AN arts collective has set up a Christmas pop-up shop for two weeks selling handmade gifts, jewellery and paintings, including work from an artist who uses recycled teabags in her “unique” creations.

The six members of the Forest of Dean Arts Collective have been invited to display their artworks at The Secret Gallery in Newent’s Shambles.

And among them is Paula Smith of Tea Bag Art by Infusions whose framed watercolour paintings “take inspiration from local Forest landmarks, its flora, scenic beauty and folk-art designs utilising recycled tea bags.

“I also work in mixed media and acrylic on a forever changing canvas that is dictated by the tea flavours themselves,” she said, “often including the original tea, textured papers and embellishments.”

The Blakeney artist, who has a Facebook page infusionsteabagart, said they “are certainly a talking point.”

The collective’s exhibition at the pop-up shop follows eight months exhibiting in Taurus Crafts in Lydney, The Lyon Inn in Trellech and the group’s permanent residence at Beechenhurst forestry lodge cafe near the Speech House.

The exhibition is open until this Saturday, November 16, and Paula says each artist has their own unique style and process when it comes to producing artwork, with the Forest of Dean and the River Severn forming part of their inspiration.

“A variety of additional gifts from each artist will be available, from home furnishings, coasters, fashion and silver jewellery, wax melts, cards, books and more,” she said.

“We are very excited and grateful to Hannah Ferguson for this wonderful opportunity and her support at The Secret Gallery and hope that people will go along to her unit in The Shambles.”

The other artists whose work is featured are Julie Cannon from Ruspidge (www.watercolour puddles.etsy.com) who allows her “paint to puddle and blend to form the texture of feathers and fur coats” in her wildlife paintings; Vikki Gibson from Westbury-on-Severn (www.woodenheart designsvg.etsy.com) who creates mixed media needle felt/wool art landscapes and pebble art pictures from her studio overlooking the Severn; Nicole Iredale from Ruspidge (www.nicoleiredaledesigns.co.uk) who creates jewellery and draws, including with bugs and little critters in her designs; Lisa Miles from Alvington (www.lisadearartworks.co.uk) who creates River Severn beachscapes and abstracted forest and flower paintings through layering spray and oil paint; and Sara Ulyatt from Awre (www.saraulyatt.co.uk) who works in several disciplines, from fluid acrylic to contemporary watercolour and is inspired by the scenery of the Forest and the sweeping vista of the River Severn.

All six artists also have social media profiles on the likes of Facebook and Instagram.