Showing the artistic side of a village

P ainswick's first ever Summer Art Festival has been running successfully since the beginning of August. And it's proving to be a great showcase for local artwork.

"There is an abundance of artistic talent in the area," say the organisers.

This surfeit of creativity, therefore, leads to a burgeoning number of exhibitions every summer in Painswick.

These include the Gloucester Guild of Craftsmen's Summer Show at the Painswick Centre. Now, though, local artists, exhibitors and businesses have come together to bring all their skills and talent under one umbrella.

In so doing, they've created a full and varied programme of events which runs right the way through to Bank Holiday Monday, on August 31.

Painswick Parish Council did its bit by backing the concept of this all-in festival, and offered to sponsor the publicity.

Exhibitions are open in several venues in Painswick, the primary sites being the Painswick Centre, the Town Hall and the Library Rooms with many other local shops and businesses mounting special additional displays. Teas, coffees and snacks are also available at the Painswick Centre and throughout the village.

Events change weekly and include exhibitions, open studios, workshops and demonstrations.

Visual arts on display include, paintings, photography, sculpture, bookbinding, calligraphy, stained glass, botanical art, jewellery, wood turning, textiles, printmaking and much more.

A full programme of all the events, with opening times and a map of venues is available widely from tourist offices, shops, hotels etc.

Visitors to Painswick are able to obtain them free from any of the exhibition sites or local shops.

"Park in our local car park, walk into our beautiful village any day throughout the remainder of August and there will be plenty for you to see and do," the organisers urge.

An ancient site in the heart of Wiltshire is set to see a clash of the ages this August Bank Holiday weekend, as armour-clad Roman centurions and Norman cavalry square up against Napoleonic firepower and World War II Tommies in a historic day with a difference.

Visitors to Old Sarum, near Salisbury in Wiltshire, will see, hear and experience history come to life right in front of them at English Heritage's Living History Weekend on Sunday and Monday, August 30 and 31.

Expect some edge-of-seat entertainment as Normans show off their skill at arms on horseback and cavalry, and foot soldiers do battle, while it will be fingers in ears as Napoleonic Redcoats put their weaponry skills and firepower to the test.

Visitors can also explore the living history camps to meet Roman, Medieval and Tudor folk and will be sure to be entertained throughout the day by various talks and demonstrations. In addition, there will be a special Knights Quest just for kids.

Old Sarum is no stranger to great events in history. A giant earthwork with ramparts first raised in about 500BC by Iron Age peoples, it was subsequently used as a fort by Romans, Saxons and Normans.

William the Conqueror paid off his army at Old Sarum in 1070, and in 1086 summoned all the great landowners of England there to swear an oath of loyalty. A Norman castle was built on the inner mound, joined soon after by a royal palace. By the middle of the 12th century, a new town occupied much of the great earthwork, complete with a noble new Norman cathedral, the mother church of a huge diocese.

Living History Weekend runs daily from 11am until 5pm. It's £7 for adults, and concession and children £5.30.

Booking highly recommended: Call 0870 333 1183 or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/events