MAGICAL Nature is Rebecca Bennett's first exhibition in four years following her stem cell transplant.

Running throughout December at Rydal Hall Old School Room Teashop at Ambleside, the exhibition features various media from acrylics and watercolours to photography.

Rebecca loves capturing the magic of colour and pattern within nature in her artwork. She grew up surrounded by the beautiful fells and lakes of Cumbria. Coming from an artistic family, painting and drawing from an early age was natural.

From photographs of lakes seen through the prism of a crystal ball to an enigmatic acrylic painting of a grey heron, Magical Nature includes striking images of the wildlife and countryside of Rebeccas native Lake District.

With a BA(hons) degree in Contemporary Applied Arts from Cumbria Institute of the Arts, Rebecca furthered her art practice and skills to create porcelain ceramic pieces and textile mixed media artworks.

Following university Rebecca completed a variety of successful art projects and workshops alongside her exhibitions. These included art workshops with young people at the Coniston Water Festival and Blencathra Field Studies Centre.

In 2015 Rebecca had a stem cell transplant at London's Kings College Hospital. An unrelated donor provided the stem cells to treat failing bone marrow caused by rare Gata2 deficiency and Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Painting and photography have, she says, been a great therapy throughout her transplant journey.

"When you feel up to it having something to immerse yourself in such as art and photography can be a fantastic way to help you forget about your pain and problems. For those moments, you are focused on what you are creating and can escape for a little while."

Alongside exhibiting her work for the first time since being diagnosed with her illnesses, Rebecca hopes to raise awareness of MDS and blood disorders. Donations to the charity MDS UK patient support will be made from sales of Rebeccas greeting cards and prints during the exhibition.

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Artist's first exhibition following stem cell transplant - The Westmorland Gazette