Prince Charles' artwork to inspire budding painters

Calling all budding landscape artists... Paint or draw your 'Special Place' - inspired by Hatfield Hines' August exhibition of the works of HRH the Prince of Wales - and you could win a set of artist quality art materials.

Prince Charles's favourite places include Windsor Castle, Sandringham, the Yorkshire Dales and the Scottish Highlands - all of which he has captured in watercolour.

We now want you to show us what is special to you about your own environment. Your picture could show your favourite countryside view, a scene from your house or garden, your school, your playground or sportsfield - even your room.

Winning entries will also be featured in the Gallery.

Just the thing for those grim wet days over the long, long, long, long, long summer holidays..!

For full details, and to download an entry form (PDF) to print off at home, visit the Hatfield Hines Gallery website by clicking here.

Closing date for entries: 22nd August 2009.

Exhibition: 'A Sense of our Place: British Landscapes'
1st-29th August 2009 at Hatfield Hines, open during normal gallery hours.

Other artists featuring in the exhibition will include Paul Maze, Frank Beanland and Arthur Knighton-Hammond.

Triple encore as 'the Ukes' get plucky in Lynn

On Wednesday, anarchy hit the UK as the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain rolled into King's Lynn...

The melee in the foyer of the Corn Exchange was testament to the diverse crossover audiences which pool to form the Ukes fanbase - everything from mad-keen junior school children to pashmina-porting 'prommers' to aged rockers.

It is rare to find a band who can demonstrate classical skill and sophistication without the stuffiness; who can entertain and enthrall as well as excite; who can make the old seem new and the new seem old: that is the magic formula captured by the seven friends and 28 strings of The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.

With an inventive repertoire which included everything from a 'happy' version of Anarchy in the UK to a 'Cossack' slowed-down version of Formby's legendary Leaning on a Lampost to 'simul-segues' of threads of six different classic rock tunes woven into the fabric of Bowie's Life on Mars, to Teenage Dirtbag sung as a down-tempo, sentimental ballad - there was wall-to-wall delight, suprise and inspiration.

Quite simply, the best £21.50 I have spent in many a long while, and the 'Live' CD of their 16 most popular performance tracks is a bargain at £10. If you get the chance to see them - go!