FINAL preparations are underway for a local art group's summer show.

Wokingham Art Society will be holding its 63rd annual Summer Exhibition and sale from this Saturday (21), and everyone is welcome to come and have a browse.

Held at St Paul's Parish Rooms, in Reading Road until Saturday, August 4, around 100 local artists, photographers, potters, jewellery makers and many, many more will be displaying their masterpieces for the general public to enjoy.

Children can also get involved in the Young Artist Corner, where they can create their own works of art to take home or put on display at the show.

The show will be officially opened with a special preview night this Friday. Wokingham Town Mayor, Cllr Julian McGhee-Sumner, will be in attendance on opening night, alongside the society's president, Paul Banning; Sue Nike; and Peter Fagan, with his children Patrick and Elizabeth.

The society's spokesman Annet Pullen said: "This now well established event first took place 63 years ago, in 1956, when a few local artists showed their pictures in the forecourt of the then Wokingham Library – Montague House, which is now Prezzo’s restaurant in Broad Street.

"This exhibition was a tremendous success and, ever since, the two-week Annual Summer Exhibition remains the Society’s main event, retaining its motto: “Buy and Take Home an Original Work of Art”. This, by the way, is quite a unique feature, as visitors can buy and take home an original straight away, which is then immediately replaced with another original piece. This way the exhibition is constantly showing a different display."

The exhibition opens this Friday, July 20, and is open daily to the public from Saturday from 10am to 5.30pm, with late night openings on Thursday until 8pm. Admission is free, and car parking and refreshments are available.

For more details visit www.wokinghamartsociety.org.uk