Do you live in an SS postcode? If so, keep an eye on our social media in October, when we invite applications from new artists. There will be an online form to submit and you will need to send us three photos of your work.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR 2025.

Download a pdf with our new artist information for further details.

Your work needs to bring something new to the Trail. You are more likely to be successful if you can show us something different or that we feel is under represented on the Trail.

New Trail artists are chosen by a panel of independent judges which changes annually. It may include art buyers, gallery owners, art teachers and interior designers. No Art Trail organiser or artist sits on the panel or influences the panel's decisions.

At the first stage, each judge individually assesses the three pictures of work provided by each candidate and decides whether they should go forward to the next round. The 20 artists who receive the most votes progress.

At the second stage, artists are required to deliver two pieces of work for the panel to view. The panel members judge the pieces independently. They are told how many places are available for new artists on that year's Trail and again they decide who should go forward to the final round.

Finally, the panel members come together to discuss the shortlisted artists. A member of the Art Trail team is present to answer any questions the panel may have. The panel make their final selections and those artists chosen are invited to join the Leigh Art Trail.

Selection as a Trail artist guarantees a place for one year. If all goes well, you will be invited to exhibit annually. Artists can take a year off at any point, in consultation with the Leigh Art Trail team. If an artist takes off two years in a row, they would need to reapply if they wished to return to the Trail.

We are always looking for new venues. Please get in touch using the venue application form. Our aim is to match venues with the most suitable artists for the space available. Our Venues Team will liaise with you, put you in touch with the artist and do their best to help everything run smoothly. For information on the venue and artist requirements you can download this pdf Leigh Art Trail venue info.

The Leigh Art Trail is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation funded by artist subscription. Our venues are not paid for providing exhibition space and do not take commission on artists' sales.

Every Leigh Art Trail artist donates one piece of original work each year to go into the Secret Auction. These go on display in the artist's venue. Visitors are invited to decide how much they would like to bid, fill out a card and post it in the venue’s Secret Auction box. The highest bidder at the end of the Trail is contacted by phone or text message. They make their payment and the artist contacts them directly to arrange delivery. All money raised by the Secret Auction is used to cover the Leigh Art Trail's costs.