OVER 180 paintings by 33 artists were exhibited at the annual Bywell Arts Festival at the weekend.

The doors of the twin churches of St Peter‘s and St Andrew’s at Bywell, which date back to Saxon times, were thrown open to the public on Saturday and Sunday to accommodate more than 400 visitors.

And the 16th event was the biggest yet, said exhibition organiser George Skelton, who explained that artists travelled from across the county, as well as from Durham and Newcastle, to display their work.

“I‘ve been involved with the exhibition for the last three years, and it’s certainly the biggest it‘s been during my time,” added George, who is a retired teacher, turned full-time artist.

“And it’s as big as it‘s going to get because there was virtually no display space left.”

He paid tribute to the diverse range of subject matter and types of work on display.

“There were artists in their 20s, up to those who are as old as me, so that was definitely reflected in the wide range of work people could view,” he said.

From stencilled portraits of Kate Moss in striking colours to tranquil watercolour landscapes of views from across the county, visitors had plenty to admire.

Those who saw something they wanted to snap up for themselves, were able to do so, and among the work which flew out of the door was a water colour of St Peter’s Church by Stocksfield artist John Roddam.

”The picture was stunning and I think we all agreed we could have sold it 10 ten times over,“ said festival secretary Clare Daltry, who helped organise a concert on Saturday night by Prudhoe Community Choir.

”The choir have their own concert coming up next month to celebrate their 20th anniversary year, so I think what the audience got was a bit of a preview of that, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.“

Well-known songs representing each of the last 20 years, coupled with classics from the musicals, were among the line-up.

The festival is a fundraiser for the churches and a rare opportunity to take a look inside St Andrew‘s, which has been in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust since 1975.