Local artists will be showing what Brentwood is all about in this year's Brentwood Art & Heritage Trail, 

This year’s art trail will look at the importance of place to local people and asks: What has happened in the Brentwood Borough that has shaped memories and defined people? What is Brentwood’s identity? And how has the past shaped the present? How do we celebrate our culture and heritage in our events and visual representations?

As part of the Essex Summer of Art - the Brentwood Art and Heritage Trail is the town's biggest yet with more than 100 artists on display at 40 venues including 25 independent shops, three professional galleries along with Brentwood Library, Brentwood Theatre, Brentwood Museum, Barnards Farm, and Marillac Care from Monday until July 12.

Standout pieces of artwork to enjoy and discover include previously unseen Banksy street art, a 2m high steel ‘tree’ at Fat Face, outdoor sculptures at Barnards Farm in West Horndon, contemporary art from former Brentwood resident who now lives in France, and the Schools Exhibition featuring artwork from pupils at Brentwood County High School, Holly Trees Primary School and Shenfield St Mary’s CofE Primary School.

Not only can you follow the trail but there are also lots of FREE events to enjoy and take part in including:

June 30 at 1pm:  FREE The Banksy Effect Brandler Galleries, 1 Copford Road, Brentwood

July 1 – All day: FREE Brentwood Station Celebrate the 175th anniversary of the opening of Brentwood Station by viewing the historical photographs on display in the waiting rooms on Platforms 3 and 4.

July 1 at 6pm:  FREE The Art of the Gruffalo Trail Thorndon Country Park (North) (Please note that parking charges apply) Learn the story behind the creation of the Gruffalo Trail. Meet Jo Phillips, Education Officer for Essex Country Parks, who has a fascinating tale to tell of how Julia Donaldson’s characters have come to life at Thorndon.

July 1: 7.30pm FREE Brentwood Theatre Art Exhibition Preview Brentwood Theatre, 15 Shenfield Road. Be the first to see the selection of artwork included in the Brentwood Theatre’s Summer Art Exhibition. Pre-book your free space on http://www.brentwood-theatre.co.uk/showdetail.php?seq=735

July 3 at 11am: FREE Guided Tour of the Art Trail (Brentwood High Street) Meet in front of the Neil Graham Gallery, 11 Ingrave Road, Brentwood Join Art & Heritage Trail Co-ordinator, Laurie Edmonds, for a guided tour of the artwork on display around Brentwood High Street.

July 9 at 11am: FREE Guided Tour of the Art Trail (Upper and Central Shenfield) Meet in front of Hollands, 234 Hutton Road, Shenfield. Join Art & Heritage Trail Co-ordinator, Laurie Edmonds, for a guided tour of the artwork on display in Shenfield venues.

11 July at 11am:  FREE Town Centre Heritage Walk Meet at the Heritage Column at the corner of Kings Road and Brentwood High St. (just opposite Bennetts Funeral Directors) Join the Mayor of Brentwood, Cllr Mark Reed, as he leads you on a one-hour tour of Brentwood High Street, sharing the fascinating history of our town centre.

And finally, if you get peckish along the route you can head to the Pop Up Art Trail Café in Brentwood Theatre from June 29 to July 3 between 10am to 4pm.

Brentwood Art & Heritage Trail 2015 Co-ordinator, Laurie Edmonds, said: “I am really excited about the wide variety of artwork on display in the Borough during the Art & Heritage Trail, ranging from watercolours to street art to steel sculptures.

"I hope residents and visitors alike will enjoy the programme of free talks and tours designed to create a richer experience of the Art Trail.”

Brentwood Borough Council’s Chair of the Community & Health Committee, Councillor Will Russell, added: “It’s brilliant to have more local independent businesses supporting the Art Trail than ever before.

"I’m also pleased that not only are we celebrating our artists and culture but also our history and heritage which is all around us in Brentwood and maybe we don’t notice it because we are so busy in our daily lives”.

For more information on all the FREE events and a map of the trail, please visit www.brentwoodarttrail.co.uk or follow the trail on Twitter @BwdArtTrail The Essex Summer of Art has been running for seven years and this is the Borough’s sixth Art Trail.

The Essex Summer of Art/ENAS event is brought to you by Essex County Council’s Cultural Development in partnership with firstsite, Essex Network of Artist’s Studios, and Visit Essex.