Great Dunmow will once again be awash with giant drawings when the creative juices begin flowing for a popular art initiative.

Dunmow Broadcast: Drawing In Dunmow organisers at the awards ceremony, from left, artists Ellen Jackson, co-oridinator Catherine Mummery, artist Jevan Watkins Jones, artist Nabil Ali and deputy supervisor at Dunmow library Chris Nelson.Drawing In Dunmow organisers at the awards ceremony, from left, artists Ellen Jackson, co-oridinator Catherine Mummery, artist Jevan Watkins Jones, artist Nabil Ali and deputy supervisor at Dunmow library Chris Nelson. (Image: Archant)

Last year more than 600 people aged two to 82 created drawings and took part in a variety of arts activities inspired by the themes ‘Plant some ideas’ and ‘Draw tomorrow’.

The 2013 Drawing In Dunmow Big Draw programme saw the town square transformed with large sketches created using paints and pastels made from plants and natural materials. A children’s arts competition organised with the Aubrey Gallery also took place and a programme in schools was started with St Mary’s Riverbank artist-in-residence, Nabil Ali.

The programme recently won a Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust Award for its outstanding contribution to the 2013 Big Draw. The award recognises ‘engaging and imaginative events that extend public perceptions of drawing’.

Drawing In Dunmow artists and organisations attended the awards ceremony at London’s Painter’s Hall. They were presented their award from Lauren Child, children’s book author and illustrator internationally known for her characters Charlie and Lola and Clarice Bean.

Project co-ordinator Catherine Mummery said: “The award is a wonderful recognition of the creativity, imagination and hard work of all the artists and local participants who take part in our Big Draw programmes.

“The award money of £750 is going to be used to make this year’s programme bigger and even more inspiring. We are announcing the themes for this year’s programme at our open meeting on Tuesday (June 17) at 4.30pm at the Dunmow Library and we hope that more Dunmow groups will want to take part.”

Drawing In Dunmow is organised by arts company High Stile Projects in partnership with the Dunmow Library, St Mary’s Riverbank and local schools and groups.

For more information, contact Catherine Mummery on 01371 859767 or email catherinemummery@btinternet.com.