Shepton Mallet's artistic community is invited to take part in the Shepton Vignettes art and photography competition, which aims to celebrate the town's people, places, and heritage.

Organised by SMart (Shepton Mallet Art and Culture), the competition encourages participants of all ages to capture iconic buildings, special views, and hidden gems within the town and surrounding countryside.

The competition follows last year's series of portrait sittings led by Rev Gill Sakakini and artist Jack Greenwood, which showcased the faces of Shepton Mallet. This year, the focus has expanded, with participants invited to create drawings, paintings, sketches, or photographs that reflect the essence of the town.

Thanks to support from Shepton Mallet Town Council, Shepton Community Bookshop, and Somerset Community Foundation, the competition offers free workshops and generous prizes in three age categories. Children under 11 can win a 1:1 tuition session with an artist, while 12 to 17-year-olds have the chance to win a £250 prize. For adults aged 18 and over, there are two £400 prizes up for grabs—one for the best painting or drawing and one for the best photograph.

Judges will be looking for work that captures Shepton Mallet's spirit and inspires local pride. The organisers hope to see a variety of creative interpretations of the town's landscape and people.

Throughout the autumn, a series of free workshops will be held to help participants develop their skills. Artist Steve Cobbin will lead sessions on building and landscape drawing for adults and young people, while Rev Gill Sakakini will focus on capturing people in the landscape. The workshops will be held at Create@#8 in Town Street and are free to attend, though booking is required as spaces are limited.

In January, all entries will be displayed at an exhibition at Create@#8, where visitors can vote for their favourite artwork. The entry with the most votes will receive a People's Prize. Selected works from the competition will also be published in a book, highlighting the creativity and talent of Shepton Mallet's community.

The closing date for entries is Saturday 30 November. Details about how to enter and where to submit work will be available on SMart's website and Facebook page closer to the deadline.

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For more information about the competition, email SMart at [email protected].