MORE than 30 artists have displayed their work at an exhibition in Thornbury themed to coincide with the performance of a Shakespeare play.

The series of pieces were on show at the Cossham Hall to support the performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School on Saturday, June 18, with the audience being able to enjoy it during the interval.

The exhibit remained open on Sunday, with many residents braving the bad weather to take in the artwork.

Artists contributing to the exhibition were given only one guideline – to stick to the theme of the play. Otherwise they had free reign to be as creative as they wished.

46 pieces were included in the showcase, with a variety of materials being used, including oils, acrylic, watercolour, pastel. Indian ink, pen and wash, mixed media, collage, silk painting, and three dimensional work in textiles and felt.

Tricia Latham, from Thornbury Art Club, the exhibition’s organisers, said: “The idea behind the tandem event was to create more of an ‘occasion’ with the exhibition adding an extra dimension, and extra interest, to the performance of the play.

“The diversity and quality of the work was astonishing. It showed the amount of imagination in the artists to come up with such extraordinary and unexpected ideas.

“It was quite a limited viewing time in between the acts and over the weekend, but we had many people both from the audience and the general public, but everyone who came seemed to really enjoy.

“There were some very accomplished pieces, which could easily have looked the part in the foyer of the Old Vic itself!”

Funds were also raised through the exhibition for the Armstrong Hall redevelopment fund, from ticket sales, collection bowls and the sale of some items in the exhibition.

Two paintings were sold on the day, with one, an acrylic painting by artist Pamela Wood, of the characters in the play dancing in the forest, now set to be hung in Blaise Junior School in Bristol.

Ms Latham said: “While we are happy we could offer something financial to the redevelopment fund, we feel our main contribution was the visual wow factor that was able to accompany the performance.”

She added: “We would really like to thank Joan Hawkins from the Armstrong Hall for inviting us to hold the exhibition, and to all the artists who contributed their time, talent and work to the exhibition.

“We hope that many of these imaginative pieces of work will make a return for the Thornbury Art Club big summer exhibition at the beginning of August.”