AN EXHIBITION of West Country artists held in Tavistock's Bedford Hotel proved a huge success with over £12,000 worth of pictures sold.

The exhibition raised almost £4,500 for Sampford Spiney Church with 48 works of art selling over three days.

The exhibition was held in Gallery 26 at the Bedford and opened with a private evening viewing attended by around 100 guests.

Ken Howard, a former resident of Sampford Spiney and renowned artist, opened the exhibition and encouraged all there to buy something.

The exhibition would not have been the success it was without the support of the artists — the organisers were overwhelmed by the quality of the work which was shown. For their part, the artists seemed delighted with the numbers of pictures sold, the venue, and with the way they were hung by Nick Collier, formerly head of art at Kelly College.

The organisers were particularly grateful to him for the loan of his display boards and for the support of the Drawn to the Valley group who lent a number of theirs as well. Thanks were also expressed to the Bedford Hotel.