Gifted artists light up the bank holiday weekend

Images courtesy of LD Bennett

A group of dedicated artists have received lavish praise from a community’s spiritual leader for organising a unique high profile initiative over the bank holiday weekend.

In all, 21 venues, 15 artists and six groups made up the dynamic, free, must-visit Saddleworth Art Trail, which is giving visitors and locals a chance to view, first hand, a huge range of diverse and stimulating talents.

Saddleworth’s Rector, Canon Sharon Jones, was speaking after officially opening the first-ever Saddleworth Art Trail which ran throughout Bank Holiday weekend.

She said: “Painters, sculptors, stitchers, potters and poets, artists whose exhibits have been hewn from imagination, inspiration and determination, gathered at Saddleworth Church for the opening.

“To be among gifted people is always special; life looks different through creative eyes.

"Diverse venues across the villages of Saddleworth; shops, cafes, homes and churches are hosting the creations amid the normality of coffee and cake.

“To be creative is to participate in something of the Divine; a mystery that forms connections beyond the cerebral and intellectual and is fundamental to our sense of being well.”

And she urged: “Enjoy the trail and meet inspiring people who will encourage you to find your own ways of self expression and offer you an alternative vision.”

Helen Campbell, a former nurse, was one of the visionary group who met and set up the event.

She said: “It’s been stunning.

"People have opened up their own homes and cafes, churches and businesses have come in board too.

“And the fact the whole event has been put together in such a short timeline in amazing.”

Designer Laura Skillbeck, lino-printmaker Sean Willis and textile artist Marilyn McNeill invited people into their homes and artist Linda Edwards said the event had received massive support from The Roger Tanner Trust.

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