YOUNGSTERS and their families got creative with watercolours.

Visitors to The Bridge Centre for Visual Arts, in Yarm Road, Darlington, were taught watercolour painting techniques by local artist Paul Dillon at a family arts session on Saturday (March 7).

The event was part of a ten-week course which sees professional artists helping families to explore artistic techniques, from ceramics to stop motion animation.

Bonnie Davies, Openarts Studio manager, which is a public health project based at the centre and uses art to improve mental health and wellbeing, said: “They all went home very happy. It is a great opportunity for families to work together and with professional artists.

“It is a shared experience - they can develop or work on something together that they can talk about and take home with them.

“We would have previously held workshops for children but the parents weren’t really encouraged to be a part of it, but this is an opportunity for a shared experience."

Ms Davies is hoping to run a similar workshop during the summer holidays.

For more information call 01325-244174 or email bonnie.davies@darlington.gov.uk