23/12/2024
Get Set For Fun Filled Festive Treasure Hunt
Local artist Tanya Hinton will cap off a year of giving back to Warminster tomorrow with the launch of her annual three-day festive treasure hunt.
Lucky people will have the chance to find three pieces of original artwork in Lake Pleasure Grounds off Weymouth Street on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
This is the third year that the Crockerton based artist is running the hunts and she will post clues on where to find the oil painting on her page.
Just this month, talented Tanya completed two new inspired pieces on shops in Silver Street which had been targeted in a spate of criminal damage.
The smashed window of Hair now sports a ballsy bear with hammer in paw, while the boarding on The Coffee Garden features a fun meeting of mammal minds.
Town treasure Tanya has brought together visitors, residents and businesses with her artwork which has also seen a black cat, giraffes and a conspiracy of cheeky lemurs join the menagerie of exotic animals and feathered friends that adorn the high street this year.
In her continued spirit of giving back, when the windows are fixed Tanya is considering auctioning off the decorated boards in Silver Street or putting them in a raffle to help recoup some of the costs and losses from the vandalism.
Known to many as the 'bird lady', Tanya hopes the forthcoming treasure hunts will further bolster this community spirit and she spoke exclusively about her most recent additions, starting with the lemurs.
"I had previously painted on the same boarded up window, I actually did my first town painting there, however, the hoarding had really deteriorated – the board was disintegrating and the artwork hard to discern, so I wanted to give it a face lift," she said.
"Most businesses at the top of Weymouth Street look directly at a whole row of boarded up windows which must be depressing for them.
"So I replaced the board and chose lemurs as I had seen them at Longleat and loved their mischievous personalities.
"I had an idea in my head how it could look and had great fun creating this piece! I see it as my Christmas present to Warminster!
"I am also preparing for my Christmas treasure hunt in the park. Each Christmas (and Easter) I hide a mini original oil painting in the park, finders keepers!
"This Christmas I shall hide one on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day all from 12 noon. For safety, I always say it won’t be in the children’s playground, skatepark or on the banks of the lake and stream!
"I ask when it’s found, please send me a message on social media/text/email to say it’s been found so I can call off the hunt!
"I have such fun with this and love to watch the treasure hunters. It gets people both young and old out in the fresh air and will occupy children that may be becoming overexcited by the festivities."
For more on the treasure hunts, follow Tanya at www.facebook.com/tanyahinton69
