ART LOVERS were treated to dozens of works on a guided tour of Old Town’s Art Trail.

Scores of paintings, prints and textile works have been scattered across Old Town by organisers of Swindon Open Studios.

The works are being displayed in 17 cafés, shops and businesses as part of the annual Old Town Art Trail. The art will be on display until Monday September 18.

On Tuesday, organisers led a two-hour walk around Old Town – taking two dozen art lovers to see the beautiful works in this year’s trail.

Carol Bent helped create the Old Town Art Trail five years ago. Her artist husband David has been involved in Swindon Open Studios from the beginning. She said: I’m looking forward to seeing everybody’s work. There’s a wealth of creativity in our town.”

Art trail organiser Caroline Day said: “The trail is a taster of what you might find in Swindon Open Studios.

“We’d like to thank the Old Town Business Association business who are taking part. More and more businesses support us each year.”

Caroline’s own large floral paintings are hanging in Wood Street deli Balula’s.

Owner Mick Smith said: “It’s nice for people to look at the art. It’s better than having a blank wall. We have a wall for local artists to display their art – it’s something that our customers really enjoy.”

Artist and designer Donna Bradley’s digitally-coloured drawings of Town Gardens’ historic bandstand can be seen in the window of In-Toto Kitchens, on Victoria Road.

“We only moved to Swindon four years ago,” said designer Donna. “We’re discovering all these places in Swindon fresh. I love it – I think it’s really exciting to be here.”

New York native Carmen B Norris has a series of A4-sized collages on display in The Hop Inn. The colourful pictures are created out of fabrics, threads and other materials.

Carmen, who followed her husband to Swindon, said: “I’m attracted to patterns and I really like working with different textures.”

Artist Cheryl Holland-Willis’ striking flower prints bring a splash of colour to the window of Deacons’ Jewellers on Wood Street.

The former graphic designer, who currently works at Commonweal School, uses a printmaking technique called drypoint to create her artworks. “Each print is different,” she said.

The Old Town Art Trail runs from Monday August 21 to Monday September 18.

For more about the trail and Swindon Open Studios, which runs over two weekends in September, visit: www.swindonopenstudios.org.uk.