Art & Culture

Space man - Wilf Elliott holds up his drawing of Sam Ryder with the man himself

Sam Ryder signs portrait by talented artist to fundraise for rare condition
THE work of a talented upcoming artist is making waves and has caught the eye of big names like Gareth Bale and AJ Tracey.

Columnist - photographer Gaz de Vere

Picture This: Gaz De Vere on why Pride is important and needs your help

Andy Downes - in the empty space before he began work on it

Artist Andy Downes wants to welcome the creative community in his art space

Essex Girls Liberation Front

Metal arts organisation celebrates 20th anniversary

Traditional dancers - photo by Jacques Feeney

The "most ambitious" Leigh Folk Festival is back to celebrate 30 years

Elsa James - artist, activist and producer

Southend artist Elsa James' new exhibition explores "what it means to be black and in Essex"

A production shot from last year's panto at the Towngate Theatre, Beauty and the Beast

Kids' auditions open for Peter Pan panto

Great mood - museum volunteers all entered into the spirit of the weekend Picture:Tom Simms

IN PICTURES: Iconic Hi-de-Hi show brought back to life in themed celebrations

Renaissance Learning launched the 'Sum it up in a picture' drawing competition on World Maths Day

Students encouraged to take part in £2,000 maths based drawing competition

Michelle Bappoo guitar and vocals Melodiegroup, with Judah Mclean - photo by Gary Franklin

New Tea and Oranges for the City

Erene Dellaporta and child beside the mural

New mural in Southend celebrates International Women's Day

Live demo - cartoonist Darren Goddard at work.

Shoppers were treated to live art demo from cartoonist Darren Goddard

Vittorio Ricchetti from the Beecroft Gallery - Enjoying the immersive audio experience - photo by filmfreephotography.co.uk

Stand 'In Her Shoes' at the Beecroft and meet Essex women from the past and present

Aaron Shrimpton - photo by GET SHOT STUDIOS

Director holds Southend on Shorts - a multiple screening event at Southend Odeon

South Essex's Perri Kiely opens up on success and his biggest role model

South Essex's Perri Kiely opens up on success and his biggest role model

'Success of LuminoCity highlights how Southend will thrive as a city'

'Success of LuminoCity highlights how Southend will thrive as a city'

Foraging - Natasha and her son Rupert in Belfairs Wood

Valentine's gifts will be hidden in Leigh, Belfairs, Hadleigh and Chalkwell

Heartfelt tributes to beloved artist who inspired countless children

Precious artefacts and art work must be moved to “alternative storage”

Precious artefacts and art work must be moved to 'alternative storage'

Rev Simpkins - Photo by James Fletcher

Culture as a Dare back on the live music scene

Maurice Blik, a child survivor of a Nazi concentration camp and respected sculptor, is set to release an autobiography

Child survivor of Nazi concentration camp and famous sculptor pens autobiography

Lily and her bees and piano pictured working on one of her projects

Artist and beekeeper invites you to get involved in her re-wilding nature project

Wow-Factor: The light displays coming to Southend promisie to dazzle residents (Southend Borough Council)

IN PICTURES: The dazzling seafront lights festival coming to Southend - what to expect

Southend film producer and screen writer Ben Trebilcook,

Southend Film producer Ben Trebilcook review of the film See What She Did

Kelly Buckley collecting 'technofossils' from local beach

Gallery exhibits sonic artworks

A still from the film 'S' for Southend by Aaron Shrimpton, which the exhibition is named after

Exhibition ‘S’ for Southend to take place at Focal Point

Debbie Lane with her stop-motion film set behind her

Debbie Lane to premiere stop motion film at Horror-on-Sea festival, Southend

The property - an old electrical shop - is owned by Essex couple Gary and Nadine Schwartz. Picture: SWNS

Essex couple under fire for removing Banksy artwork and sending it to US for sale

The outside of the exhibition

New exhibition revealed life of Essex man who was 'godfather of cinema'

The festival takes place next Saturday

Everything you need to know about Anti Loo Roll festival coming to town next weekend

The UK's best free-to-view outdoor artwork to visit over August Bank Holiday.

The UK's best free-to-view outdoor artwork to visit over August Bank Holiday

Alison Bournes' Guardians. Ceramic heads that embody Essex gardens of the past

Everything you need to know about Leigh Art Trail coming to town next month

Pupils from Chase High who took part in the project

Just days left to see exhibition from leading artist and Westcliff school pupils

Fan - Octopus Ahoy mascot CJ next to the Banksy artwork

Art lovers flock to see if 'Banksy' work is the real deal

Crowds gathered to get an exclusive snap alongside the potentially significant artwork while security was put in place to protect it

Security put in place as council waits to see if Essex artwork is by Banksy

Designs - Artist Helen Bur drawing one of her

'Little people' grace Basildon town centre in £1.2m mural project

Hundreds of people had their say on the Echo’s Facebook over other attractions they want to make a comeback

Car meets, magical kingdoms and Kursaal gigs - what Echo readers want at Southend seafront

Adventure Island announces plan to host its first ever music and arts festival

Adventure Island announces plan to host its first ever music and arts festival

New artwork converting sunlight and moisture to drinking water is now on show

New artwork converting sunlight and moisture to drinking water is now on show

Smiles - Children at Blenheim Primary School enjoyed the fun

GALLERY: Hares hopping up across town to aid hospice charity

Other worldy twist for authorst debut novel

Other worldy twist for author's debut novel

The Grinch painted in Southend high street as part of a series of santa's around town.

Meet the very talented (and modest) artist behind Southend’s Grinch painting

MAXINE CLARKE 18/09/20111940's fancy dress open day and funday at the Plotlands bungalow on the reserve.Langdon Nature Reserve, Lower Dunton Road, Langdon Hills PIC-Museum manager Jennifer Shirley in front of museum,

Find out about history of the Plotlands with a winter walk at Langdon Nature Reserve

laurie ellingham.

Essex author Laurie Ellingham launches Ours is the Winter

Solargraphy image

Camera workshop will be star attraction for budding artists

Matt Crew, Temple Farm Ind Est. Southend .Matt is a photographer who has taken the photos for a book called Salt, which is about creative people, business people, in the Leigh/Southend area. His photos are now going to be part of an exhibition at the

Matt’s debut shows off the Salt of Southend

Kem - Love Island favourite

Love Island Kem's calendar date

ROYAL HOTEL, ROYAL HOTEL, 1 HIGH STREET, SOUTHEND.Southend on Sea's first Absinthe Bar has arrived. . ..

Absinthe basement speakeasy opens its ‘secret’ doors

Billericay Christmas Market

Billericay Christmas market says it will ‘attract 20,000’

Syd’s Strange journey helps ‘witches’

Alternative art students’ show

Leigh Christmas Lights and Parade.Father Christmas.

Get ready for Leigh's Christmas Light switch-on

Little Theatre Company's Christmas Fayre 2016

Christmas fayre at Park Inn thanks to Little Theatre Co.

Southend's artistic talent on display in 125 minutes