Pamela lines up purrfect art to mark arrival of hit musical

Norwich is going Cats crazy next week with the arrival of the magical musical at the Theatre Royal and a special exhibition at the Tudor Galleries next door.

Artist and gallery owner Pamela Dickerson has been busy painting cats for her exhibition which will open along with one of the world's best-loved shows which is on at the theatre from Wednesday April 2 to Saturday April 12.

'Through sketching and studying my friend's feline companions I have produced a set of various breeds in watercolour,' said Pamela, who has been selling her work in Norwich for almost 50 years.

'Painting cats has been fascinating. With their amazing eyes, individual characters and marvellous coats of fur, they have proved a joy to paint,' she explained.

From the time when she was just able to hold a pencil and brush, drawing and painting has occupied much of Pamela's time.

She went to the historic and much-loved Lonsdale School in the city where art classes were always a favourite and as a young girl, ballet became a passion so dancing figures were doodled on school books.

Following her interest in both ballet and art, a love of costume was formed and from this her 'silhouette' ladies gradually evolved over the past half century.

Her father was also an artist and encouraged her to paint so when she left Lonsdale - although the school is closed she helps to organise annual reunions – her first job was at a brand new art gallery called Devon Galleries in Norwich.

She worked there for several years before leaving to have a family and concentrate on her own painting, staging her first exhibition in 1970.

Pamela later opened her own gallery in an historic building near Tombland which dated back to Tudor times. Hence the name.

More than a quarter of a century on Tudor Galleries is now between the Theatre Royal and the glorious Assembly House. It showcases work by many famous Norfolk artists – past and present.