A DISTINCTIVE split willow tree near Ripple was 'planted' alongside autumn leaves and scenes from Colorado and Uganda at a prestigious London exhibition this week.

They are all subjects captured by Naunton-based watercolour specialist Martin Caulkin, who is exhibiting at the Mall Galleries at the annual Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours show.

It is the 18th time the professional painter has attended the event, but his enthusiasm for both the exhibition and the medium is undimmed.

"It's a very good show," he said, adding he thought it a shame it "it does not get a terrific amount of publicity" compared to those organised by the Royal Academy of Arts or the Royal Watercolour Society.

He says the "whole gamut" of watercolour techniques and subjects, from landscape to abstract, are represented at the largest watercolour exhibition in Europe, where he estimates more than 700 paintings are on display.

Roland Maddox, president of the institute, officially opened the show yesterday (Thursday) and art lovers have until April 14 to see what is on offer.

Speaking before he left for the warm-up to the main event, the private view, Mr Caulkin said he was relishing the prospect.

"The private views are always very crowded," he said. "It's quite a nice event. You can mix, mingle and check out the opposition."

The 57-year-old, who left the then Birmingham College of Arts and Crafts in 1974 with a Graphics and Illustration degree, was accepted first time into the ranks of the Royal Institute in 1983.

He prefers watercolours for their "fluid quality".

"The colours are beautiful," he said. "I find oils too stodgy to move around."

More information on the institute and the exhibition is available on 020 7839 7830.