AN ANNUAL art exhibition is returning in Awbridge.

The Summer Art Exhibition is a collection of paintings by artist Viv Verey.

Viv put together the exhibition eight years ago after re-discovering her love for painting.

She said: "It is an annual exhibition, I have done the paintings myself and we have around 45 to 50 paintings on show." Viv, from Awbridge, originally had a love for painting, before getting a job offer to sail in the Greek Islands.

She then worked at a sailing school in Hamble, before starting a business delivering yachts across the world.

She added: "I was fortunate to get the job offer in the Greek Islands, I had such a love for sailing.

"I then taught for eight to ten years and got a bit fed up of that, and then made my own business.

"It was amazing and really life changing."

Once Viv stopped her life at sea, she then decided to pick up painting again since she did not have the chance to do so earlier in life.

After painting for a while, she decided to start the annual showcase.

The Summer Art Exhibition is also raising money for charity.

Viv is selling greeting cards of her paintings in which the money goes towards hospital charity, The Gift of Sight.

Viv commented on why she chose the Gift of Sight: "My grandmother unfortunately went blind, I was 14 years old, it terrified me.

"I went to bed with the light on - it still does scare me.

"It is the worse thing that could happen."

She usually is able to give the charity more than £300 when holding the annual exhibition.

She expects around 250 to 300 people over the week the exhibition is open.

The Summer Art Exhibition will take place between Saturday, August 17 and bank holiday Monday, August 26.

The exhibition is open 10:30-6pm every day.

You can find it at The Art Studio, Danesmede, Danes Road, Awbridge.