SWINDON Open Studios proved to be quite the reunion for first-timer Nathan Pegler over the course of the weekend.

Having welcomed guests from his former job at Honda – and even a childhood teacher from the 1980s – he is now eagerly awaiting what the second weekend of this year’s event has in store for him.

The 43-year-old took voluntary redundancy from Honda two years ago and has set up shop in Royal Wootton Bassett as a full-time professional artist which sees him in his studio busily creating colourful pastel works as well as running courses and workshops.

And this year he boldly signed up to form part of the Swindon Open Studios trail – one of just four to be found south of the M4.

“I am one of the furthest ones out of Swindon, but it didn’t deter a few visitors from coming to see my work on the Saturday,” said Nathan. “One of the people that came along was an ex-colleague from Honda which was really nice, and they even made a purchase too.

“I was also thrilled to get a visit from one of my old junior school teachers from Wroughton Junior School in around 1981/82 which was really nice. I recognised her straight away. She said she had seen my work in the local press recently and wanted to come and see me. We had a bit of a chat and she was thrilled to see what I was doing – as was my colleague from Honda.”

After a successful first weekend – even though numbers did drop during the bad weather on Saturday – Nathan is keen to welcome even more visitors to Bassett this weekend for the final weekend of the trail.

He said: “The experience I have had so far has been great – it was a really good weekend – and I will no longer be a Swindon Open Studios virgin. I will be singing up for next year!”

Nathan can be found at The Studio, Ashdown Equestrian, Marlborough Road, Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 5pm.

Nearby artist Lynee Forrester can be found at the village hall in Bradenstoke while Nadine Gould will be at Studley Grange Craft Village on Saturday only between 11am and 3pm.

Meanwhile, in Swindon town centre art lovers will be able to find Philip Robinson, Sraha Church Dona B Drawings, Rachel Coyle Olivia H Frost, Carmen B Norris and Carole Humphreys at the Central Library between 10am and 4pm on Saturday and 11am and 3pm on Sunday.

Naomi Cantillon will be welcoming guests to 11 Herschel Close in Oakhurst on Saturday between 11am and 5pm, David Robinson will be at 54 Omdurman Street in Gorse Hill on Saturday from 11am until 5pm and John Maskalaniec will be at 13 Abbet Moor in Liden both days this weekend between 11am and 5pm.