AN EXHIBITION of paintings of Bude canal past and present by local artist Harry McConville was opened by the mayor, Bob Willingham at the Castle recently.

The exhibition supported the bicentenary celebrations of the building of Bude’s canal and continued until August 1 in the Blanchminster Gallery (open to the public and free entry).

Many of the watercolours depicted the historic sailing vessels that were built here and traded through Bude and artistic impressions of 19th century structures such as the lock-gates, Falcon swing bridge and the ‘Sand Wharf’ as well as Harry’s well known evocative Cornish seascapes.