A LANDSCAPE garden designer is fulfilling a lifelong ambition by staging her own art exhibition this month at Helmsley Art Centre.

Although she has had a career which has also included service in the RAF and as a dental hygienist, Carol Messham, of Kirkbymoorside, has always had a yearning from schooldays to pursue her keen interest in drawing and painting.

She was encouraged to become an art teacher but decided to follow in her brother's footsteps and join the RAF.

Carol became a hygienist at a Helmsley practice then decided to pursue her artistic talents and went to Harrogate Art College. "It's difficult to earn a living just by painting so I did a landscape architectural course because I had always had an interest in garden landscaping," said Carol.

She spent sometime designing gardens for new home developers in Buckinghamshire, setting up her own business after being inspired by programmes presented by the television gardener, Geoff Hamilton.

Today, she is still a hygienist working part time in Helmsley and Harrogate, as well as combining her life with garden design and painting.

"I always include plants and birds in my work," said Carol who has concentrated her exhibition on birds, butterflies and bees.

As well as conventional painting she is now recreating her work on mugs and candles.

Her exhibition of 40 works runs at the Helmsley Arts Centre until October 24, from 12 noon to 3.30 pm, except Monday and Saturday.