A new exhibition exploring the South Downs Way through inspirational artworks opens this autumn.

Every Step of The Way has been curated by artist-curators, Tim Craven, Deborah Richards and Melanie Rose, to illustrate walking the 100-mile-long national trail from Eastbourne to Winchester.

The exhibition is structured around the 11 sections of the trail and features artwork from 33 artists, each responding to ‘The Way’ through the lens of creative practice.

The Novium Museum, in Chichester, will feature 14 artworks while the Weald & Downland Living Museum, in Singleton, will feature 42 artworks.

Visitors are encouraged to attend both venues to see all of the pieces. These include Jeremy Gardiner’s ‘Beachy Head II’ (pictured above), an acrylic piece on handmade cotton tag paper — on display at Weald & Downland Living Museum — and Frances Knight’s ‘Ditchling Beacon’, an oil on canvas piece, which will be on display at The Novium Museum.

The Novium Museum also features artefacts from the museum’s archaeology collection relating to the history of the South Downs, including finds from excavations across the South Downs Way.

Councillor John Cross, from Chichester District Council, said: “We’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful and environmentally diverse landscape. This exhibition will allow our visitors a unique journey across the South Downs Way thought the medium of art, and I hope people are inspired to rediscover this wonderful route or visit part of it for the first time.”

The exhibition at Singleton will open on 22 September and admission is included in the museum entry charge.

The Novium exhibition opens on 11 October. Admission is free, with donations welcome. To accompany the exhibition, the museum will be running a series of art workshops.  A series of free walks will also be taking place with The Ramblers. For more information and to book, please visit: www.sws-ramblers.org.uk