The 2024 Artbeat exhibition got off to a great start with Town Cryer Roger Bourgein opening the show.

Laura Boyd said: "He was armed with his penetrating voice and bell proceeding through Sidmouth Town Centre on Saturday morning announcing our event to all and sundry. This helps to bring in a flurry of intrigued visitors to start the weekend.

"The artists are really pleased and also feel that this year is their best ever show with a great variety of 2d and also 3D artworks.They are showing at Kennaway House until next Sunday 15th September from 10am to 5pm daily."

The exhibition runs from Friday September 6 to Sunday September 15 from 10am to 5pm with free entry. The first day opens at11.30 and the last day closes at 4pm.

Ten artists will be exhibiting this year including two Exmouth-based artists Zan Nye and Jan Shaylor. Most of the other artists are Sidmouth based - Bente Kumar, Di Briggs, Susan Paradise, David Hughes, June Murrell, Michelle Kennedy, Stephanie George and Laura Boyd (Colaton Raleigh).

Susan Paradise paints in oils and acrylics and invariably feature people- either as portraits or in the landscape especially beach scenes. She is interested in colour and light.

Michelle Kennedy was a garden designer and loves drawing and experimenting with paint and other media focusing on an emotional response to the subject 

Laura Boyd trained as an illustrator and etcher and is a landscape painter in watercolours and acrylic. She loves painting outside and is a member of East Devon Sketchers who meet every Wednesday morning. Anyone of any level can join in. It’s about enjoying nature, art in any medium and probably the most important aspect- socialising. Laura works in her studio from her sketches and from imagination and memory. 

Zan Nye derives so much of her inspiration from the beautiful Devon coastline and her hometown of Exmouth and surrounds. Whilst on duty as a volunteer  with the Exmouth National Coastwatch there is plenty of opportunity to develop ideas for her acrylic paintings. She also makes delightful felted scarves and other crafts which will be on sale at the exhibition 

Many of the artists have said that focusing on their artwork means that they forget other problems.The work  is often a response to the stunning natural environment that we are lucky enough to enjoy if we live in East Devon. 

Visitors to the exhibition are sure of a warm welcome. Feel free to chat to the artists who are manning the show. There are lots of original works including paintings and sculptures. Also prints and cards featuring the work of some of the exhibitors.