The first taste of the Spirit of Deal Arts Project which aims to bring culture to the town through the windows of vacant shops, has gone on display in windows opposite Deal Library.

Work by artists Elizabeth Sephton and Tiffany Darling are already brightening up the town as part of the scheme to help regenerate Deal through art.

Created by Penny Bearman and Loose Cannon Dynamic Arts, with the Prosperity Network, funding has come from the Ernest Bruce Charles Fund for the betterment of Deal which has been run by the district council. Mrs Bearman said: "The next stage of The Spirit of Deal project will be to showcase artists’ work in a new callery called The Burning Bush in Broad Street."

To raise money to support the venture, which is soon to open at the former Blind Illusions premises, Mrs Bearman will launch an exhibition of new paintings at the Port Arms, with her painting quick portraits outside the pub this Sunday and the following Sunday.

n To book a portrait please ring 01304 373598.