally by some studies in blue.

As she explained, her fascination with art began with printing her own black and white photographs. She then became intrigued with the possibilities of creating own personal response by varying the tone and content of the image.

This led her to retain a simplicity of line, using shapes and shades of blue to move beyond photographic images, and makes for a very strong, unified exhibition where a sudden splash of bright colour, as in Rag Doll by Moonlight, provides a sharp and intriguing contrast.

Her studies in blue show how she is developing her own style now she is free from academic strictures. This is her first solo exhibition and the first at the Old School Arts Workshop this year.

Peter Hibbard delayed the start of the exhibition programme because, he said, the foot-and-mouth epidemic had changed the pattern of dales' life, both for residents and visitors. But he was delighted to provide such an opportunity for Ruth Rowland, especially during Middleham festival.

He said: "She is an excellent example of determination to develop and nurture personal talent and enthusiasm for knowledge.'

Ms Rowland has been a member of Yoredale art club which holds its annual exhibition at the community centre in Leyburn this weekend. Her own show in Middleham runs until Monday, July 30.

l For Middleham Festival, there was also an exhibition in the foyer of the Key Centre by Gordon Butler's art group.

This was a varied exhibition which included paintings by some popular local artists. D M Tilburn's Muck and Power, a study of steam power, was especially impressive, as was F C Thompson's The Engine Shed.

There was a fine selection of watercolours by C V and M A Heap and excellent oils by Sandra Nix, especially that of Swaledale sheep beside a beck. Other artists who took part were K Hudson, M Hamilton, S Ashby and J Franks.