A University of Wolverhampton art graduate was short listed in this year’s Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year competition.

Lindsay Pritchard, 46, from Wolverhampton graduated with an Honours and Master’s Degree in Illustration in the Visual Communications department of the Wolverhampton School of Art.

Having worked in the financial sector for 20 years, she left banking in 2007 to pursue her interest in art and now works in the creative industries running workshops, exhibiting her work and taking commissions.

Lindsay entered the national competition and recently appeared as one of eight shortlisted artists on Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year 2017 filmed at Knaresborough Castle in Yorkshire.

She said:  “My work is mainly focused on the urban environment with a particular interest in dereliction and decay so I spend quite a lot of my time in derelict factories and junk yards.

“It was an amazing adventure being short listed for such a prestigious competition.  All the artists had to set up and complete a landscape painting in one day whilst being filmed so the pressure was really on.  Then we had to wait for our work to be judged. Whilst I didn’t make it through to the next stage of the competition, the experience was incredible.

“Studying Illustration at the University really opened up a whole new world for me and helped me to harness my true potential as an artist.”

Lindsay is an active member of the Black Country Urban Sketchers whose aim is to encourage people to sketch in their local environment. She is also a member of the Wolverhampton Society of Artists exhibiting in their exhibitions and attending their regular meets.

Penn Library will be temporarily unavailable to customers from next month to enable improvement work to take place.

The £60,000-plus investment will see the library redecorated and its back-office space reconfigured to create a new community lounge and meeting room. The layout of the library will also be reviewed to make better use of the space.

Due to the extensive nature of the work, it will be necessary to temporarily close the library from 4pm on Saturday 6 January until 9am on Tuesday 6 March 2018. The car park will also be closed during this time.

Customers are reminded that, during the closure, they can continue to use any other library in the City – the nearest are Warstones Library on Pinfold Grove, Blakenhall Library at the Bob Jones Community Hub on Bromley Street and the main Central Library on Snow Hill – and can renew any items they have borrowed by visiting www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/libraries or calling the 24-hour renewals line, 01902 552500.

Customers are also invited to sign up to the new BorrowBox service and choose from a selection of hundreds of eBooks and eAudiobooks to download to their mobile device for free – for more information, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/libraries.

Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: "While in other parts of the country libraries are closing, here in the City of Wolverhampton we are continuing to invest in these important community assets.

“We are always seeking ways to improve our libraries and make them modern, vibrant and sustainable, and are carrying out this work at Penn Library as part of our 10-year transformation strategy for Wolverhampton’s libraries.

“The work will make Penn Library more community-orientated and increase the number of people who are able to make use of this vital facility. We will also be taking the opportunity to replace old shelving and review the layout of the library so that we can maximise the use of space.

“I would like to thank customers for bearing with us while this essential work is completed."

One in ten UK adults said they were considering buying or giving a home to a dog or cat before the end of the year, according to new research from Sainsbury’s Bank Pet Insurance, with an even split between those intending to get a cat or  a dog.

Throughout the festive season 5% of UK adults said they were considering buying a puppy or a kitten while 3% planned to give a home to a rescue dog or cat.

Sainsbury’s Bank says those who have a new puppy or kitten should get their pet insured from a young age as they can be particularly vulnerable to parasites and prone to accidents as they explore their new home.

Analysis of Sainsbury’s Bank’s claims data shows that from 2013 to 2017 there were 24% more claims for pets aged under two than those aged between two and three.

Further analysis of the claims data shows that the ailments that younger pets (aged 0-1) suffer more frequently than older pets (aged 2-3) are: leg/hip/shoulder disorders (56% more common), skin disorders (41% more common) and accidents and injuries (38% more common).

1. Research by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has found that more than half of people surveyed have given away an unwanted Christmas present, either to a charity or to someone else.

   In addition, more than three-quarters of people (78%) feel that Christmas in the UK has become too materialistic, and that 44% of people agreed that they had “too much stuff”. In addition, 58% of people had given an unwanted Christmas present either to a charity or to someone else.

   Among the festive gifts people said they had donated to charity or given away were:

   · A Scottie dog cookie container · A slow cooker · Slippers that you heat up in the microwave · Cleaning cloths · A globe · An ironing board · An indoor fountain · Candle wick scissors · A 12 inch plush animatronic Spider-Man that sang Itsy-Bitsy Spider · A book about dogs for someone without a dog

   About half those surveyed (51%) said giving to charities made them feel happy.

   Sir John Low, chief executive of CAF, said:

   “Everyone loves getting presents at Christmas but it’s also a time when we think about making a new start in the new year. As we count the pile of presents that we’ve enjoyed receiving from family and friends, we can also think of ways to help those less fortunate.

   “Donating items to charity that we’ll never use is a great way of raising much-needed funds for a good cause.”

West Midlands Ambulance Service’s Deputy Chief Executive, Diane Scott, has been named in this year’s New Year’s Honours List as one of only two England- based recipients of the Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal (QAM).

The QAM ensures that the dedication of ambulance staff has the same level of Royal recognition as other members of the emergency services.

Diane is an Executive Director of the Trust Board and is responsible for the Corporate and Clinical Directorates. She is also a Health and Care Professions Council registered paramedic.

Speaking about her award, Diane, who’s career spans more than 30 years having started with Hampshire Ambulance Service in 1985, said: “I am immensely proud and honoured to receive this award. It is a great privilege and the QAM represents the pinnacle of my ambulance career.

“I have been proud to work for, and with, many good people at all levels throughout the ambulance service and the NHS, including many skilled and compassionate colleagues who provide excellent care on a daily basis to patients and the public.

“Whilst I have been fortunate to receive the award, it would not have happened without the hard work and support of my colleagues from within the ambulance service to whom I am extremely grateful.”

Winter warmth packs were handed out this week to older and vulnerable people in Oldbury and Smethwick to help them through the cold weather.

The special packs contain thermal blankets, hats, gloves, hot water bottle and mugs to help them through the winter months. They also include thermal scarves and socks and dried soup.

Council officers, councillors and partner organisations have been delivering the winter warmth packs to residents in Smethwick and Oldbury as part of a scheme initiated by local councillors in the two towns.

The 800 packs are targeted to those most in need. All packs have now been sent out for delivery.

Councillor Syeda Khatun, Sandwell Council deputy leader and cabinet member for neighbourhoods and communities, said: "This is a scheme to support older and vulnerable people, helping them to stay warm in the winter months."