ARTISTS have been making a home for themselves in Festival Place for the last eight weeks preparing for the Sitting With Jane art trail project.

The public art trail will feature prominently around Basingstoke this summer, with the trail being made up of 24 ‘BookBenches’, which act as a 3D canvas-making the finished piece, not only a work of art, but an attractive piece of street furniture that will be accessible for all to see and sit on, to contemplate the artist, Jane Austen, or the scene and landscape where it is located.

Sitting with Jane will form part of a worldwide celebration by Hampshire Cultural Trust to commemorate Austen in 2017, marking 200 years since her death.

The artists have been in Queen Anne’s Walk, next door to Beaverbrooks, since the end of February and shoppers have been able to get a glimpse of some of the designs taking shape.

Centre director of Festival Place , Steven Connolly, said: “It has been fantastic to have the artists in Festival Place. It isn’t often you get a chance to see ho w artists work up close – they have been able to chat with shoppers about the project and their work.

“We can’t wait until we see all of the finished BookBenches in June. It’ s such an exciting project.”

Austen lived in Steventon near Overton for 25 years.

To find out more about the Sitting with Jane trail visit sittingwithjane.com.