A WATERCOLOUR artist has been elected to be a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour.

Cotswold watercolour artist Ann Blockley from Todenham near Moreton was voted in by members of the institute.

This society was founded in 1831and they exhibit at the Mall Galleries in London, just up The Mall from Buckingham Palace.

The Prince of Wales is an honorary member and often exhibits his own watercolours in the annual exhibition.

Ms Blockley has regularly exhibited her atmospheric paintings of nature at this gallery as a non-member but has been trying to achieve a coveted place in the group for many years.

In the past she has won the Princess Michael of Kent award for most outstanding watercolour in the Society of Women Artists exhibition, an art society of which she is also a member.

The election has taken place just at Ms Blockley's busiest time having published her tenth book on watercolour painting called ‘Watercolour Workshop’.

She is having an exhibition showing many of the paintings featured in the book at the Tithe Barn Gallery of Bourton House Gardens in Bourton on the Hill.

Paintings from her portfolio submitted to the Royal Institute will also be on show.

The exhibition starts on Saturday May 5 and runs until Saturday May 12 but it is closed on bank holiday Monday. The gardens will also be open throughout the show.