VISITORS to the Bowes Museum are enjoying the Tim Rice collection of paintings which is on display until January, but there are several other exhibitions well worth a look.

* The Art of Marquetry: Paintings in Wood, which runs until September 28, was put together in collaboration with the Wallace Collection in London. The technique is explored through the museum's own collection, from a rare Renaissance masterpiece to Josephine Bowes' writing desk and card table.

Technical aspects are covered and there are workshops, lectures, demonstrations and a tree trail in the park.

l Dazzling: the Art of Glass Engraving runs until the October half-term, showing work by the Northern Branch of the Guild of Glass Engravers whose members showcase this detailed and delicate art form.

l Two centuries of bridal gowns are featured in Wedding Belles, on display until April. Exquisite and previously unseen gowns from the Bowes' extensive collection illustrate a fashionable sequence of styles from 1842-1969. Additional displays feature the conservation of the dresses, veils and head-dresses, the trousseau, marriage quilts and wedding mementoes.

* There is still a chance to catch Haiku and Glass, which ends on September 26, an unusual exhibition curated by Dominic Fonde.

l The autumn programme starts on October 11 with William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement in the North-East. On show until February 29, it will celebrate the work of Morris and his contemporaries, leaders of the arts and crafts movement in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

It will explore new ground, featuring artists, designers, craft workers and patrons of the North- East, whose creative activity in the same period shows the extent of Morris' influence on regional artists and the impressive way in which they responded to it.

* Images, which runs from November 8-January 2, is a selection of contemporary illustrations from books, children's books, magazines and newspapers, by the Association of Illustrators.

l Our Choice, November 28-January 11, has been produced by the museum's after-school club and is a collection of the children's interpretation of their favourite paintings from the Tim Rice Collection.

l Sure to attract a lot of interest is Lindisfarne Gospels - December 15 until January 11 - which gives a chance to see what is described as the superb new copy of the greatest illustrated book to come out of the North East, courtesy of the British Library.

* Independent curator and writer Simon Morrissey curates After Life, an exhibition integrating work by contemporary artists in a variety of media into the Bowes' historic collections. They explore attitudes towards mortality and ideas about remembrance, preservation and transformation.

Last September, Morrissey was selected from more than 250 applicants nationally to complete a year long fellowship at the Bowes, funded by Northern Art. This has led to the exhibition, which runs from January 17 to March 21.