SWEEPING views over the estuary, joyful illustrations, trees made of delicate metal and colourful textiles, the Leigh Art Trail takes over the town this weekend with events running until June 18.

The week-long homage to the arts will showcase the diversity and depth of work created in Leigh as artists working in different types of media exhibit their pieces in cafes, shops, restaurants, around town and even in their own homes.

Launched in 1997, the celebration of local artistry has become a popular fixture on the town’s calendar, and there’s more going on than ever this year.

One artist who knows first-hand what a boost it can be, especially when you’re starting out, is organisor and photographer David Shields, who’s been involved with Leigh Art Trail for more than ten years. He says: “It helped me sell my first-ever piece of work. I’d been a manager in retail for many years and I gave it up to go back to college and I never had that same buzz from selling a £55 black-and-white print.

“I’d sold a piece of work to someone I didn’t know and who was going to put something I created on their wall. I thought, ‘I like this’. I still get that same buzz now, even if it’s just a greetings card, it doesn’t matter to me.”

David says a new aspect of the trail this year has been to incorporate some of Leigh’s eating places to create a food trail, so people can punctuate their viewings with tea and coffee, or something stronger.

His own exhibition is at the Book Inn in Broadway West, which also has a cafe tucked away at the back.

He says: “We try and change it a bit every year, we want to keep it fresh for visitors. The beauty of it is you can start in one place, go and see ceramics in one venue, see some good quality traditional paintings then some photographs of football stadiums, round the corner you might find four jewellers in a little alleyway and then you can stop and have a cup of tea or something to eat.

“It’s a lovely mix.”

David believes the appeal of the trail is in the discoveries visitors make as they make their way around the intimate exhibition spaces and studios.

“To go into people’s homes and studios where they’ve created work I think is fantastic,” he says.

“It’s just lovely going through a little door and up a staircase and finding three artists at the top there.

“If you’ve got any creativity inside you, hopefully, it’ll inspire people as well.”

For full details on all the artists and venues visit www.leigharttrail.co.uk