AN ARTS centre in Uley reopened its doors after being closed for a £360,000 refurbishment.

The reopening of Uley’s Prema Arts Centre – based in the Bethesda Chapel, built in 1821 – took place on Saturday, September 26.

The family-friendly arts venue, nestled in the village, coincided reopening its doors with a celebration of drawing, making and creativity called ‘The Big Draw’, which focussed on the theme of ‘home’.

Throughout the day, hundreds of people attended the event, exploring the revamped spaces within the arts centre, drinking coffee and eating cakes in the on-site cafe garden.

Members of the public also joined artists running drawing sessions, including Abby Conway, Rebecca Ashdown and Martha Lightfoot, Eve Coy and Sophie Buckley.

The £360,000 re-development of Prema was funded by Arts Council England's Small Scale Capital Scheme, The Summerfield Charitable Trust, Gloucestershire Environmental Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Barnwood House Trust and through donations from the centre's friends and supporters.

Prema's artistic director Gordon Scott said: "We knew that we didn't want to do speeches and handshakes - it's just not really us. And so our annual foray into The Big Draw felt like just the right thing to do to celebrate our brand spanking new building.

“Lots of people responded to the beautiful prints and original works from artist Julian Bovis whose work depicts some of Gloucestershire's architectural gems and we felt rather proud that Bethesda Chapel, our own premises, features within his prints".

Prema is open seven days each week. To find out more visit www.prema.org.uk or give them a call on 01453 860703.

The centre is located in Bethesda Chapel in South Street, Uley.