SOME of Swindon's freshest artistic talent is on display in the centre of town.

Shoppers have been invited to visit Inkspot, in Edgeware Road, and see the latest batch of work by Swindon Artists' Forum, which is on display until the end of next month.

The exhibition features a variety of media, ranging from oils and watercolours to pastels and pen and wash.

Forum chairwoman Diana Crafer said: "It's definitely worth going to have a look at you should allow yourself some extra time in town and go and have a wander round.

"It's a valuable exhibition with some quite surprising things to be seen."

Diana said that she hoped the exhibition would help dispel the myth that Swindon has no cultural life.

"We are bursting with artistic talent," she said.

"We don't have the opportunity to display as much as we should be able to, and what we really want is a proper gallery with facilities for local artists, and to be able to show off their work.

"Outside Swindon people think we have all got straw in our hair and that we don't know anything and that they can bring culture to us. But they don't realise that it's here already."

Inkspot's promotional and marketing manager Annie Aiguier said: "We have a really large shop with lots of space at the back and all the artists were saying they were looking for hanging space in Swindon.

"We decided to help and we're really pleased we did, and hope it helps them sell their work. The talent in Swindon is really good, and two have been sold already."

The exhibition at Inkspot, which is opposite the back door of the Regent Street Woolworths and round the corner from the Post Office, runs until the end of July.