MALDON’S annual art trail will launch in the town centre this weekend.

The trail’s wonderful selection of art on a variety of mediums, classes and workshops will take place at various diverse locations in the town centre from Saturday until Sunday October 2.

The Art Trail showcases art in shops, cafés, and public buildings in and around Maldon. From paintings and photographs to sculptures, textiles, millinery, and paper-cutting, the diverse range of work on offer proves the talent of the region’s artists.

It will last for an additional day this year to invite a new audience as the Saltmarsh 75, Essex’s 75 mile coastline race, will be taking place in the town on the first Sunday of October.

The trail’s organisers, now in their ninth year, are hoping to replicate the extremely good mix of popular returning artists and newcomers that they achieved in 2015, as well as an open studio tour on the High Street.

A young persons’ art competition will be happening at the town hall on Saturday, with the theme of the works being Maldon events, as the Maldon half marathon will begin on the first weekend as well as the Saltmarsh 75 on the second weekend.

The workshop proved heavily popular last year and is always encouraging to see so many creative people growing up in Maldon.

This year the trail also returns to the Maeldune Centre off of Market Hill. The centre is right in the middle of the town and is home to a variety of different exhibitions throughout the year.

The art trail is one of the closing events of the Essex Summer of Art initiative, which is the county’s largest annual visual festival, showcasing artists from across the county. An exciting programme of exhibitions, workshops and activities, offering something for all the family have taken place from May to October this year.

The trail has previously been positively received by local businesses in and around the High Street, who have reported many positive interests from visitors who they would not normally get during typical weekdays.

The trail begins on Saturday and will last through to Sunday October 2. For more information, visit www.maldonarttrail.co.uk.