Toadstools and slate paintings are among the range of artistic work being showcased in Carlisle.

Carlisle and Cumbria Artists’ annual exhibition at the the cathedral’s Fratry features more than 200 pieces of work of the highest quality by 66 artists.

A wood turner and slate painter are new to the line up this year, while artists have created paintings, pencil drawings and portraits.

Pat Porter, the group’s secretary who takes care of arrangements, said: “There’s a very diverse range of paintings. We have a new artist who does felt work. She calls it wet felting and that’s interesting. I don’t remember having had that before.

“There’s a vast range: there’s oil paintings, landscapes, animals, people. It’s an interesting variety.

“We usually get a reasonable turn out. The only year it was a bit down was when the Olympics were on because it clashed with that.”

It is the 48th exhibition since Molly Mawson established the tradition to raise funds for the cathedral – as the Fratry was run-down at the time – and other local charities.

Things kicked off with an opening evening last night ( TUES) .

Pat said regulars come year after year and it is a social event as well as an exhibition.

“We send out a few hundred invitations. They come crowding in through the doors and there’s usually a good turn out.

“It does tend to run pretty smoothly nowadays. I think we’ve got it off to a fine art,” she said.

Space is limited to artists who can show a consistently high standard of work. There is space for a maximum of 90 but a selection committee don’t fill the spaces unless standards are met.

Each artist enters five pieces. Three are hung and two kept in reserve in case of a sale or extra space becoming available.

Proceeds from the event, which usually raises between £1,500 and £3,000, will be divided between the cathedral and this year’s guest charity the Cumbria Community Foundation’s Flood Recovery Appeal.

One of Pat’s own pieces, an acrylic painting named Autumn Beside Derwentwater, has been donated as a raffle prize to raise additional funds.

It runs from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and midday to 4pm on Sunday until August 7. Entry to the exhibition costs £1.