THE county's artists have responded magnificently to the challenge of fanfaring this year's festival with a fusion of colour and craft.

There are several exhibitions including - for the first time - a showcase of local artists at Number One Castle Street.

One of the highlights of this exhibition will be the opportunity to view and buy some of the last paintings by the late Lady Cotterell, whose work featured in exhibitions in Herefordshire and London.

The nine paintings have been donated to the exhibition by her husband, Sir John Cotterell, in support of the Friends of the Hereford Three Choirs and Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust.

Works by 12 other Herefordshire and festival associated artists will be on display with over 200 paintings and pieces of sculpture available for sale at prices from £100.

The exhibition will be held in Number One Castle Street, Hereford (part of Hereford Cathedral Junior School) from Monday through to August 12 (10.30am to 7pm).

Going strong for over 20 years has been the traditional Three Choirs Art Exhibition at the Shirehall.

Eight local artists will exhibit work this year including Veronica Botting - whose bulls are always very popular, Jane Headlam, Mair Lewis, Anne Lloyd, Janine Martin, Myrtle Middleton, David Rawson and Jane Townsend. It will open this Sunday from 10am to 6pm through to next Friday, August 11.

The Courtyard presents the work of three local artists whose work has a musical or ecclesiastical theme and which draws inspiration on their experiences of monuments and churches, spirituality, and choral celebration.

Responses by Steve Brooks will be in the Gallery space.

While attending some of the concerts of the Three Choirs Festival, Steve felt a growing desire to produce work that captures the experience of listening to great choral works within the historical buildings of the three counties. His exhibition includes work based on The Kingdom by Elgar, which will be the inaugural concert for the festival in the centenary year of its first performance.

Jake Lever's Watchers and Holy Ones will be shown on the walls of the Lower Canyon landing.

He describes his hand finished intaglio prints as "points of stillness amid a fast turning world".

Sara Hayward, whose Creations painting series will be displayed in the Upper Canyon landing space, has studied Fine Art at Oxford University and The Royal College of Art, London, and has lectured and exhibited in the USA.

For more information visit the website at www.courtyard.org.uk

Hereford Quakers will open their Meeting House in King Street for the fifth time during the festival, where they will display an exhibition of arts and crafts contributed by Hereford Quakers, including a full size photograph of their unique Quaker Tapestry, now permanently housed in Kendal.

Refreshments will be available and admission is free from 10am to 5pm.

On Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday both visitors attending the Three Choirs and Herefordians are invited to drop into the meeting house between 4.30 and 6.15pm to hear Quakers describe their experience as members of the Religious Society of Friends and to join in an informal discussion of the issues involved. Those attending will be invited to join a half-hour meeting for worship at either 12.30pm or 5pm on Thursday, August 10.

The Gwynne warehouse at the Left Bank in Hereford will be transformed into an emporium showcasing the very best craftsmen and designer makers in the region.

The Craft in Symphony Show will be hosted by The Herefordshire Guild of Craftsmen with The Worcestershire Guild of Designer Craftsmen as their guests. Over 30 participants will be flourishing their wares, including jewellers, blacksmiths, basket weavers, artists in watercolours and stained glass, contemporary and traditional furniture makers, a saddler, leatherworker, textile artist and more.

Admission free and open 10.30am until 7pm from August 5-11.

David J Fry has painted an original watercolour of the three cathedrals - Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester - which will form part of his exhibition commemorating the festival, which is being held at the Old Mayors Parlour on Church Street from Sunday until August 12, between 10.30am and 7.30pm.