ABINGDON has launched one of its biggest events in its calendar — the annual arts festival.

Until April 4, there will be a total of 44 art events running in 21 venues across the town.

The three-week festival began on Saturday with an activity entitled ‘Bigging up Vermeer’.

In six hours, 25 artists each painted a two feet square portion of Vermeer’s The Art of Painting at the Abingdon Guildhall, in Abbey Close.

At the end of the day, the canvases were collected together to create a giant version of the original, which will be displayed in the town throughout the festival.

Festival spokesman Jennie Corrigan said: “It was really busy in the Guildhall, with lots of people frantically painting and getting ready to put everything together.

“It was really positive to see so many people coming to have a look and enjoying themselves. I’m really happy that it all went so well.”

She added: “I just want people to appreciate the amount of artistic talent in Abingdon, in all of the arts. We have some brilliant international musicians coming and a huge variety of events.

“This is definitely the best year and it’s getting better every year.”

The first day of the festival closde with a talk from celebrity Dr Phil Hammond, from the BBC’s Trust Me I’m a Doctor, at the Amey Theatre.

Festival chairman Malcolm Ross added: “This is the 12th festival we have had and it’s the best yet.

“The committee works hard over the year to put it together, so we want as many people as possible to experience the arts — we get so much out of it, we want them to too.”

l For more information about events visit abindonartsfestival.org.uk abingdon@oxfordmail.co.uk