Arts extravaganza comes to Havant, Hayling and Waterlooville

The May Day Arts Trail is back for its 11th year and there is some fantastic artwork in store.

Hayling Island will be the centre of attention this weekend and the greater Havant and Waterlooville area will be the focus the following weekend.

In many cases artists open up their homes to show off their work, while others have arranged exhibitions in community venues.

Sue Kruk will be opening up her home in Wittering Road, Hayling, and showing off her paintings, which are inspired by the seascapes of Hampshire and Cornwall.

Sue, who studied fine art at Chichester and helps to organise the festival, said: ‘It’s such a fun way of spending the weekend – meeting people who are enthusiastic about art and chatting to them.

‘Lots of people turn up who you don’t expect.

‘You get a lot of enthusiasm to go and do it again.

‘People say nice things about your stuff and it’s so encouraging.’

Nicki Ellul-Turner runs Waterlooville Colour Group, which will be displaying their work at Clanfield Scout Hut, in Little Hyden Lane, Clanfield.

It will be Nicki’s first year taking part in the festival.

She said: ‘It’s great to get people involved in art.

‘It’s great how they have set it up so you can just go from place to place and get an insight into lots of different types of art.’

She added that she loved the ‘translucency’ of watercolours and how paintings dry quite quickly.

It won’t all be about paintings, though.

Phil Sander, from Sandy Point Road, Hayling, will be displaying silver contemporary jewellery inspired by the coastline, while Jan Griffiths will be displaying quirky raku-fired ceramics in Bembridge Drive, Hayling.

Another exhibition at Oaklea House, Catherington, will include the work of four artists, including Carol Dilley, a glass artist who enjoys upcycling and recycling glass.

Brochures are available in local libraries, The Spring in Havant and at The Springwood Community Centre in Waterlooville. Alternatively visit maydayartstrail.co.uk.