THE beautiful city of Venice is the subject of a collection of stunning watercolours by two South Coast-based artists.

Russian-born Marianna Magurudumova-Austin and her mother Gillian Magarudumova have painted the vibrant scenes which are included in an exhibition at Winchester's Bell Fine Art Gallery.

Multiple award-winning artist Marianna was once the top student at Russia's prestigious art institute, the St Petersburg Academy of Fine Art and Applied Design.

Since arriving in the UK in 1995, Marianna has exhibited many times in a number of galleries here and is the only artist ever to have won the Federation of British Artists/Royal Institute of Watercolour's Young Artist of the Year Award two years in succession.

Marianna was inspired by her parents, who are both accomplished artists, respected in their home town of Kislovodsk, Russia. Her mother Gillian is particularly talented and her work features alongside her daughter's in the exhibition at the gallery which, 67b Parchment Street. Housed on two floors, the gallery displays a large selection of original work from a number of artists including antique and contemporary paintings and prints, as well as sculpture, ceramics, glassware and cards.

*nThe Magic of Venice is at Bell Fine Art Gallery, Winchester. Tel: 01962 860439.