Leigh on Sea Photography by Mark Taylor

Spring

View over the Lagoon on Two Tree Island at high tide (17/11/23). Flock of dunlin and plover, plus the odd godwit, according to the nice lady from the Essex Wildlife Trust and the man with the telescope.

Well, that went fast. It's the closing weekend of another epic Leigh Art Trail so a huge thank you to everybody who's made it to Venue 21 (BelleRose Flower Boutique) so far for a look at my work and a chat about photographing this wonderfully atmospheric corner of Essex. I'm in the shop 10-5 Saturday, 10-3 Sunday if you want to catch me before it all wraps up.

Heaps of special (and free) Art Trail events are happening, too, from a street-art workshop with the incredible Karl Sims in Chalkwell Park and Andy Downes' Chalk Fest, to huge schools exhibitions and a show by Ukrainian artists at the Living Room on Leigh Road. Do try to get out there, have your senses wowed and support the town's creative community!

Mark

Leigh Art Trail kicks off this weekend (8th July) with masses of exciting artwork filling the town's shops, cafes, churches and railway stations. I'm back in the blooming lovely BelleRose Flower Boutique for the week, showing a collection of images inspired by the creek which snakes by the Old Town, past the beach and out to sea. It would be great to see you, so pick up a Trail Guide at any of the 50-plus venues and get involved!

Mark

PS Sneak peeks of all the artists' creations are already up on the Trail's revamped website, go to www.leigharttrail.com

Old Leigh Artists' Market on Strand Wharf from 10am TODAY. Come and find me and more than 20 other artists, many of them working live. Always a great event in a fabulous setting. And there are pancakes...

Three days of bright sunshine through thick sea-mist have made the walk from Leigh to Southend pretty special this week...

It's your last chance this weekend to enjoy an incredible array of art around town as the 25th Leigh Art Trail draws to a close. Pick up a Trail Guide in one of the 50 venues and treat yourself to the best in local painting, ceramics, mixed media, jewellery and, of course, photography.
I'll be at fragrant Venue 23 (BelleRose Flower Boutique) throughout Saturday and Sunday if you fancy dropping by. This year's work is inspired by the breathtaking murmurations which are such a highlight of winter on the estuary.
Don't miss it! See you on the Trail.
Mark

Mid-point of the Leigh Art Trail already, so time is running out to catch the special 25th anniversary edition of our town's arty extravaganza. Nearly 70 artists in 50 venues all across Leigh, but it must end this weekend.
I'm in the fabulous BelleRose Flower Boutique on and off throughout the week, and all day this Saturday and Sunday, if you'd like to ask me about photographing the birds that make mad shapes over the estuary.
Some visitors were even offered tea and cake yesterday...
Come on down!
Mark

The 25th Leigh Art Trail kicks off today, with nearly 70 artists exhibiting their beautiful work right across town.
When I moved here in 2000, the Trail was already a fantastic showcase for Leigh's creative community and, in recent years, it's been a huge privilege to show my photographs in the company of such a talented bunch.
So as the Trail celebrates 25 years, I urge you to grab a Guide from one of the 50 venues and discover for yourself what's been painted and sculpted, printed and stitched for this special anniversary edition.
And if you like, drop by BelleRose Flower Boutique on the Broadway to catch my shots of the pulsing flocks of birds which perform over the estuary each winter. I'll be in the shop today (Saturday 3rd), all next weekend (Sunday 10th-11th) and occasionally throughout the week.
Come and say hello!

Mark

Sneak peek here of the work I'll be showing during this year's Leigh Art Trail at my fantastic venue BelleRose Flower Boutique. The Trail runs from Sept 3-11, with nearly 70 artists displaying their stuff right across town. Look out for the free Trail Guide around Leigh or go to the new Trail website for all the info...

I’ll be on Strand Wharf this Bank Holiday Monday, selling my Leigh-on-Sea prints and books. It’s a fantastic event, with lots of artists painting live. Come down and say hello!

Just one day to go until we bring you 25 artists, many of them working live, at our Bank Holiday Monday market on Strand Wharf. Come down from 10am to see their fabulous work and maybe take home something to treasure. Refreshments available too. See you on the wharf between 10am-4pm...

This evening's Old Leigh light show.

The estuary was at its serene best this Christmas Eve afternoon as the tide crept in. Lovely to see so many people out and about enjoying the Old Town, too.

Wishing you all a fantastic Christmas and the happiest, healthiest New Year.

Mark

Red Ensign at half-mast on Endeavour for Sir David Amess. He was president of the Endeavour Trust who restored Leigh's most famous cockle boat, which took part in the Dunkirk evacuations and was used in the film Dunkirk in 2017. Lovely to hear Endeavour mentioned in the House of Commons today during the tributes to Sir David.

You couldn't go to an event in Leigh without seeing David Amess. Here he is judging an Easter bonnet competition in the Library Gardens in 2014. He was an excellent constituency MP. What a senseless, tragic loss.

It's your last chance this weekend to catch heaps of amazing art all across the town as the Leigh Art Trail reaches the end of its two-week run on Sunday September 19.

I'll be at my wonderful venue BelleRose Flower Boutique if you fancy calling in. This year's display is a celebration of Bell Wharf and Victoria Wharf, featuring 28 limited-edition prints under acrylic glass. Those are going to start disappearing from the wall on Saturday as people collect their buys, so be quick if you want to see the whole display.

As ever, if you've popped in over the fortnight, huge thanks for your support and enthusiasm. It's an especially great Trail this year - and you still have time to see it (just)!

Mark

We've reached the middle weekend of the Leigh Art Trail and I'll be at BelleRose Flower Boutique (Venue 20) all day Saturday showing my Old Town street scenes and talking photography. There are more than 60 artists exhibiting across the town - look out for the A boards outside the venues and maybe bag yourself a fantastic piece of original work!

Leigh Art Trail starts TODAY. Two weeks of the town’s shops and cafes becoming pop-up galleries. Nearly 70 artists are involved and I’m at BelleRose Flower Boutique showing street scenes like this of Bell Wharf and Victoria Wharf. Come on down!

Sneak peek of my work on the wall in BelleRose Flower Boutique for the Leigh Art Trail, which starts this Saturday and runs for TWO WEEKS...

Brilliant time on Strand Wharf yesterday at the Old Leigh Artists' Market, now on to the Leigh Art Trail, which kicks off on Saturday September 4 and is a TWO-WEEK event for the first time.

Sixty-nine artists in 52 venues all across the town. FREE Trail Guides are already available from the usual places, so you can start plotting your route.

I'm thrilled to be back once again in BelleRose Flower Boutique for the Trail, showing lots of new work, chatting to you lot and getting in the way of the florists.

Can't wait!

Find me on Strand Wharf this Bank Holiday Monday when I'll be part of the Old Leigh Artists' Market. Lots of the participants will be working live, so maybe you'll take home something you saw coming together before your eyes.

It's a fantastic event and the perfect precursor to the Leigh Art Trail, which follows a week later. The market opens officially at 11am but many of us will be set up from 10am if you want to beat the crowds. Come and say hello!