PAINTER Philippa Smith is juggling her managerial job at Duchy Square in Princetown with preparations for a forthcoming exhibition of her own work – but she's got both roles down to a fine art!

Philippa is one of the most familiar faces at the centre in Princetown, in charge of curating the exhibition programme, as well as the day to day running of the galleries and shop. She is also on hand to help and support Duchy Square's resident artists and creative practitioners, who rent low cost work space units at the centre.

But Philippa, who lives near Yelverton, is also an artist in her own right and some of her latest work will be on display at the latest exhibition by Tavistock Contemporary Art to be housed in the old Fulston's building in Church Lane, Tavistock.

Opened this week and entitled 'Renewal', Philippa's abstract work for the show is on the theme of the seasons and she is one of six artists in the collective who will be exhibiting. It marks the start of a busy period for Philippa, who will also have work on display at Rosemoor in Torrington for three consecutive days, beginning 8 April, and then at Tavistock Art Market on April 30, as part of the Tavistock Music and Arts Festival.

Philippa, who studied the History of Art at Bishop's University in Quebec, Canada and then garden design via the Open College of the Arts, paints in acrylics on canvas and strives to engage the viewer through her use of colour and subject.

She said:?'I try to react to the landscape in which I live, using a dynamic and colourful interpretation of what I see and feel.'