Newbury chalks up pavement art first

50 budding artists decorate town

Newbury's first-ever pavement art event hit Market Square this weekend with nearly 50 budding artists using the medium once used by schoolteachers, to decorate the centre of town.

Chalkfest, which was organised by City Arts Newbury, was held on Sunday. It attracted more than 200 visitors including Newbury mayor Howard Bairstow.

Local artist Cipriano Martinez judged the competition and declared a picture of the town hall which had been drawn by local Spanish resident Inmaculada Vivar the winner.

She won £50 from local art shop,The Craftsman Newbury, for her work and will use it to purchase art materials.

One of the organisers, Isabel Carmona, said they were delighted with the turnout.

“We were so lucky with the weather and the rain held back until after the event,” she said. “The downpour erased most of the work.”