A NEW gallery in Leominster marks a change of career for former teacher Alice Oxenham, and sees her return to the family 'business' of working in the arts.

Her grandparents, the renowned wildlife and animal artist Patrick Oxenham and ceramic jewellery maker Judy Laws, started their business from nothing, transforming an old stable into a pottery, where Patrick built a brick kiln and the couple made pots and sculptural pieces which they sold on Exeter market on Saturdays.

The next generation proved equally talented, with Michael Oxenham, Alice's father, recognised as one of Britain's leading countryside artists. Both Michael and his father were commissioned to produce first day covers. "My grandfather did a set of wildlife first day covers and a set of houses for the Post Office and my father did stamps for Guernsey and some for Bahrain."

Alice also reveals that her father, who's well-known for his bird painting, took to the sky in a microlight and later a parachute to 'know what it was like to fly as a bird'. "My earliest memory is of watching my younger brother being strapped to a pair of brown paper and wooden wings made by my father and launched off the top of a hill. Thankfully he only hovered for a couple of seconds."

The new gallery represents the family and selected artists and craftspeople, including Alice herself, whose graduated with a degree in Art and Design, and having left teaching, has returned to textile screen printing. "There are some of my pieces in the gallery and I'll be doing more."

Alice plans to feature both the modern and traditional in the gallery and to keep things moving, ensuring that visitors will want to return. Her nan, who still lives in Bromyard, is, says Alice, very proud of her for continuing the family tradition, adding that she is daunted by the new venture, which she plans to expand to offer classes and workshops. "It's a big risk," she says, "but I always like to live life on the edge."

Oxenham Art is at 39 High Street, Leominster and online at oxenhamart.co.uk