CALLING all artists! It is time to dust down your pencils, prime your canvases and sharpen your chisels.

Ilminster Arts Centre is inviting artists to submit entry forms for its annual Summer Open exhibition, sponsored by Branston, of Seavington.

The competition, which is a popular fixture in the Arts Centre’s calendar, has been relocated to August so its success in recent years can be shared by summer visitors to Ilminster.

The competition is open to artists living and working in the South-West and beyond.

All art forms are welcomed, except photography, as there will be a separate open exhibition for photographers early in 2016.

Judging takes place on August 8, after which selected artworks will be displayed in the Summer Open exhibition, which runs from August 10 to September 4.

The competition carries a generous total prize pot of £800, including a 3D award and a Visitors’ Choice award, in addition to the coveted 1st prize and joint second prizes.

Prizewinning artists also win the opportunity to take part in a special exhibition in the arts centre gallery in 2016.

Exhibition co-organiser Sue Bishop said: “The Summer Open is a wonderful opportunity for emerging artists to show their work alongside that of more established artists in our beautiful, light-filled gallery.

“We are very grateful to Branston for their continued support of this event and look forward to receiving a bumper crop of entries this year.”

Entry forms can be picked up from the arts centre or downloaded from www.themeetinghouse.org.uk