ART lovers are invited to follow the Buriton Virtual Art Trail this year, after coronavirus saw the real event cancelled.

The annual event usually sees village artists open their studios to visitors over a weekend in June.

But this year the trail on June 20 and 21 didn’t go ahead because of the impossibility of maintaining social distancing in some of the artists’ homes and studios.

So instead the exhibitors got together to launch a ‘virtual’ art trail featuring their artwork.

Event spokesman Jill Martin said: “Because of the current situation, we felt it wasn’t the right time, so instead 11 of the artists got together to provide work for a virtual trail.”

The artists are Steve Atkins, Francesca Concannon, Ken Cox, Liz Cox, Jennifer Crew, Liz and Joe Diggins, Paul Martin, Jill Martin, Liz Moss, Fran Vesey and Sue Williams.

Buriton Art Trail was started in 2010 by the Martins at their studio in Grantchester House.

In 2011 Steve Atkins contributed some garden sculptures, and by 2012 Fran Vesey had started art classes, and more villagers contributed to the art trail that included the Grantchester House Studio, the Morgue at the Five Bells, the Seward Room, and Hoploft House garden off Bones Lane.

To see the artworks on the Buriton Art Trail 2020, visit the website at www.buritonarttrail.co.uk