History lovers invited to sketch museum artefacts

The sketchers are free to roam the museum to draw any artefact that appeals to them

A Devon museum is encouraging people to get closer to their local history - by drawing it.

Newton Abbot Museum is holding a series of Twilight Sketching events which start once the museum has closed for the day.

Kate Green, community outreach officer for the museum, said people started looking at the objects in a different way after attending the drawing sessions.

"They look at the shape, the texture, the patterns, and that is different from when they come as a visitor to learn about the history of the town," she said.

The museum is in a 19th Century church so some people also draw the architecture

Ms Green said different artists were drawn to different parts of the museum, some liked the technicality and the detail of the railway section while others liked the softness of the costumes.

Many of those attending the sessions said the evenings had attracted them back to sketching as a hobby.

David Bailey said he had done no drawing for four decades but when he picked up a pen it was like "riding a bike".

Others who attended said they were just starting out as artists.

Sophia, 12, said: "I really, really love drawing and I like finding inspiration wherever that is; in my home, in buildings, in the garden."