WHILE most people would celebrate their 60th birthday with a party or holiday, Bovey Tracey artist Viv Styles is doing something different – she’s hosting an art exhibition.

Aptly-named 60 Trees, Viv calls it: ‘An exhibition of 60 creative responses to the glory of trees.’

She and her friends will be showing paintings, ceramics, textiles, prints, sculptures and photographs in the barn buildings at Ullacombe Farm just outside Bovey Tracey, where visitors will be entertained by poetry and music.

The works will be for sale with a percentage of any proceeds going towards the charity HITS, which helps homeless in Teignbridge.

Viv said: ‘One of my good friends Katy Bingham-Best, is an opera singer and she has recorded a CD of tree-related songs which will be played during the exhibition.

‘Poets Paul Mortimer and Elaine Jarvest-Miller will be contributing their work to the event, and I am hoping to arrange a poetry reading. Recorded poems will also be played during the week.

‘There are around 30 artists contributing, including community artist Bridget Arnold, known for her flag-making. Another local artist Jenny Pery, is exhibiting work, as well as painters and printmakers from across the South West.’

The birthday exhibition runs from tomorrow until June 2 from 9am to 4.30pm.