The French artist’s works will be on until Saturday, February 7

Record numbers of art lovers flocked to the private view of Thelma Hulbert Gallery’s (THG) latest Matisse exhibition.

More than 200 enthusiasts went to see the opening of the exhibition - ‘Matisse-Drawing with Scissors. Late Works 1950-1954’ - by Tiverton and Honiton’s Neil Parish MP.

He was joined by East Devon District Council (EDDC) leader Paul Diviani and fellow councillors Tom Wright, Frances Newth and EDDC culture champion John O’Leary.

Mr Parish said: “It is so great to have an exhibition of this calibre in Honiton and I recommend everyone to come and see it.”

Angela Blackwell, THG curator, said: “We are thrilled to have secured this key exhibition from the Hayward Gallery.

“There has been so much interest around this artist that we have organised a Matisse talk on Thursday, January 29 and an adult workshop on Thursday, February 5, together with a programme of schools’ workshops.”

The showing has been made available by the Hayward Touring Exhibition from the SouthBank Centre in London.

The group produces exhibitions that tour to galleries, museums and other publicly-funded venues throughout Britain.

The Matisse exhibition features 35 lithographic reproductions of the famous cut-outs that the French artist produced in the last four years of his life.

It also includes many of his iconic images, such as The Snail and the Blue Nudes.

The exhibition is now on at THG until Saturday, February 7.

It will be open to the public between Tuesday and Saturday, from 10am to 5pm.

For more information, call THG on 01404 45006, email info@thelmahulbert.com or make a visit to the gallery at Elmfield House, in Dowell Street.