AN exhibition in tribute to artist Kathleen Munro will remain on display at The Art Yard gallery in Cradley Heath until next weekend.

The exhibition, which features a large collection of work created during her lifetime and even included in her childhood sketch books will be on show at the Reddal Hill Road studios until July 28.

Born on March 13, 1917, in College Road, Birmingham, Kathleen Beatrice Munro was to become a prolific artist who used her painting, drawing and writing skills to capture unique changes to the second city’s landscape.

From an early age Kath developed a love of drawing and calligraphy and from September 1931 she attended The School of Dress Design in Birmingham where she developed her skills for designing innovative dresses and advertising posters, and for still life drawing.

But it wasn’t until 1947 that her artistic talents were eventually spotted by Belliss and Morcom.

In 1950, Kath joined the planning department of Birmingham City Council where she began to produce a long series of unique art watercolour impressions of proposed urban landscape developments.

In the drawing office she met another longstanding friend Archie Exton, who was an accomplished draftsman and fellow artist, and together they produced beautiful pen and ink sketches of local and historical scenes across the region.

Art work was embedded in everything she did. Having never married or had children instead she devoted her time to several charities and to selling her pictures to raise funds for Cancer Research.

The relief of cancer was a subject especially dear to her heart. She had survived breast cancer surgery in the 1980s and sadly when it returned 14 years later, she underwent a second mastectomy. Kathleen died on August 31, 2004.

Harry Bloomer, one of the manager of The Art Yard, said: “Kathleen Munro was an extraordinarily talented woman who will never be forgotten by her family and friends.

“Fortunately we are able to show to the visitors to The Art Yard the unique collection of art work that Kath amassed over her lifetime.

“The collection ranges from her childhood drawing and college work to a wide array of watercolour landscapes showing urban developments throughout the City of Birmingham, and those she painted whilst visiting places about England and Scotland.”

Sheila Peacock, niece of Kath Munro and who put together the collection, said: “I am thrilled and delighted that The Art Yard team agreed to showcase to the general public this wonderful collection of watercolour impressions and photographs by Kath.”

Entry to exhibitions at The Art Yard is free, and also on show in the rear gallery during the month will be an exhibition of art created by children from Crestwood Park Primary School in Kingswinford.