Wilmslow Art Trail celebrates 10th birthday this weekend

This innovative project was started by a group of local artists and makers in 2014.

To begin with, the trail led visitors around the town and included workshops, studios, cafes, shops and other local businesses.

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In 2019, the team tried something different, and brought all the artists together under one roof in the United Reformed Church halls.

CeeGee Jewellery Design (Image: Supplied)

By popular demand from artists and visitors alike, the main annual event has remained there ever since.

The event has run every year except during Covid in 2020.

It is still managed by hard-working volunteers, keeping prices for the exhibitors low and admission for the public free.

Alex Jabore oil painting of a hare in the meadow's embrace (Image: Supplied)

This year, there will be 28 artists and makers from Wilmslow and the surrounding area.

Work on display includes oils, acrylics, precious metals, wood, porcelain, stoneware, textiles, mixed media and cyanotypes.

The event runs from Friday, October 4 to Sunday, October 6.

Karin Sheldon, an artist in precious metals (Image: Supplied)

Opening times are 6pm to 8pm on Friday, 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 12 noon to 5pm on Sunday.

For many locals and visitors from far afield, it’s their favourite event of the year and not just because of the delicious soup and cake made by the ladies of the church.

Artists say they love engaging with customers and receiving face-to-face feedback, rather than selling remotely through galleries.

Customers say they enjoy meeting exhibitors and finding bespoke items.

Artists tell us that “the customers really engage with us [artists] about what we do” and that “getting face-to-face feedback is so much better than selling remotely through galleries”.

For the organisers, it’s the culmination of months of planning and organising.

One organiser said: “When opening time finally comes, the team says it is incredibly rewarding to see a professional exhibition filled with visitors browsing and buying.

“We feel so proud of what we’ve made happen.

“Customers can enjoy the exhibition, buy or even commission bespoke pieces direct from artists and makers, talk to them about their work, how it’s made and what inspires them and find a cuppa, a snack and a warm welcome at The Undercroft Café when they need time out before looking round the rest of the show.”

Volunteers staging the show include Tine Hagen Dalgaard, Karin Sheldon, Sylvia Glover and Alex Jabore.

For more details visit wilmslowarttrail.co.uk