AN ARTIST who hails from the Ribble Valley is to have her work exhibited at a top gallery and a book about her work published.

Jean Macalpine, who hails from Waddington and whose family still live there, will exhibit her hand-tinted black and white photography at the University of Leeds Art Gallery from June 3 to July 3.

And one Ramsgreave resident, John Theakstone, who has been collecting Jean's work for years will travel to the exhibition, confident that she will take the art world by storm.

Jean, who now lives in Menorca, has also recently had her work exhibited at the Royal Academy in London. Her hand-tinted photographs are considered one-offs and are popular among art collectors. John, who has been collecting her work for 10 years, said the time had come for her to hit the big time. "I came across Jean's work 10 years ago when I was living and working in London and now own a small collection of her work from photographs taken in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Dorset and the Grand Canyon," he said.

"I am very pleased that someone who was an unknown artist when I came across her work has recently been featured in the prestigious Royal Academy and is to have a book published about her work. I will certainly be attending the Leeds exhibition."

The opening preview of the Leeds exhibition will coincide with the publication of the book on Jean's work by Mary Rose Beaumont.

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