NEW Beginnings is the title of an exhibition being held to mark some changes at a Malvern gallery and picture framing business.

After 18 years of running the Lyttelton House Gallery at the Priory Steps, Abbey Road, Margaret Edgar is moving on.

Mrs Edgar, from Cradley, wants to concentrate on her own painting and pursue her love of singing, through performing with local groups the Greenwood Voices and the Pax Voices and giving solo performances.

"I've got really mixed feelings because I love it here but I've got to move on," she said.

New owner Andrew Morgan, from Worcester, said he often visited the gallery in his previous job as a picture framing product salesman. Now he is saying goodbye to life on the road to take over the business, something he had not thought about seriously until Lyttelton House Gallery came up for sale.

"I really wanted to take over. It's a beautiful spot for a gallery," he said.

The New Beginnings exhibition runs from February 5 to 18 and will include work by professional artists the gallery has featured over the past 18 years, along with some new material.

"We thought the exhibition would give people an opportunity to bid farewell to Margaret and also introduce them to me and a few new artists," said Mr Morgan.

Worcestershire will be a prominent theme in the exhibition, with many of the artists coming from Malvern.

John Smythe, Ian Cruickshank, Patrick Hare, Vivien Bromley, Aubrey Phillips and Diane Howarth are members of the town's artistic community who will be showing works ranging from watercolours to oils.

Mr Morgan will also introduce the work of Worcester artist Robin Holder, who paints river scenes, and is considering holding an exhibition of work by students later in the year.

The gallery has been going for 28 years. Mrs Edgar took over when it was based in Church Street, moving it to its current location at the Priory Steps, in Abbey Road, around five years ago.

She plans to be involved with the gallery in an advisory capacity, as she will continue to live in Cradley.

For further details about the New Beginnings exhibition, call 01684 574921.