The Leigh Art Trail 2026: Come and Find Me

Every July, something shifts in Leigh-on-Sea. The town is taken over by artists, who open their doors, fill their windows and transform everyday spaces into places worth pausing in. Venues throughout the town become galleries, and for a fortnight the whole place feels alive with something you cannot quite put your finger on until you are standing in the middle of it.

That is the Leigh Art Trail. And this year it feels more exciting than ever.

An evolving art trail

What I love most about the trail is that it evolves. Artists produce new work specifically for it, which means that every year there is something genuinely fresh to discover. It is not a fixed collection on a white wall. It is a living, growing celebration of what is being made right now, in this town, by the people who live and work here.

This year I have two venues, and I am particularly excited about both of them.

For the first time, I am showing from my own studio at Leigh Marina, Venue 3. This feels like a significant step. You can see the work and the place that inspired it in the same breath, the estuary right outside the door, the boats, the light on the water. I will be here from Friday to Sunday throughout the trail.

Two venues in Leigh on Sea.

I am also showing at Squeeze Cafe, Venue 31, downstairs, on weekdays. The work here has been chosen around a single thread, the blues and greens of nature, colours that calm you, ground you, and gently call back your own memories of being somewhere wild and quiet.

Earlier in the trail I ran my own event, Walk Draw Gather, on July 6th, which brought together a group of people to explore the landscape around Leigh and respond to it creatively. It was a wonderful morning and something I hope to develop further.

If you have not yet picked up a map and made a plan, there is still time. The trail runs until July 19th. Full details of all artists, venues and events are at leigharttrail.com.

Come and find me. I would love to see you there!

Timings on the Leigh Art Trail

I'll be at my studio in Leigh Marina, 10-4pm Friday - Sunday throughout the trail. July 4th - 19th.

I'll be at Squeeze on a Wednesday afternoon and by appointment. The cafe is open every day for you to just go and take in the art and order a smoothie!

reason to come and see me.....

I am genuinely excited about my work this year. My word for 2026 was EXPLORE and I have embraced it fully, trying new techniques, new materials and following some unexpected twists and turns in my practice. I cannot wait to share them with you.

If you love textiles, I have cyanotype pieces and hand dyed raw linen work in both venues. They have a completely different feel to canvas and I am looking forward to seeing how people respond to them.

I also have work from my residency in Spain scattered across both exhibitions, alongside some of the original etching plates, which are fascinating to see in their own right.

There is also a secret poem waiting for you. A QR code in both venues takes you to a short film featuring a poem written by the Leigh Art Trail poet S. Reeson. I have never collaborated with a poet before and it has been a truly fascinating experience. You will have to come in person to find it though.

My auction piece this year is an original drypoint print inspired by a walk on Two Tree Island Nature Reserve. You can bid any amount you like. It is beautifully framed with a float mount and non reflective glass.

Pricing

A note on pricing. This year I have thought carefully about making my work as accessible as possible, and have priced the majority of my paintings accordingly. If anything catches your eye during the trail but you are unable to visit in person, any unsold work will be available on my website for a short time afterwards at the same prices.

These paintings have been part of my journey and I would love for them to find new homes. If something speaks to you, please do get in touch.