THE Bloom! festival in York was all too brief – four July days from seed to dead head – and so Kentmere House Gallery, in Scarcroft Hill, is continuing the experience with a rolling exhibition in celebration of Yorkshire's hidden gardens.

On show are works painted by artists in privately-owned gardens that open to the public in aid of charities. "Artists are continuing to paint the gardens throughout the summer, so new work is arriving at the gallery each week," says owner Ann Petherick, who has selected artists, both known and unknown, that work in myriad styles.

Among them is Lincolnshire artist Bob Armstrong, who owns a garden that has opened for the National Gardens Scheme for the past ten years. "It's a delightful and unique woodland garden with a secluded garden studio," says Ann. "But for our Bloom! show he visited Ellerker House, at Everingham, near Pocklington, a five-acre garden with a lake that's been featured in many national magazines and is one of the Yorkshire stars of the National Gardens Scheme.".

each week.

This month also sees the launch of the latest book by specialist art publisher Mascot Media, entitled The Illustrated Garden: 224 pages featuring 500 original prints of gardens, allotments and garden wildlife by more than 60 British artists. Priced £25, it is on sale at Kentmere House, alongside artwork ranging from £50 to £2,500.

Kentmere House is open every Thursday, 6pm to 9pm; the first Saturday and Sunday of each month, 11am to 5pm, and at other times by appointment on 01904 656507 or 07801 810825.