LESLEY O'Brien, the creator of this brightly-coloured doll, is one of more than 20 south Shropshire artists contributing to the aptly named Hidden Talents exhibition.

The annual show opens on Monday at Ludlow Assembly Rooms and will display a wide variety of paintings, sculpture, textiles and wall hangings.

Lesley, who lives in Ashford Bowdler, said her dolls were not intended as toys but as one-offs, usually made to order.

"I started with patchwork as I love fabric," she explained. "Then I met an American fabric artist called Patti Culea and learned the basics of wiring fingers and so on. Each piece has its own posture and personality. I'm now planning a series of medieval characters for sale during the Ludlow Festival."

Work by other artists will be on sale at Hidden Talents, which runs until February 8.