Wivenhoe Art Trail packed with artists and visitors for 2026

Artist, organiser and resident Alison Stockmarr, 62, said this year felt like a “real step up”.

“It was terrific. The whole weekend was just buzzing,” she said. “It’s always a joy, because we have a lot of artists and makers and largely we’re on our own troughing away all year. Twice a year, we open up and suddenly, you’ve got people appreciating what you’re doing.

“This year, with all the doom and gloom in the news in every quarter, people are just grateful to have something that reframed their view and looking at something positive, handmade, crafted, and beautiful.”

Visitors poured into the town from across the country after spotting the art trail listed in the likes of Essex Life, Visit Colchester, regional and even national press.

Add the fact that Wivenhoe has been crowned best place to live in the east of England by The Sunday Times, and the art trail is certainly on the map.

Artist – Jo Angell showed her paintings, prints and textiles at stop number 4 (Image: Michael Branthwaite)

Textiles – Annie Bielecka showcased her fine art textiles of famous works, including Gustav Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’ (Image: Michael Branthwaite)

Wonderful – The newly refurbished Wivenhoe Printworks welcomed streams of visitors (Image: Michael Branthwaite)

Popular – Visitors travelled from across the country, including London and Birmingham, just to see the art trail (Image: Michael Branthwaite)

It started with just six organisers, Ms Stockmarr among them, quietly showing their work in their studios. Now, it features around 40 artists and makers of all mediums, including paint, print, textile, ceramics, jewellery, and photography, showing their work across 20 venues spread throughout the charming town twice a year.

Open to both new and established artists and makers residing in and around Wivenhoe, there is also a high calibre of work, with several artists having featured in the Royal Academy of Art’s prestigious Summer Exhibition.

After around a decade of the event running and growing every year, Wivenhoe Art Trail is the perfect stop for people hunting for something free, creative and local to do on the bank holiday weekend.

That visitors are welcome within artists’ homes and studios sets the art trail apart, a treat which Ms Stockmarr says is particularly inspiring.

Organiser – Alison Stockmarr, showing original collaged book and record art, is one of the trail’s six organisers (Image: Newsquest)

“All our makers are happy to share how they do things,” she said. “I think that demystification helps inspire people to think, ‘I’d love to do that, or maybe I’ll have a go at that’. It means people can understand the art better and enjoy how it’s done.”

The art trail also aims to inspire the next generation, with children from Millfields Primary School and Broomgrove Junior School showcasing their own art in the grounds of St Mary’s Church.

Inspiring – Schoolchildren from the town’s two local primary schools showed their work in St Mary’s churchyard (Image: Michael Branthwaite)

Maritime – Tony Pickering showed his sailing photography in the hut on the old Wivenhoe Sailing Club (Image: Michael Branthwaite)

Stops – There were 40 artists showing their work across 20 venues in Wivenhoe (Image: Michael Branthwaite)

Medium – There was a wide variety of work on display, including Caroline Moiret’s glasswork (Image: Michael Branthwaite)

Historic – Several of the venues showcase Wivenhoe’s maritime heritage and beloved charm (Image: Michael Branthwaite)

With visitors travelling from as far as London and Birmingham specifically for the art trail, what keeps people coming back?

Ms Stockmarr said: “There’s a familiarity, and so many people saying it’s so lovely to see how our work progresses, which is something you don’t see in a gallery.

“Visitors to the trail see everything from the beginning of a collection, or new style you’re working on, or the tools of the trade and the tools artists use to create their work.

“It’s seeing art in action. It’s a holistic, 360-degree creative flavour. You don’t know where art begins and Wivenhoe ends; it’s all part and parcel of the fabric of the place.”