A NEW festival is set to launch in Ulverston this October half-term celebrating illustration and storytelling in Cumbria.

The first-ever Lakes Illustration Festival will take place from Wednesday October 25 to Sunday 29, which will include a two-day illustration fair, a book launch and a series of satellite exhibitions and events.

Lakes Illustration Collective - a group of local artists, illustrators and writers - have organised the event, which will serve as an inspiring showcase of illustrative talent in the Lakes and beyond.

Bringing together illustration enthusiasts, families and artists alike, it promises to be an exciting new addition to Ulverston’s vibrant festival community.

The Lakes Illustration Festival will begin with a fantastic day launching Peter Digs A Den at the Coronation Hall - a crowdfunded book written by Amy Stretch-Parker and illustrated by Ulverston artist Kate Brunskill. The day will include storytelling, yoga, a kids' rave, creative workshops, face-painting and, of course, den building. There will also be a launch of this beautiful rhyming story for children aged three to seven, set in the Lake District.


Over the weekend the group will be taking over Ford Park Community Centre with an art fair featuring the some of talented illustrators living in Cumbria. There will also be drop-in workshops throughout the day, including puppet making, community drawing activities, and giant colouring in sheets.

Family workshops for four-to-12-year-olds take place on Saturday 28, where there will be a pop up book workshop; and on Sunday 29, where they can make their own small paper theatre. Both workshops run from 1pm to 2.30pm.

Kate Brunskill will be leading a workshop on digital illustration on Saturday 28, from 3pm, and her work will be on display in the Ford Park cafe. A story trail through the wooded area of the park and storytelling sessions will also take place throughout the weekend.

Organiser Ellie Chaney says: "We are so excited about creating this new festival for our town.

"Ulverston is such a creative place already, and we hope the Lakes Illustration Festival will be another opportunity for people to experience the work of some of the many talented illustrators and writers from Cumbria."

Filling Ulverston with colourful displays in the run-up to the festival there will be an illustration trail in the windows of small businesses in the town, and the opportunity to win a prize if you visit each one.

For more information visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lakesillustrationfestival