ART will make its way into the shops, restaurants and galleries of Westcliff this weekend with the arrival of the Westcliff Art Trail.

Now in it’s fifth year, the trail will see local businesses in the area showcase work by local artists from tomorrow for a whole week.

Organiser and chairman Ann Robson says: “It brings culture and art in, perhaps, in a way that lets it get away from museums and galleries that have rather protracted exhibitions. This is for the local community. It’s within their price range mostly and it also introduces new businesses to people.”

Work by artists including Ann, Debbie Hadley and Kitty Guthrie Oakley will pop up in businesses including Empire Cakes, Dolly’s Tea Room and Bistro, JJ Sweets, Eliza’s and Havens and plenty more places.

An exhibition with work by all the artists taking part will be at the Cliffs Pavilion.

Ann is hoping to have music in Hamlet Court Road played by local musicians as well as street painting with artist Anna Heim and a competition for youngsters.

Ann says: “I feel very strongly that artists who don’t have a lot of work or contacts, or even courage to display their work, will get a chance to dip their toe with maybe half a dozen pieces of work to see how they’re received.

“They’re nearly always very good quality because artists are very self-critical.

“It gives them a chance for people to look at their work. Artists can get very close to their work and become hyper-critical.

“You need to step back and in a way the trail does it for the artists.

“They step back and see what other people have to say and it gives them confidence to continue.”

Ann has been involved with the organisation of the event since its conception and her own work will be exhibited at dress shop Eliza’s, the Cliffs Pavilion and Garri Bailey’s.

Describing some of her work, which tends to be around a playful, colourful theme, she says: “My paintings are huge. I did a series called Essex Girls last year and one called What Do Women Want? this year.

“There’s one from that series with the man in a top hat, who’s the sexy one, a man leaning forward with a camera, he’s the arty one, one standing at the back, who’s the fit one and one outside, who’s the DIY one.

“Of course, as women we wish for all of them rolled into one, and we go out and buy a chihuahua instead.

“My paintings are quite humorous.

“There are metaphors hidden in them paintings and also some bits for people to read into what they want to.”

The Westcliff Art Trail Today until Saturday, May 19.

For full listings and information, visit www.

westcliffarttrail.co.uk