TWO centuries after her death Jane Taylor's famous poem Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is inspiring a sci-fi exhibition in her birthplace, Colchester's Firstsite gallery.

The exhibition, called Lunar Lullabies, commemorates the 200th anniversary of Taylor's death and will trace her journey and her influence on a whole range of topics.

Transforming the gallery into an immersive playscape, the exhibition features interactive objects from meteorites to Lego Star Wars sets.

Visitors can experience stunning artwork, historical artefacts, and contemporary cultural nods as they explore the intersection of art, science, and imagination.

Firstsite director Sally Shaw said: "Lunar Lullabies shows the true power of art and creativity.

"By combining art and science, the exhibition brings STEAM to the heart of Colchester, using art as a method of learning and discovery."

Families and young people from the local community significantly contributed to the exhibit.

Under Firstsite's innovative Holiday Fun programme, they created their work and collaborative pieces with commissioned artists.

Works of local artists like Peter Elson, and Jackie Burns, will feature prominently in the exhibition, which will also spotlight local talent nurtured by Firstsite.

Sci-fi and gaming figures by an artist known as 'S' will transport visitors into a world populated by dinosaurs and creatures whose fate changed due to an asteroid.

In a nod to the future, the exhibition will include paintings by Matthew Turner, produced during his residency at NASA.

There will also be books and poetry by Ms Taylor and her sister to mark the beginning of a journey through the next 200 years.

The ambitious Lunar Lullabies comprises more than 100 artefacts and artworks.

Through a continually changing programme, the exhibition will also showcase art and content from community groups.

Firstsite director Sally Shaw said: "We hope Lunar Lullabies will inspire everyone to explore their creativity, with the knowledge that something imagined today may spark a creative chain reaction that ignites future explorations and discoveries, much like Jane Taylor's influence has done for centuries."

The exhibition has been supported generously with loans from Colchester & Ipswich Museums, Chelmsford Museums, and Southend Museums Service.

It begins on June 8 and will be on show until October 6.