THE art collective, Made in Ross, based in the town’s Market House, has a new artist joining the team.

Dolores Phelps, a watercolour and mixed media artist who has lived locally for 35 years, has a new permanent exhibition space as part of the permanent Made in Ross gallery.

After starting out as a successful editorial illustrator, Dolores has been painting in watercolours since 2004 alongside teaching in art and design at both Gloscat (now Gloscol) and the University of Gloucestershire.

Her style is loose and intuitive, aiming to capture the atmosphere, light and textures of the Forest of Dean, the Welsh Mountains, and the Severn and Wye Valley.

Delores specialises in abstract landscape and more recently large scale abstract gouache paintings in a style and technique influenced by the American abstract expressionist painter Paul Jenkins.

Dolores said: “I'm very honoured and excited to have been invited as a member of this brilliant co-operative housed in the beautiful Market Hall. It’s an amazing opportunity to have a permanent place to display and sell my work.

The collective, now in its 11th year, comprises 15 members who all have their own artistic specialism: from handmade bags, pottery, jewellery and glass art, to 2D fine art originals and prints including pastels, photocollage and linocut prints.

The gallery has a fresh new look with new products and a change around of all the displays since July 3.

The collective is situated upstairs at the Market Hall and is open every day of the year between 10am and 4pm.

The collective artists are also part of the Far Open Art Trail, which is currently taking place across the region.

Made in Ross is a community of skilled artists and makers who manage the exhibition space and are often on hand to greet and assist visitors.