Sarah Singleton looks at the events on offer this weekend

Art inspired by poetry

VIBRANT paintings by David Webb, inspired by the work of Wiltshire-loving poet Edward Thomas, are on display at the Richard Jefferies Museum.

Thomas, a much-loved poet who died 100 years ago in the First World War, was an admirer of Richard Jefferies and wrote a biography of the Swindon writer in 1909.

Painted in oil, the pictures are all related to the poetry of Edward Thomas and the landscapes which were part of his life.

“The response to the work has been fantastic,” said Mike Pringle, director of the museum.

“The paintings are very impressionistic. It is to easy stand and look at them – they are beautiful and soft and enveloping.”

Mr Webb has around 20 paintings on display in the exhibition, which has run alongside the Poetry Swindon Festival and will continue until October 29.

He is based in Sussex, and his nephew, Chris Webb, who lives in Swindon and had been helping the museum develop its database, connected the artist with the museum.

Folk rock duo play the Beehive

WITH a sound combining pastoral English folk, rock, prog and pop, London-based duo Bruise will be playing at the Beehive in Swindon tonight at 8.30pm.

Bruise have previously supported Hawkwind, and played at folk clubs. Made up of Isobel and Jim Kimberley, they describe themselves as blending the song-writing sensibilities of Joni Mitchell, the production values of Genesis and the epic pop of the Eurhythmics.

Vocalist Isobel works with drummer and multi-instrumentalist Jim, and they have been touring the UK and the US together. They have made four albums and played on air around the world.

Between them, Jim and Isobel have supported bands as diverse as The Who, Bellowhead and Andy Cutting. They have played at Glastonbury and The Big Green Gathering, although their performances are equally suited to intimate venues.

Cartoon capers for all the family

FANCY a lesson in animation? Create Studios is running a free family-friendly drop-in workshop on Saturday at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, as part of the Celebrate Swindon Arts and Culture weekend.

The stop frame animation workshop will give you a chance to use your imagination and creativity to bring to life plasticine characters inspired by the collection at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery.

Create Studio’s team of industry professionals will provide you with the skills needed to make your own short film, using the same industry standard cameras and software used to create family favourites such as Wallace and Gromit and Shaun The Sheep.

The session takes place from 11am to 3pm at the museum in Bath Road.

The Celebrate Swindon programme includes a wide range of other creative and cultural activities for families, taking place on Saturday and Sunday at venues including the Wyvern Theatre, Drove Primary School, the Brunel Centre, the Richard Jefferies Museum, Steam, Lydiard House, the Central Library and the Railway Cottage Museum.