The Army Arts Society celebrates its 25^th anniversary this year and work from some of its most talented members will be on display in a special exhibition in Salisbury next month.

The exhibition will be open to members of the public on Saturday 17^th and Sunday 18^th November. It will include paintings and drawings, ceramics and bronzes and a variety of craft work from soldiers and affiliated members based all over the world.

The first prize is £300 with two runner-up prizes each of £150; with one of the runner-up prizes being specially reserved for a soldier who is not commissioned. Presenting one of the main prizes will be Linda Kitson, who, 25 years ago as a young graduate artist, was the official War Artist for the MOD in the Falklands War.

The painting competition is open to all members of the Army Arts Society and to every soldier, irrespective of rank or location.

The Secretary of the Army Arts Society, Major (Retd) Iain Park-Weir, explains the special relationship between soldiers and art: "The Science of War is knowing the capability of soldiers, their weapons and equipment.  The Act of War is deciding how to apply these capabilities to their best advantage. In the same way it is the artist's imagination, the eye of composition and design combined with the application of materials which produces the magic of the completed picture."