BIRDS and beasts along the Ridgeway landscape are the inspiration for painter Tara Parker-Woolway, who will throw open her doors this weekend.

The artist, who favours acrylic paint, will take part in the eight's rendition of Swindon Open Studios, which will run across this weekend.

More than 50 creative types will be showcasing their art across 39 different locations as part of this year's festival, and Tar will be among them, welcoming people to her exhibition at the Cafeteria in Commonweal school.

"Wildlife paintings are becoming a passion for me," said Tara, who will display her work at the Old Town school on Saturday and Sunday.

"What started with cockerels, chickens, pheasants, grouse and partridge has developed into a love of representing all types of British Wildlife. The raw energy these beautiful creatures have is captured in a fluid almost abstract way. I am worried though by the challenges we face through climate change and by our destruction of

natural habitats. Our wildlife is in danger and sadly we may not realise quite the effect we are having until it is too late."

Tara, who is also head of art at Commonweal School, usually works out of a studio in Bourton, near Shrivenham, and is no stranger to exhibitions having been shortlisted for the Shoosmiths Prize 2015 and having won the Pound Arts Prize in 2012 with Frisky Chicks.

She is also an active member of Oxfordshire Artweeks.

"My drawings are all inspired by local landscapes both in the Wylye Valley where I come from and South West Oxfordshire where I live," she said.

"I am constantly excited to see the colours and shapes that occur naturally in landscape and the environment which I recreate in my work. I work on commission and have completed views landscapes from all over the world."

Tara is looking forward to making use of a new exhibition space at Commonweal.

"The gallery space is on the top floor of the Commonweal School's new sixth form building, C6. It is a beautiful open space within Brogans cafe. It is open to visitors during the week," she said.

"The C6 Gallery is able to be hired for a month at at time by external artists. Anyone interested in hiring the space should contact jdaubney@commonweal.co.uk in the first instance."

To find out more about Tara visit www.parkerwoolwayartist.co.uk and for more on Swindon Open Studios, visit www.swindonopenstudios.org.uk.