"I simply love to draw and paint, " says Denise Mitchell (pictured above), whose work is currently on show at The Gallery at The Art Shop, South Hawkesworth Street, Ilkley.

She adds: "I mainly work in soft pastel, watercolour and oil paint but not exclusively to the use of other media. Soft pastel has such a wonderful, immediate vibrancy that I adore. I love watercolour for its fluidity and sometimes slightly unnerving unpredictability which makes the whole process exciting.

"My most recent discovery is oil paint, which has such a beautiful richness and buttery feel."

Denise's love of nature features strongly in her work.

She studied at Bradford Art College and then worked in the exhibition and printing industries before leaving to raise her children. Over the last several years she has returned to her love of creating art.

She been selected to exhibit at various open exhibitions in the North of England, such as the Bradford Open, Calderdale Open, Ilkley Art Show and Patchings Open Art Exhibition.

She said: " I have been received favourably, gaining the people's choice vote and other prizes.

The feedback I've received from showing my work has been absolutely brilliant!"

The exhibition runs until June 22.