KENTMERE House Gallery, in York, has taken delivery of a new collection of Susan Bower’s delightful paintings.

“Her sense of humour and joyful use of colour make for uplifting images, just what we need as winter makes way for spring,” says gallery owner Ann Petherick.

Susan is a member of three of the most prestigious national societies: the New English Art Club, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Royal Society of British Artists, all of whom show regularly at the Mall Galleries in London.

She has had three solo exhibitions in independent London galleries too, the first being held at Russell Gallery, in Putney, in 2009.

“Although Susan has lived near York for the past 35 years and grew up in the area, most of her work is sold in London or the south, where it is greatly in demand and eagerly collected,” says Ann.

“So the arrival of a new collection of Susan’s work is always an exciting time, and Kentmere House is privileged to be the only gallery in the north of England showing her paintings.

“Susan’s gentle, witty portrayals of everyday situations have a mesmerising effect, which may explain the ever-growing interest in her lively, quirky paintings with their tongue-in-cheek messages. Her success in these dismal times may be attributed to the paintings’ infallible ability to make people feel better.”

Susan’s delightfully wry sense of humour comes across in all her paintings, notes Ann.

“Her work centres around observations of familiar domestic situations,” she says. “Susan’s family includes four grown-up children, two dogs and a cat, and now four grandchildren, many of whom feature in her paintings. Maybe it is her degree in psychology that enables her to know how to tug at the heart strings with her family scenes or share the joy of dancers in a painting such as Upward & Onward.”

Susan was born in Yorkshire in 1953 and has painted and drawn all her life. In the 1980s, she received art tuition from artist Bill Selby, who was then living nearby, and she has now been a professional artist for more than 30 years. She has exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition for the past 18 years and also shows with the New English Art Club, the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours and the Royal Watercolour Society.

“I like to paint the familiar and the intimate: family scenes, usually involving dogs and cats, outings and people observed in restaurants and on family occasion,” says Susan’s oil paintings are for sale at £1,000 to £2,500 at Kentmere House.

The gallery, in Scarcroft Hill, is open every Thursday evening, 6pm to 9pm; at any time, by arrangement in advance, on 01904 656507; and on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month, 11am to 5pm. The next open weekend will be on April 4 and 5.