This year’s Brentwood Art Trail from Brentwood Connected, the new Business Improvement District (BID) across Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone, takes place between 1 – 30 June. The long-running annual event will be bigger than ever with support from the Brentwood Connected BID, which is funded by Town Centre businesses to improve the visitor experience in Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone. The event continues to be supported by Baker Labels, Blue Serif and Brentwood Borough Council.
Running for an entire month, Art Festivals will take place in each High Street, while the Trail will celebrate the work of 70 local artists by showcasing their art in pop-up galleries in Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone. Throughout June, 60 businesses, including Bennetts Funerals, Hey Joe Music & Coffee, Jasmine Bleu, Kennadys, Sienna’s Restaurant, The Ginger Tree, Tees, Tom Howley Kitchens, Waterstones, Woodland Coffee Shop and all three branches of Beresfords, will take part. A Brentwood Art Trail Pop-Up Gallery will also be open at the Baytree Shopping Centre for the duration of the Trail, supported by Q-Mix Concrete.
Emma Thurgood of Sincerely Yours in Shenfield will host artist Becky Wash’s crafts during the Trail. Emma said, “We’re always excited about the Brentwood Art Trail and love being a part of such a successful creative event which supports local businesses and brings the community together. We’re looking forward to welcoming lots of people into the shop this June, and can’t wait to see everyone admiring Becky’s work in the window.”
Featured artists include Brentwood-based Amelia Hart, who has worked with the internationally renowned artist Damien Hirst; Lucia Hardy and John Ball, who have experienced success on Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Year; Carole Windham, who trained at the Royal College of Art and has had work displayed at Tate Britain; and members of the Brentwood & District Photographic Club, which was established in the area over 70 years ago. More than 1,000 local primary school children will also have the opportunity to display their art after taking part in a special Brentwood Art Trail online lesson sponsored by Chicken & Frog Bookshop, Guided Learning and Kip McGrath.
Free Art Festivals will take place on the first three Saturdays of the Trail – bringing creative, fun, family-friendly events to the three High Streets. Starting on Saturday 1 June, a Guided Tour will take place in Brentwood to launch the Trail, followed by a Plein Air Art Experience at the Chapel Ruins, led by Amelia Hart and Lucia Hardy. This will be accompanied by a Portrait Painting Demonstration with Nancy Walker in the Pop-Up Gallery, Chalk Drawing in Crown Street, and a Scribble Board Art Jam with artist Mike Young, where visitors will be invited to make their mark on a collaborative piece of artwork which will travel between the High Streets during the Trail’s Saturday Art Festivals. Special events in Shenfield and Ingatestone include more Guided Tours, an exciting Live Street Art Event with urban artist Penfold at foureighty on Saturday 8 June, and a special Artisan Ingatestone Artists’ Market on Saturday 15 June.
Throughout the Trail, free Walk Talk & Create events take place, visiting locations like Butterfly Meadow, Merrymeade Country Park, Warley Place Nature Reserve and Weald Country Park. These give visitors the opportunity to enjoy the outdoor spaces in the borough, before creating some artwork under the tuition of an artist. This year’s Walk, Talk & Create events are sponsored by Create Yourself Calm and the Brentwood Arts Therapy Centre. There will be other artist-led workshops throughout the Trail, plus a special screening of ‘Midnight In Paris’ at Brentwood Theatre.
Local artists are also looking forward to the event, particularly Sue Mills. She will be displaying work in Liquorice in Shenfield, teaching an online art lesson for primary schools, and hosting and sponsoring Walk, Talk & Create sessions with qualified counsellor Lindsay Wildgust and their mindful art business, Create Yourself Calm. “I’ve been a part of the Brentwood Art Trail for many years now, and I love the way it brings people together in Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone. From the minute all the artists are revealed on social media, to the final day in June, it’s a really exciting time to be part of the creative community here, showcasing work and engaging with people through art.”
Visit brentwoodarttrail.co.uk for more information and to reserve tickets for events, or brentwoodconnected.co.uk to read more about the Brentwood Connected Business Improvement District (BID).
Follow @bwdarttrail on social media for updates before and during the event.
