A FULL and varied life has led Barbara Harrison to a creative career on canvas.

Mother-of-four Barbara, of Woodland Crescent, Prestwich, has tried her hand at a variety of jobs, from local government officer to new-age market trader.

She now works part-time as a social research interviewer for Government offices and universities, and in her spare time she paints watercolours and gouache.

Barbara said: "I paint clowns or people's faces and I often like to include a humorous scene. I used to work in the personnel department at Bury Town Hall, then I had my own business working as a training consultant.

"After that I sold new-age goods at markets in Salford and Swinton and I suppose you could say my paintings have a new-age, imaginative feel to them. I have had lots of different jobs and my experience of life comes out in my paintings. It's the tapestry of life."

Barbara, who has seven grandchildren, took up painting 10 years ago after visiting an art class at Padiham. She is now a member of that group and regularly has her work displayed in their exhibitions.

In June she will exhibit her work at the British Watercolour Society exhibition, which takes place at Kings Hall/Winter Gardens in Ilkley.

Coronation Street's Les Battersby, actor Bruce Jones, opens the exhibition on Saturday, June 12. The event runs until June 20.