A BLACKBURN artist who made a dramatic debut when she sold one of her works to a Coronation Street star is planning a summer exhibition.

Joan Parkinson, of Preston New Road, only picked up a brush when she retired but sold her painting to Thomas Craig, who plays mechanic Thomas Harris in the ITV soap.

Mr Craig snapped up the picture, featuring a couple embracing, for his girlfriend after opening the national art exhibition in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, in March.

Now Joan, who paints mostly still life in oils, is hoping Bruce Jones, who plays Les Battersby in the soap, will buy a painting when he opens the British Watercolour Society's display on Saturday, June 12, at the King's Hall Winter Gardens.

Among the 1,250 paintings will be five of Joan's, including Daisies in Pewter Teapot, Veronica's Roses and The Red Shoes.