A COLWALL artist has been asked to exhibit her batiks at a stately home owned by the National Trust.

The opening of Charlecote House, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon, was delayed by the foot and mouth crisis but it went ahead last Saturday and is now open from noon to 5pm daily, except Wednesday and Thursday.

Here you can see some of Jenny Davidson's finest works, on show for the rest of the season.

Jenny started her artistic career at Malvern School of Art, where two years spent drawing from life left an indelible mark.

"Victor Moody taught me to draw with great care and precision," she said.

Jenny went on to study at the Royal College of Art, where she was awarded a diploma in textile design (woven).

"It was my interest in pattern and colour which led me to study textile design," she said.

But marriage and family intervened, and Jenny found herself unable to pursue a career in textiles.

"All the firms where I could have worked were up north and that was not possible," she said.

When she decided to return to the artistic life, it was the technique of batik which began to fascinate her.

Jenny taught herself the skill, which involves masking parts of a sheet of material - she uses cotton, but silk is sometimes used - with wax, and colouring it with dyes. She finds the initial drawing of the design is the most time-consuming part but says the process of building up the colours is still "magical". Up to eight colours can be successively applied, starting with the lightest.

She needs no specialised studio; the kitchen and dining room of her bungalow are enough for her to produce her works of art.

"It has proved very popular at times. I had a big exhibition at St John's in Smith Square, London, and it broke the sales record for the gallery."