THE spirit of the Exmouth Festival for the first time has been captured on canvas thanks to local artist Michael Buckland.

THE spirit of the Exmouth Festival for the first time has been captured on canvas thanks to local artist Michael Buckland.

Michael, of Lyndhurst Road, was asked by festival organiser Chris Woods to be 'Artist in the park' and set up an outdoors studio in Manor Gardens over the week of the Festival.

Drawing every day he produced 40 sketches and a couple of acrylic paintings, and as he completed the works he posted them on two bill boards gradually adding to an on going collage.

Each sketch was based on his observations and represented a different part of the Festival.

Michael said: "I thought about sketching people on the sea front then Chris said why not set up in the Manor Gardens?

"I enjoy drawing from life, people and things going on and I was able to capture the Festival as it went on and build up a mural.

"People were interested - one lady asked me what I was going to do with the drawings afterwards.

"I hadn't thought that far ahead so I sold it too her. Good thing really. I drew enough to fill four boards and I was running out of room!"

He also produced two paintings: "I think the painting captures the spirit of the Festival.

"We are hoping to expand it next year possibly even on to the new Strand development.