AN INNOVATIVE art event celebrated creativity at the weekend.

The three day Art on the Hill event saw a trail of music, painting, performance and other artwork across the NP20 area of Newport.

The event was arranged by artists Sarah Goodey and Kate Mercer.

Ms Goodey said: “Kate and I are really pleased. The last three days have gone down really well and we’ve had good feedback from artists, venues and everyone we have spoken to have been really positive.”

“We’d like to thank Cwtsh, the Handpost Community Library Association and Rogue Fox Coffee House who were our partners and all of the businesses who have made this project possible.”

One of the Saturday events was a family craft challenge in Newport Museum and Art Gallery.”

Children and their families were invited to take part in designing, building and decorating their own model bridge. Claire Turner, events and activities development officer at Newport City Council said: “Through our contact with the organisers of Art on the Hill we decided to put on a family crafts session. We do this regularly throughout half term. The session is about building bridges and ties in with our Transporter Bridge exhibition downstairs. 

“It reminds people of how important the Transporter Bridge is and its heritage.

“It’s a bit of family time, a bit of craft time and we have had a lot of children come along and join in so far. 

“We’ve had some very ambitious children and one family created their own version of the transporter bridge so they created their own gondola and everything.

“It’s been very enjoyable and successful.”

Rogue Fox Coffee House owner Will Green, said the organisers of the event approached him.

The coffee house also held Word of Mouth spoken poetry sessions in the evening on Saturday.

Mr Green said: “I think Art on the Hill is a great idea. I was approached by Sarah and Kate as I’m a graphic designer and photographer as well as one of the owners of Rogue Fox.

“I said ‘yes’ straight away. We always like to support artists.

“It’s been a great event and it is such a good concept. It’s bringing people together who want to bring their work to show it to the public.”

Residents at Ty Eirlys in Stow Hill, which offers supported living services for people with learning disabilities, also got involved by showing their own prints.

Charlotte Chapman, who works with residents on a weekly basis creating artwork, said participants were excited to open up their homes and show off their work.

“They’re a really great group,” she said. There’s lots of laughter.”

As part of the event the Cwtsh arts venue launched their winter art exhibition yesterday.

Cwtsh’s exhibition organiser John Briggs said: “This is something that Newport needs. It’s the first of kind in the city and it proving to be a great success.”

“It’s been local efforts by the organisers, it’s local people bringing in local artists and tapping into the wealth of talent that we have in Newport.”