A PICTURE is worth a thousand words and a Mold church is full of them to delight art fans for miles around.

This week St Mary’s Church is hosting the Virigin Art Exhibition where local artists can showcase and sell their work.

The annual event is in its third year and features almost 300 oil and watercolour paintings, sketch drawings and digital photographs from artists across the county.

Organiser Sheila Wilson says it has been a huge success since it opened on Monday.

She told the Leader: “The exhibition came about because a friend of mine belongs to St Bartholomew’s Church in Sealand where they run something similar called BartArt.

“I went along to see it and I thought that we could do with something like this in our church.

“They were very helpful and gave us lots of advice on how to set the exhibition up.

“Then we met with the vicar and some people from the church to see if it was feasible and it went from there.

“We have sold 21 pieces so far which we are very pleased with. It’s going very well.”

Sheila, who has been a member of the church since 1973, got artists on board by contacting Deeside College who spread the word to art classes across the county.

She says the exhibition has also helped to raise the profile of the church.

“People are coming to the exhibition and commenting on what a lovely church it is,” she said.

“So we tell them all about its history. Visitors to the exhibition who were married here are reminded what a beautiful church it is and say they will come again.”

The Reverend Ian Day added: “The response by both artists and visitors to our previous two exhibitions clearly demonstrates the need for, and value of, these events.

“The exhibition provides an excellent opportunity for artists to show and sell their works of art in the quiet and beautiful interior of St Mary’s.”

The exhibition runs until Saturday from 10am-8pm and will culminate in a Songs of Praise service comprising of traditional hymns on Sunday at 11am.

Prices range from £12 to £180 and 15 per cent of proceeds will be donated to the church.

Call Sheila on 01352 757957 for more information.