A WEST Oxfordshire town will be transformed into a celebration of culture when the annual Art in Woodstock festival returns.

Up to 6,000 people are expected to attend events from tomorrow until Sunday, November 3.

It will kick off with a Chinese dragon puppet show at 1pm in the town square.

Thirty artists will showcase their work at 15 venues.

Festival chairman Paul Mortimer said the event had grown massively.

He said: “The number of artists applying has gone up from 60 in the first year to 300 this year.

“We have also seen the number of visitors increase from a few hundred to 5,000 last year.

“We provide a useful platform for local artists and also get artists from Oxford and Oxford Brookes universities.

“It may be the first time they have exhibited their work. We also have experienced and international artists showing their work.”

Wren Hughes will exhibit her garden animal and figure sculptures for the first time in the Glove House, Oxford Street.

The Iffley Road, Oxford, art teacher said: “It’s vitally important we get the chance to show our work as it’s an effort to be seen. It is a wonderful opportunity.

“There is a lot of enthusiasm from people and goodwill from organisers to support people starting up.”

For more details people can visit artinwoodstock.co.uk

HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOUR DIARY

Children’s activities at the Coach House, Oxfordshire Museum

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29

Tom Tots, 10.30am-11am

Rainbow Colours. Songs, stories and craft inspired by colours around the museum. £1 per family group

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31

Wooden Spoon Characters, 2pm-4pm

A chance to make and take home a character inspired by portraits from the Oxfordshire Museum collection

Adult workshops at the Coach House, Oxfordshire Museum

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

Mary Knowland, Looking at the Head, 2pm-4pm. Formal studies of the head with less conventional approaches.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2

Rod Craig, Painting the Elements,

10.30am-12.30pm. a Watercolour workshop for those wishing to paint more freely

Speakers, Churchill Room, Bear Hotel

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29

Juliet Heslewood, Artists from the First World War, 7pm

Wednesday, October 30

Erin Singleton, A talk on pop culture, art and craft from the 1930s to 1960s, 7pm.

THURSDAY, October 31

Martin Kemp, A talk on art and science from the Renaissance to the present day, 7pm