An artist who has overcome rheumatoid arthritis to paint is exhibiting at Ripon Cathedral.

Judith Gilbert – who lives near Haworth – has been able to create small, colourful images in detail, despite the illness affecting her hands.

Because the disease in her shoulders prevents her from working on large paintings, Judith puts together small pictures to make one large image.

Judith said her pictures explored relationships of colour, shape and pattern within the narrative tradition of painting. She has been influenced by medieval and Eastern art and Russian artist Ivan Bilibin.

A love of animals has led Judith to paint Biblical themes, and recently she has used them to explore the mythical subject of The Tree of Life.

Judith was artist-in-residence at Bradford Cathedral and after exhibiting work there also showed at Saltaire Methodist Church during the Art Festival.

She has also exhibited pictures several times in Bradford, as well as in Chicago, London and Helmsley, and as a member of Ambo Arts with twin sister Geraldine and brother-in-law Nigel.

The exhibition at Ripon Cathedral takes place from this Saturday until April 29.

Judith can be contacted at 01535 646583 or at: judith_gilbert@talktalk.net.