A MAJOR retrospective of work by artist, poet, novelist, critic, social commentator, theatrical innovator and teacher, Jeff Nuttall, is running at Welfare State International's Lanternhouse.

The exhibition staged by the internationally-renowned, Ulverston-based arts organisation, covers a wide range of work.

Large and beautiful paintings in oil and acrylic, developed in an expressionist and romantic style, explore the dynamic relationship between an objective visualisation of landscape with more subjective emotional responses.

There is also a group of three-dimensional sculptures by Jeff, made from collaged materials, which are more edgy and delve into the realms of the biological and gynaecological.

Also on display among comics, videos and slabs of poetry are two of Jeff's texts Bomb Culture, which defined a generation in the 1960s and was debated in Parliament - and Arts and the Degradation of Awareness (2001), laying out in no uncertain terms the dilemmas of artists wanting to make truthful and original statements in the 21st Century.

A provocative and challenging exhibition covering four decades of Jeff Nuttall's work, it runs at Ulverston until November 21.

The gallery is open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 11am-4pm.

For further details, contact 01229-581127.

ABOVE: One of the items featured in the exhibition at the Lanternhouse. (D5K133MH4)