Jodie Kidd is opening the first ever ‘Blue Sky Day’ in Trafalgar Square - a giant ‘paint-out’ involving over three hundred artists painting simultaneously in London and Edinburgh. The events have been organised by Expedia.co.uk to celebrate the longest day of the year.

Two hundred aspiring artists will gather in Trafalgar Square this morning to paint whatever inspires them - from a work they love in The National Gallery to a travel or holiday experience. A select few will also have the ‘once in a lifetime’ chance to have their work exhibited in The National Gallery, one of the world’s most prestigious galleries.

In a similar event in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, a further 100 people will be painting. A selection of these works will be hung in the foyer of The Talbot Rice Gallery at the esteemed University of Edinburgh.

Photographs of all canvases painted on the day in both London and Edinburgh will feature in an online gallery at www.letyourselfgo.co.uk, after the event.

The day has already proved inspirational, with people from all walks of life signed up to take part, including nurses, barristers, dancers and gardeners. Registrations have come from as far a field as Manchester, Liverpool and Derby for London and Cumbernauld and Dunfermline for Edinburgh.

“Expedia.co.uk is all about inspiring people - whether it’s visiting a new destination or seeing a familiar place from a new perspective - which is why we have partnered with The National Gallery, London and The Talbot Rice Gallery at The University of Edinburgh for this unique event. We’re giving aspiring artists across the country the chance to paint what inspires them and perhaps have their work hung in a prestigious gallery at the end of it,” says Caroline Cartellieri, managing director of Expedia.co.uk.

“I am delighted that Expedia has organised an event in Trafalgar Square which will encourage the public to take to their easels, to try themselves as artists, and to be inspired by the wonderful collection of paintings in the National Gallery,” says National Gallery director Charles Saumarez Smith.

“There is a thriving art scene in Edinburgh and here at the University’s Talbot Rice Gallery, we very much hope this creativity will shine through on Blue Sky Day. We look forward to choosing some imaginative works to hang in our Foyer Gallery and hope that people enjoy getting involved in this innovative event,” says Talbot Rice Gallery curator, Pat Fisher.

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