MORE than 100 local artists will be exhibiting their work in Salisbury and the surrounding area when the city’s art trail begins on Saturday.

Featuring everything from photography, charcoals and sculpture to oil paintings, porcelain and glass, Salisbury Art Trail is a nine-day event that takes place every other year.

Tony Tate, chairman of Plain Arts Salisbury which organises the trail, said: “For nine days homes, studios, shops, cafés and galleries will host a dazzling array of art both traditional and contemporary.

“The art trail is an opportunity to discover fresh and original work, a chance to meet artists, be inspired and enjoy the wonderful surroundings of Salisbury.”

Among the 60 venues participating in the event are Fisherton Mill, Sarum College, Heaven Hair and Cotswold Outdoor in Salisbury.

Venues outside the city include The Compasses Inn at Damerham, Salisbury Hospice and Wilton Shopping Village while artists in Burcombe, Pitton, Stratford-sub-Castle and Downton are just some of those displaying their work.

Painter Sandra Hammer, whose work will be featured at her studio in Porton, said: “In March of this year I spent a month as Artist in Residence at Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Shetland.

“Sumburgh is a wild and exposed place, the weather was challenging. Gale force winds buffeted the building and heavy seas crashed around the headland. For most of the time I was alone. I spent the time painting the amazing landscape.”

Two Amesbury artists Philip Fisher and Irene Colquhoun will be exhibiting work at Holiday Inn on Solstice Park, Amesbury.

Irene’s work is based on the human form, where she initially takes a photograph and manipulates the picture further.

Philip will be showcasing night-time photography, experimenting with light and shape without any form of manipulation.

In Odstock, Rosemary Dickens is opening her studio behind the Yew Tree Inn. Her work is inspired by the natural world and the cut-outs of Matisse.

For more details visit plainartssalisbury.co.uk

* Two venues for the trail are wrongly sited on the map in the brochure. Moira Ross and Jutta Manser are exhibiting work at Unit 7, Loyal Trade Business Park, just off Stephenson Road.

Sarum Artists are in the same park, Unit 5, at Special When Lit