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Kayaking on Grand Lake in the sunset is a favourite pastime of Woodstock artist Judith Saunders.

"When it comes to sunsets it's hard to beat New Brunswick, said Saunders, who divides her year between British Columbia and the lake area of York County. "The sunsets in Western Canada are beautiful but they just don't seem to have the same intensity we have here."

Besides enjoying sunsets, Saunders is continually searching for scenes of East Grand, North, Mud, Skiff and Spednic Lakes to incorporate into her latest series of paintings of the Chiputneticook International Waterway.

This series will include about 20 paintings when completed. Now until the end of October, 10 of the finished paintings and recent works are on display at Cosman Jewellers on Main Street in Woodstock.

The opening reception for the display will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15, with Saunders in attendance. Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be served.

Saunders and her husband Mike return each year with their family to their cottage at Fosterville on East Grand Lake to gather material for future paintings and to enjoy their seven grandchildren.

"Education is the key to the preservation of our wild and wonderful recreational and heritage areas and I feel strongly that we must teach our children to enjoy and save these resources," she explained. "After all, our children will be the future guardians of our forests and waterways."

Paintings by Saunders are displayed in galleries on the East and West Coast of Canada and much of her work is included in private collections internationally.

She is presently the featured artist in the gallery at the Victoria airport in British Columbia. The centrepiece for this display is a 36" x 60" painting entitled "Silent Spirits" depicting the old growth forests of British Columbia which are endangered.

Her work is on display at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Christmas Show and the Gallery on Oak Bay Avenue.

She will also be included in the juried Federation of Canadian Artists fall show in Victoria and the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria (Look Show 2009).

Saunders was recently included in a group show at the 151 Gallery in Fredericton.

One of her favourite art-related projects is hosting, with her husband Mike, Artists at North Lake which is now in its eighth year. Last summer's event attracted 32 artists and artisans and a large crowd of art lovers.