Northern Light, a collection of around 30 works by renowned North East artist Ruth Bond, will be held at The Aviary, Brentwood Avenue, Jesmond, Newcastle, from 3 to 15 November.

And such is the interest that several have already been snapped up prior to the exhibition opening.

An established interior designer, Ruth, who divides her time between Newcastle and Alnmouth, began painting oils of Northumberland in around 2014.

A visit to the Outer Hebrides provided further inspiration and now her landscapes of both areas are avidly collected by art lovers across the country.

To accompany the paintings – which are mostly in oil – copies of Ruth’s new book, Outer Hebrides Captured, will also be on sale.

Along with images of her work, it contains poems by North East poet Peter Rees and explains how Scotland’s famous Harris Tweed fabrics took her painting in a new direction.

Ruth explains:

“Until then I had largely used very realistic tones to accurately reflect the view I was illustrating.

“But when I went to the Outer Hebrides I just saw the rich colours of Harris Tweed everywhere and that made me push the colours I was using much further.”

Director of The Aviary, Trevor Read, said there had been an overwhelming level of interest in the upcoming exhibition, “not least because Ruth’s paintings are immensely soothing and beautiful.

“The exhibition’s title, Northern Light, really does encapsulate the way in which Ruth captures the changing light over the coastal and landscapes of the north,” he said.

“And not only will many of the scenes she has depicted be familiar to those from the area, but they are very easy to live with. You could never tire of looking at her paintings – you just become totally absorbed by them.”

The gallery is part of the Own Art scheme which means that – subject to passing a credit check – items can be bought over 10 months on interest free credit payments.

For more information, visit www.aviaryart.co.uk