A FORMER art student has returned to the town where she studied as curator of fine art.

Middlesbrough Council said Judith Winter will play a key role in the development of Middlesbrough's art gallery.

The holder of a postgraduate degree in sculpture, and a former senior university lecturer in art and design history, she has written for the Arts Council England and British Council Exhibition, called British Sculpture in the 20th Century.

Ms Winter's career began in Middlesbrough and she first studied art at the town's Cleveland College of Art and Design.

She said: "It is such an exciting opportunity to curate in your home town.

"I spent over 13 years away from the area. Coming home and being able to be part of such an ambitious development is really a dream job.

"I am motivated by the idea of helping to create an arts venue that is dynamic, ambitious and known both nationally and internationally, a flagship for the region."

Her first job will be to make decisions about the town's art collection.

She said: "At the moment the collection is a bit like a Pandora's box.

"There is a lot of archiving and specialist conservation work to do so that we can preserve and build our collection for future generations."