IT IS sometimes said that writing paints a picture. However, other than the title of a painting or drawing, the idea is totally reliant on the imagination of both the artist and the viewer.

The results of their thinking are often totally opposite, and personal taste can affect the viewpoints.

However, in the new exhibition titled Postcards Of Keighley, there is only one subject – Keighley. The paintings, on three foot by two foot heavy boards, were managed in a project by the community group called Smallworld, based in Russell Street. Artist Chrissie Scott created new partnerships, and sealed some existing ones, resulting in 94 entirely unduplicated acrylic paintings of Keighley.

The brief to me was to supply three paintings from Keighley Art Club and three from Long Lee and Thwaites Brow At Group, which we completed after visiting the Smallworld premises. We chose our own images, which eventually will become postcards.

Chrissie Scott scanned, then projected our choices onto blank boards, and we were able to outline our work. She provided acrylics and we took everything away to form pictures. The same was happening in various schools and community groups, and in total, 94 paintings were finished.

These are all on their second appearance, and a CD has also been produced. They are all on show in Cliffe Castle Museum until the middle of January.

A postcards trail has been arranged by Kirsty Gaskin, assistant curator at Cliffe Castle, as an aid to adults and children to explore this project and also the collections in the museum.

Kirsty introduced the programme and Coun Judith Brooksbank, an executive of Smallworld, formally opened the exhibition.

The exciting paintings will be auctioned on eBay by Chrissie next year. Call Chrissie on 07981 589539 or email chrissie.scott@hotmail.co.uk for further information.

I agree with Chrissie when she says that the project has got people painting and being creative. Hopefully the final postcards will also help boost Keighley’s image in the future.

Geoff Mitchell, Tony Pratt, Barbara Klempka, dawn Sedgwick, Maureen Atkinson and Christine McNally were those who volunteered paintings from my groups. We all celebrate Keighley through our eyes and brushes.

Works are landscapes, animals, buildings, parks, tourist attractions, and a mosque.

It has taken a long time, but Chrissie has never given up her belief in the project, despite funding not materialising to further her considerable efforts.

Keighley Art Club and Bingley Art Group are now working on the next joint Cliffe Castle exhibition, which is due in from January to March next year.

Some images appear already on the Cliffe Castle website, and Kirsty Gaskin is to produce a leaflet to publicise it.

Our November diary is varied: North Yorkshire from photographs, November 5; oil painting workalong with Jeff Mitchell, November 12; historic Keighley, Barbara Klempka, November 19; castles from photos with Tracy Holmes, November 26.

We rarely finish painting in one sitting. Sometimes we rip them up, so don’t think you need to be an expert to join.