This week local artist Cris Coe opened her art exhibition at the Hadleigh Old School.

Her latest works feature Jabu, a distinctive piece in the collection of an elephant inspired by her trip to Africa.

Ms Coe said: "Retirement 60 years later gave me the chance to travel to Africa and to create art."

Cris, over the last 12 years, has painted and sculptured an array of subject matter from her passionate understanding of wild animals to her deep connection with her late mother.

S he said: "Art is not a hobby, it is an itch I have to scratch. A way of expressing emotion. If I see injustices, I try to explain that in picture form, as in the refugees or impact of dementia."

The exhibition called Inspired by Wildlife hosted at Hadleigh Old school at Bridge Street, in Hadleigh started on 14 July and will be open to the public for free entry until the 25 of July.

Cris said: "Exhibitions like these are a way of saying goodbye to the past 12 years of my life".

You can meet Cris and find out more information about her artwork at the event or find out more information of the event online at [L]https://hadleigholdschool.co.uk/[L+] the Hadleigh's Old School website.