A LARGE group of Suffolk artists turned the streets of Ipswich into a moving art gallery to mark the opening of an Art up Your Street Exhibition.Sandwich boards were the prop of the day in a bid to promote the fact that they wanted as many people as possible to visit their exhibitions and studios across the county.

A LARGE group of Suffolk artists turned the streets of Ipswich into a moving art gallery to mark the opening of an Art up Your Street Exhibition.

Sandwich boards were the prop of the day in a bid to promote the fact that they wanted as many people as possible to visit their exhibitions and studios across the county.

Imaginative artists decided to use the back of each sandwich board as a poster advertising Art up Your Street while the front was used as portable exhibition space.

The artists finished their procession at the New Wolsey Theatre, where they are also exhibiting their work. The exhibition will then be officially opened and continues until June 29.

Open Studios artist Mary-Anne Bartlett said "We're doing this for a bit of fun before our first exhibition really. But there's a serious message here. 'Art up your street' is about recognising that art is in every neighbourhood in Suffolk.

"Thanks to Open Studios it's free to go and view near you any weekend in June or right now at the exhibitions at the Wolsey Theatre, at Blackthorpe Barn and at the Graham & Oldham Gallery. There are 120 artists' studios to visit.

"The catch-phrase suits all our 120 artists, even if over half of the artists live outside main towns where streets might be simple tracks or lanes and some neighbours may live many miles away. It's about welcoming our neighbours to come and see what we're up to."