A GROUP of Winchester artists have teamed up with local students and the Theatre Royal for a giant project.

They are combining their skills to create a six-metre high installation, called Gathered Memories, made from 90 metres of tea-dyed silk and chiffon tied together by gold thread to build a hanging of tumbling strands.

The project came about after the theatre asked Elizabeth Saunders to create a larger version of her previous artwork and she was then joined by fellow Hampshire artists Jeryl Church, Consuelo Simpson, Ann Smith and Lisa Earley.

Elizabeth, of Hedge End, said: “I knew I was not going to be able to create this piece of work on my own so I invited several artists to join me. Part of the idea was it would be a collaboration and include the community, who can come and see what’s going on every week.

The artists are holding weekly workshops every Wednesday at the Theatre Royal cafe from noon to 2pm where the public can witness the art in progress.

Winchester School of Art and Peter Symonds College students have also helped out with the latter taking part in the weekly sessions working on the main piece or smaller complimentary artwork.

Student Meghan Greenfield, 16, of Fareham, said: “I’m happy to be involved in this because it’s something different rather than just our own college work, but it will help us with our textile A-levels.”

The final result will go on display in the theatre’s Back Garden Cafe from Wednesday, April 3 to Friday, May 31.