The 161st exhibition of the Water Colour Society of Ireland, opening at the Concourse Gallery, Dún Laoghaire County Hall on Monday, features some 280 paintings in watercolour, gouache and pastels with drawings and limited-edition signed prints, on sale to the public with most prices in the €350-€850 range. Subjects include landscapes, seascapes, still life, animal and life studies, as well as botanical, floral, architectural and figure work. The exhibition includes two paintings by Cork-born Aine Divine "the only Irish artist and the only artist working in watercolour to make the finals of the Sky Portrait Artist of the Year Award" – a self portrait and a portrait of Neil Hannon, lead singer with The Divine Comedy.

Among other artists exhibiting are the society's president, Ann O'Clery, and Siobhan Larkin, Yanny Petters, Patricia Jorgenson, Anne McLeod, Sue Van Coppenhagen, Nayana Sandur and Nicola Lynch Morrin. An "In Memoriam" panel will feature paintings by late artist Myra Maguire, a former trustee of the Society. An Art Activity Day, next Saturday, includes watercolour demonstrations by exhibiting artists in the morning, and free valuation and assessment of watercolour works brought in by the public by fine art auctioneers Whyte's in the afternoon.

The exhibition is open – admission free – to the public daily from Monday, September 28th to Saturday, October 3rd, 10am-5pm; and on Sunday, October 4th, 10am-1pm.