The artistic talents of members of a Suffolk art group have been put to great effect to create a montage for a World War One Trail.
Sixteen people who belong to the Bury St Edmunds Arts Society created a 3ft square image containing 16 x 11.5ins square scenes from the conflict.
It comes after they held an open session at Southgate Community Centre, on Saturday, the first of two workshops, where members are working to produce 32 paintings which will be combined into two large final pieces. Each of the two pieces will comprise 16 individual paintings, all on a World War One theme, with the hope of it being hung in the town’s Guildhall.
Rosie Copeland, the chair of the group, said: “The day went very well and everyone was pleased with the finished result and I think that members felt they were part of something special.
“The group worked collaboratively to produce the design.”
All the square scenes include various images of the war featuring nurses, land workers, regiments, memorials and even a crashed Zeppelin.
The trial is being supported by Our Bury St Edmunds, the business improvement organisation in the town and also backed by the Royal British Legion.
It will feature a total of 18 pieces, commissioned by local artists and sculptors, dotted in prime town centre sites and will be on show next year from July 23, through to Armistice Day, on November 11.
At the culmination of the trail an auction will take place to sell off all of the pieces to go to the MyWiSH Charity, which supports the West Suffolk Hospital, with the funds targeted at the Every Heart Matters Appeal which is aiming to raise £500,000 to help fund building a brand new cardiac centre at the hospital.
The West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is investing £5.2m in developing a state of the art cardiac suite that will provide quicker access to more treatments, but the £500,000 My WiSH Charity is hoping to raise will lead to the whole unit, which is currently fragmented on different floors, being brought together in one purpose-built centre.
The trail is to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War One and is aimed at creating community involvement.
Mark Cordell, chief executive of Our Bury St Edmunds, said: “We wanted to build on the success of the Wolf Trail in 2015 which brought in over 15,000 people into the town and we wanted to do something similar and raise funds for a local charity.
“We are working with My WiSH Charity to mark the centenary of the conclusion of World War One and we are also keen to work with local artists and bring people together to outline the aspects of the War in mainland Europe and how it impacted on the people of Bury St Edmunds.
“It is also aimed at helping to raise the profile of the town nationally in regards of this important anniversary.”
If you want to support the Every Heart Matters appeal go to the website www.mywishcharity.co.uk and if you would like to donate to the appeal you can do so by going to
Justgiving.com/ehma or text EHMA17 £10 to 70070.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here