A NEW artwork created as part of the Creative Communities Millennium project by Kendal Windows on Art has been unveiled in Burton-in-Kendal's Memorial Hall.

Members of the community, including youngsters from Burton Merewood School, were present as former Kendal artist now living in Lincolnshire, Judith Lassen Coops, handed over her acrylic painting depicting a snapshot of life in Burton-in-Kendal at the turn of the new Millennium.

The colourful 'collage effect' artwork is the result of a number of workshops run by Judith, in Burton, last summer for the residents and schoolchildren to produce ideas and artworks about Burton and what they thought were the important features that should go into a painting about the village.

Explained Judith: "Even though I moved away from Kendal last autumn to a new life in rural Lincolnshire, I have not left behind my links with Cumbria.

"In spite of being surrounded by builders, decorators and hundreds of packing cases, I have worked through the winter to make the three feet by four feet painting that expresses much of Burton's life, the people and the environment."

Through paintings and photographs, letters and opinions, Judith built up a vivid picture of what the people of Burton thought about their village: "What emerged was a lively community with many social activities and a strong sense of caring for neighbours and those in need of support, and a determination to keep the shops and businesses, the facilities for sport and recreation, the church, the school and the environment alive and thriving."

Judith used photocopies of photographs, paintings and drawings by both children and adults.

She cut them out, rearranged them, drew them, then transferred the images on to canvas, before painting the final, bustling and bright artwork.

Rose queens, tennis players, examples of the village's architecture - you name it, it's in there.

The driving force behind Kendal Windows On Art, founder and artistic director Carole Hamby, told the gathered audience in the memorial hall, that the KWoA organisation was about building links - aiming to promote the work of local artists, build the art in the community programmes and develop an arts festival.