Celebrations are being held by members of Amman Valley Art Group this month to mark a landmark anniversary.

Founded in 1958 by a few local people interested in art, the group has grown steadily and gone from strength to strength over the last six decades.

Amman Valley Art Group is a group of around 24 amateur artists who meet weekly to draw and paint portraits and a variety of other work, go out on day-trips to exhibitions and places of artistic interest, and regularly put on public exhibitions locally.

Artists from up and down the Amman Valley have been sharing their creative experiences since the formation of their club in 1958. The renting of a premises as a studio allowed everyone the freedom to paint in a group which created long lasting friendships amongst the members.

This year Amman Valley Art Group host the popular Three Towns Exhibition which features paintings by artists from Llanelli, Carmarthen and the Amman Valley.

This will be held in the upstairs gallery of Ammanford Library from Monday, August 20 to Friday, August 31.

As adjudicator of the work on display, which includes portraits, landscapes, still life, flowers and animals, well-known Ynysmeudwy painter and sculptor Hilary Bryanston will decide who will win the prestigious Ken Etheridge Memorial Trophy.

It is hoped the public will take full advantage of this exhibition of art and view the artistic talent that is available in West Wales.

Although members of Amman Valley Art Group are all amateur artists the work they produce is of a high standard.

Their art work has been sold locally and to many parts of the world.

Some members have been so successful that they have gone on to study art at university, obtained degrees and taken it up as their livelihood.

Over the past 60 years the group has exhibited paintings annually at Ammanford and also in places such as Swansea, Pontardawe, Llanelli, Carmarthen and Laugharne.

Some members of the group have also invited the public to view paintings at their homes as part of the annual Tywi Art Trail and they now take advantage of the internet to promote their art.