VISITORS to a Banbury cafe can add their own splashes of colour to the work of a local artist this week.

To celebrate Oxfordshire Artweeks, Ella Hendy is showcasing her paintings at Naomi's Cafe Bar in Bridge Street, and has bought along her paints to help people get involved.

Her "scribble series" of paintings show children beginning to draw on the wall as the wallpaper ripped – inspired by the artist's memories of writing on walls as a child.

She said: "I have always loved painting and drawing so to be given the freedom to get creative on such a grand scale was an absolute dream for me.

"It is a funny feeling handing over creative control of my own artwork in this way, but Naomi's Cafe has such a community feel it seems very fitting.

"It'll be fascinating to watch it evolve throughout the week."

The first person to add their own design to the painting was cafe owner Naomi Perkins.

She said: "I love Ella's idea for Artweeks. It is fresh and original. Putting paint to canvas was actually rather therapeutic.

"I would encourage people to not be shy or worry about getting it wrong as it is your mark and it makes all the difference."

North Oxfordshire Artweek started on Saturday, May 21 and finishes next Monday, May 30.