DRAWING inspiration from the public gardens almost on her own doorstep, artist Caroline Day is excitedly counting down the days until this year’s Swindon Open Studios gets underway.

Held over the first two weekends in September, the event will give residents the chance to take a look behind the scenes at some of the town’s most talented artist’s very own studios as they carry out their creative work.

Old Town resident Caroline is among the wealth of talented artists from right across the town who will be welcoming guests as she explains some of the creative processes behind her colourful artworks.

She revealed that her compositions are largely rooted in a reverence for places and nature, during the ever changing seasons. Much of her inspiration and passion stems from painting within Swindon’s “little gem” - the Old Town Gardens which is a stone’s throw away from her Goddard Avenue studio.

As well as the Old Town Gardens, which was placed on the Register of Parks and Gardens as a Grade II site, Caroline’s designs include a number of other images produced exclusively for English Heritage, which may have caught the attention of shoppers at English Heritage sites. Her partnership with English Heritage has seen her produce an exclusive range of greetings cards which are on sale around the country. Closer to home, copies of her original works can be bought from Swindon Museum & Art Gallery and Balula's Deli & Cafe.

With extreme texture and often brighter than life colours, Caroline revealed her paintings were created to capture an intense energy which was both positive and uplifting.

She graduated with a first class honours degree from Camberwell College of Arts in 1994, later receiving a distinction at Master of Arts and postgraduate certificate in education. She then taught for 15 years in secondary and higher education and as arts co-ordinator for The Royal Borough of Kingston before returning to teach in Swindon.

“I am now in a position where I am thoroughly enjoying working as a professional artist, curating my own and others' exhibitions,” she said. “My passion is in working together to raise awareness of the wealth of talented, inspirational, visual artists in my home town Swindon.”

Swindon Open Studios will take place on Saturday, September 3, Sunday, September 4 and Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11.

Caroline’s studio, can be found at 74 Goddard Avenue, SN1 4HS and she will be welcoming visitors over the course of both weekends between 11am and 5pm when she will be offering refreshments along with a warm welcome to all of her guests. For more information follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Caroline.Day.Artist, twitter @Carolinerday or Instagram @carolinedayartist.

For more details visit www.swindonopenstudios.blogspot.com. Copies of the open studios brochure containing details of each venue will be distributed around the town from early next month.