A group of 19 artists have banded together to exhibit as one large group to put Woodstock firmly on the art map.
Like many participants in Oxfordshire Artweeks - which starts on Saturday - they will be showing their work in galleries and community spaces, but unusually, the artists will also be exhibiting in the town’s windows.
A total of 25 central businesses, including hair salons, fashion and interior stores, will form the Woodstock Art Walk, where visitors will be able to enjoy art as they wander the historic town centre.
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The artists include a mix of first-time exhibitors and established professional artists across a variety of mediums, including paint, photography and sculpture.
The Woodstock Art Walk starts at St Mary Magdalene Church, and finishes at the art gallery, Darl-e and the Bear on Market Street.
Caroline Parkes, artist and founder of the Artists in Woodstock group, said: “When I thought ‘how do I display my own work at ArtWeeks when I don’t have a studio... perhaps I should gather a group together?’ I never dreamed that six months later, we’d have 19 artists in 25 windows and two major venues.”
Julie Wigg, owner of gallery Darl-e and the Bear, is exhibiting artists Rod Craig, Sarah Moncrieff, Caroline Parkes and MM Plumm.
She said: "It was wonderful to be able to choose a diverse range of artists, each at different stages of their artistic careers, and each providing something different for the show.
"We felt it was a meaningful addition to our year-round varied exhibition programme and are proud to be a part of their journey and to support the development of local creative talent, art and artists within the beautiful town of Woodstock.”
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ArtWeeks, which runs from May 13 - 21, includes 2,000 artists across Oxfordshire and is the oldest open-studio event in the UK.
Gleide Reid, member of Artists in Woodstock and owner of lifestyle emporium Gleide, said her customers already describe her windows as a work of art.
"So I am delighted to be able to display local artists in them," she said.
"I have recently started painting myself, and I am delighted with the encouragement to show my work too! It is a privilege to be part of this group."
Private views will be held on Saturday, May 13 at St Mary Magdalene Church from noon to 2pm and at Darle and the Bear from 2pm to 4pm.
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