CELEBRATE the Rugby World Cup by contributing to the world’s longest original lino-print, at GPC studios in Stroud.

This month, Gloucestershire Printmakers Co-operative is inviting members of the public to get in touch with their creative side and make their mark on a participatory artwork of epic proportions, by dropping into the Thrupp based studio and helping to create a 33 metre-long linocut design.

Organised by Northern Print in Newcastle on Tyne, Scrum Down-Print Forward is an international printmaking project to celebrate the Rugby World Cup 2015, the culmination of which will be an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest linocut print in the world. It is planned that the 33m-long print will be rolled by rugby players using a heavy roller used for rugby scrum practice and that this will take place in Newcastle in October.

The GPC studio, along with print studios and arts organisations at each of the Rugby World Cup’s 11 host cities in England and Wales, will be contributing to the project by creating a three metre lino panel.

The panels, which have been designed by artist and illustrator Sara Ogilvie, will then be pieced together to print the long image.

"We would like help from as many people as possible at this free event at our studios in Thrupp," said GPC chair, Christine Felce.

"Don't worry if you have never cut lino since you were at school or ever! We have some experienced lino cutters to help out.

"Come along and help, and be part of a world record!"

"The image which we will be cutting out at GPC includes a portrait of William Webb Ellis, who invented rugby," she continued.

"The image has lots of room for patterning and making the most of the black and white areas and experimenting.

"We are organising several lino cutting sessions at the GPC in the screen printing studio, where we will support you with tea, cakes, lino tools and technical help."

The panels, which have been designed by artist and illustrator Sara Ogilvie, will then be pieced together to print the long image.

Smaller rugby-ball shaped lino sections will also be created by artists and representatives of all 20 competing nations and these will be incorporated into the overall design.

The competing nations are: Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Namibia, New Zealand, Romania, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga, Uruguay, USA and Wales.

All 20 rugby ball linocuts will be printed and exhibited in Newcastle in October with each country also receiving a full set of each nation's prints.

Pop along and make your mark at GPC Studios, Griffin Mill in Thrupp, on Monday, August 10, 10am to 12.30pm; August 14, 10am to 12.30pm, August 18, 10am to 12.30pm, and August 20, 10am to 12.30pm.

For further information contact Christine Felce: 07876080504; christine@cfelce.co.uk