ORGANISERS of a major exhibition have hailed the event as a huge success.

Hundreds of people visited Silsden in Art, staged over the Easter weekend at the town hall.

The show was held across both floors of the Kirkgate building.

In the lower hall there were paintings and other artwork and artefacts depicting Silsden scenes, produced by past artists, plus information boards.

Some of the pieces – including works by Joseph West, Hildred Harpin and William Lambert – had been loaned by residents.

And three Joseph West paintings normally on display at Keighley's Cliffe Castle were contributed by Bradford Museums and Galleries.

The lower hall was also home to digital art demonstrations.

Colin Neville, for the exhibition organisers, says: "As many of the past artists featured in the lower hall were ahead of the curve in their own time, it seemed appropriate to link the past to art techniques of today – and the future.

"We were pleased to see local young people and their parents coming to these sessions, which were led by local artist Patricia Oxley and IT specialist Peter Cannon."

In the first-floor ballroom, there were more than 50 paintings, 100 photographs and textile art created by locally-based artists of all abilities. Demonstrations by three artists took place on the Saturday, and a cafe staffed by volunteers served refreshments.

The event also saw the launch of a new book, Silsden in Art, written by Mr Neville, containing over 100 illustrations from the show. The publication is almost sold out, but some copies are available from the notjusthockney.info website.

Mr Neville adds: "We were very pleased – and relieved – at the numbers who visited the exhibition.

"This was the first time we had staged such an event, so we weren't sure what the response would be.

"The exhibition had taken nearly a year to plan, so all the organisers and volunteers were on tenterhooks before the doors opened. But we were delighted at the response and the positive feedback.

"Our volunteers were absolutely brilliant. They were on hand to help set up and dismantle the displays, worked in the cafe and acted as information guides and receptionists on both days – and kept a discreet security eye on the exhibits! We could not have done it without them."

The show also provided a launchpad for the Silsden Textile Art Project, celebrating the town in fabric and thread.