Spirit of fire and fury lights up Appledore arts festival

A CELEBRATION of Fire and Fury lit up a North Devon fishing village for its 12th annual arts festival.

With more than 70 events, 100 artists and many more revellers, Appledore Visual Arts Festival brought sparks to the historic maritime village.

Aboriginal artist Noel Butler from Australia was a central figure of the festival opening the event with a fire ceremony.

The opening evening also featured the dedication of the UK's first Time and Tide bell, created by Hatherleigh sculptor Marcus Vergette. The multi-tonal bell is activated by high tides and the Appledore bell is the first of 12 to be installed along the coast of Britain.

Organisers said the theme of Fire and Fury enabled them to celebrate fire in its full creative fury as a force for transformation and renewal.

This was captured during Saturday's Night Fire Extravaganza involving artists and sculptors, Sebastian Blackie, Ben Piper and Joanna Scott.

Visitors to the festival were able to take part in a host of events including watching blacksmiths at work, helping to build kilns, and making paper clay sculptures.

The doorknocker decorating competition returned and there were prizes up for grabs for photographic talent.

As well as artists' talks, visitors enjoyed contemporary crafts, artists' trails and open gardens, workshops, music, dance, exhibitions and galleries.

The four-day festival culminated with a carnival parading along the Quay and through the streets of Appledore.

The theme for next year's festival, set to take place from June 3 to 6, 2010, is "Coastlines" — a celebration of North Devon's world class natural coast.