Wivenhoe Art Trail presenting colourful variety of work returns this weekend
A COLOURFUL and unique art trail that 'put Wivenhoe on the map' is returning to the town for a special bank holiday weekend.
Twice a year in Wivenhoe, the resident artists who spend months quietly creating in their studios throw open their doors to the public.
The art trail consists of around 20 venues and around 40 artists showing off everything from photography, sculptures, fine art, prints, jewellery, and ceramics.
The event creates such a buzz, with hundreds of people specially visiting the town from as far as Kent and Norwich, that cafés experience queues out the door and the Deli has run out of food.
Alison Stockmarr, 62, is one of the original trail organisers and enjoys showing her collage works to visitors throughout the weekend.
Artist - Alison Stockmarr is one of the trail's organisers (Image: Newsquest) She said: 'I think a lot of people in Wivenhoe are quite proud of having such a creative event happening twice a year right on their doorstep.
'The art trail always shows the work of regular favourites and emerging new talent.
'The community here is just great – we all come together, we're there all year in our studios trotting away at things, and then it's lovely to welcome people into your studio because the visitors give us so much back.
'It's a lovely excuse to nose around artists' studios and getting that little bit closer to how something is made is really important.'
Stop number 10 on the trail, St Mary's Churchyard, features art from local primary school children at Broomgrove Infant School and Millfields Primary School.
Art - The local school children get involved with the art trail each year (Image: Newsquest) Alison said: 'We're passionate about encouraging the next generation by providing both the schools with the resources to do their artwork to hang in the churchyard.
'They always get the feeling of being treated like proper artists with their destination on the map and each class having a theme—it's nice for them to be proud of and part of.'
The art trail's map leads visitors through artists' studios, the town business centre, to the historic Nottage Institute, and many more charming spots on one of Essex's most picturesque towns.
This weekend, Wivenhoe Art Trail will take place from 10am to 5pm from Friday to Monday, in the trail's longest weekend ever.
More information can be found at www.wivenhoearttrail.com.
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