THE Bingham Library Trust in Cirencester has opened an exhibition of drawings, exploring how the town has been depicted over the years.

The earliest drawing dates from nearly 230 years ago and is by Joseph Farringdon who was a topographical artist known for his series of British views and monuments who visited the town in 1790 and drew the Parish Church.

Also included is the little-known artist John Evans who made a series of pictures of the town between 1803 and 1825.

His pen and wash scenes of the market and church have an almost surrealist touch created by his use of grey and white using pen and wash and his often out of scale figures.

The gallery is also borrowing from Corinium Museum a series of bold expressive drawings created in 1814 by the well-known artist Jean Claude Nattes best-known for his views of Great Britain.

These include views of the Norman Arch, the Swan Inn and the Bathurst estate.

In an age before the camera or mobile phone drawing was the simplest way to capture the local scene and these drawings provide an important record of the town.

The exhibition is brought up to date by a pencil and crayon drawing of Cirencester Church made in 1947 by Richard Adler a German prisoner of war at Siddington Hall.

There are also some drawings from 2012 by Cirencester artist Laurie Plant showing more un-usual scenes as they show his intriguing take on modern buildings in the town, the Library and St James Place.

The exhibition is being put on by the Bingham Library Trust and most of the drawings come from the collection of the Trust.

There will be a Big Draw event linked to the exhibition on Saturday, October 1 when visitors will be able to make a drawing of their own inspired by the exhibition.

  •  Drawing on Cirencester – Historic Scenes of Cirencester over 250 years at Bingham Gallery, 1 Dyer Street, is open alternate Saturdays (June 11 and 25, July 9 and 23, August 13 and 27, September 10 and 24). 10am-2pm. Also open for September 7-9 for Heritage Open Days (11am to 4pm)