A Perthshire street is to be transformed into an art gallery to promote the work of local creatives.
Usually home to an accountant, hairdressers, hardware store and restaurants, Leslie Street in Blairgowrie will become an art trail for more than a week, showcasing designs of 30 artists from the town.
Leslie Street Art Trail will be launched on September 1, in line with Perthshire Open Studios, an annual festival highlighting the work of artists across the region.
Shop windows along the street will be transformed into mini-galleries, showcasing everything from jewellery, ceramics, woven baskets and paintings, all made by designers in Blairgowrie and the surrounding area.
Each exhibit will include contact details for the creator and directions to their studio.
Wendy Mackey, organiser of the event, said: “A lot of the artists we are showing work from home or in studios out in the sticks so people working in the town either can’t, or aren’t, willing to travel out to see their work.
“This brings the art to them and shows them what’s on offer. The idea is it will encourage people to support local artists more and venture out to their studios.”
Wendy, a painter living in the town, was inspired by colourful displays in towns across the Borders for the annual Common Ridings festival to commemorate their ancestors who patrolled the border with England on horseback to defend their settlements.
“I’ve wanted to see more collaboration between business owners and local artists for a while and when I went to see my daughter in the Borders I was inspired,” she said.
“It’s just amazing to see the whole area get involved and I thought it would be great to do something like that in Blairgowrie.”
The shops which cannot offer windows for displays will be given brightly coloured rosettes featuring the trail’s mascot, Gloria the Highland Cow.
The start of the trail, which will run until September 9, will be marked with a reception for artists and guests at the Dome Restaurant next Saturday.
