Where: Stow-on-the-Wold (various galleries)

When: Saturday, September 28, to Sunday, October 6

Stow Art Week is an exciting new event taking place in the historic market town from September 28 to October 6.

Over the last few years Stow on the Wold has become the hub for a great number of galleries displaying a diverse range of art including paintings, drawings, illustrations, sculpture, printmaking, photography, glass making from the classical to the contemporary and much more.

This is a fantastic opportunity to meet some of the artists, view their work, wander into the galleries and talk to the gallery owners and share their wealth of experience.

Galleries will be mounting special one-man shows including one very interesting loan exhibition, putting on workshops and giving short talks.

This is your opportunity to snap up an original artwork by acclaimed artists, illustrators, printmakers, photographers and glassmakers. There will be a trail leaflet available to work your way around the town.

Simon Shore, owner of 1793 Gallery, said: "Stow Art Week is a celebration of fine art and the galleries here in Stow. The initial concept of creating Stow Art Week is to create an atmosphere which inspires, educates, encourages and supports Stow as a recognised centre for the arts."

A loan exhibition of watercolours and memorabilia from John Nash RA (1893-1977), which have very rarely been seen by the public, is one of the highlights of the inaugural Stow Art Week.

Christopher Clarke Antiques, specialist antique dealers in campaign furniture and travel related items, are exhibiting a fascinating collection of 18th and 19th century mica paintings from India. Mica paintings were very popular at that time with the European market as a substitute for the modern day photograph.

1793 Gallery on Digbeth Street are a new addition to the Stow art scene, however, Simon Shore has been dealing in art for over 20 years with galleries in both London and New York. The gallery is delighted to announce that it will be exhibiting a collection of paintings and works on paper from the Napoleonic Wars.

The Red Rag Gallery is holding a solo exhibition entitled 'The White Wood' featuring art works by surrealist artist Mark Edwards. Mark who lives and works deep in the Scottish Highlands, is a modern master in a very British form of surrealism.

Peter Martin is one of Canada's most respected photo-journalists and since resigning from the Montreal Gazette he has opened a studio-cum-gallery in Stow on the Wold in 2014. He will be showing a series of short documentaries on well-known photographers and their careers. There will also be a chance for photographers and lovers of photography to gather for a chat and to share their own stories.

'Tales of the English Countryside' at Sam Wilson Studio is an exhibition of nature-inspired drawings, linoprints and textiles by Sam Wilson based on the villages, fields and woodlands of the Cotswolds, where Sam's studio is based.

Award-winning artist Lindy Allfrey will be doing an all-day demonstration of portrait painting in her gallery, The Lindy Allfrey Gallery, at Walton House, Sheep Street.

Square One at Stow has a strong focus on artists of the mid-20th century and have a fantastic range of limited edition prints by Cyril Power, Sybil Andrews, Eric Ravilious, Paul Nash, Edward Bawden and so on. The gallery is also the Cotswolds home of cameo glass artist Helen Millard.

Artysan, purveyors of "the art of the country" are staging a special exhibition of contemporary landscape painting as part of Stow Art Week.

The Fosse Gallery is still in its splendid original Cotswold location in the Manor House on the Square in Stow on the Wold. Founded in 1980, it has handled some of the most prestigious artists in the last 30 years. Today's owner, Sharon Wheaton, joined the gallery in 1997 alongside the great Gerard O'Farrell and Don Steyn. 

The gallery is holding two exhibitions over Stow Art Week, firstly local Cotswold artist Annabel Playfair is showing her wonderfully colourful and animated landscapes followed by Richard Pikesley, Past President of The New English Art Club exhibiting paintings from some of his travels both south and north of the globe.

Clarendon Fine Art specialises in painting and sculpture from some of the world's most talented artists including Fabian Perez, Sheree Valentine-Daines and Christian Hook. Its artwork features a broad array of style, genres, subjects, personalities and ideas, and celebrates the diversity and brilliance of a whole generation of inspirational contemporary voices. The Clarendon collection also features a superb portfolio of artwork by many importantand influential 20th century artists, including L.S. Lowry, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Henry Moore.

All the galleries will stay open on Thursday, October 3, until 8pm. Drinks and canapés will be on hand and some of the gallery artists will be present to chat to.

For more information on Stow Art Week, please visit the website www.stowartweek.com  or follow on Instagram @stow_art_week