FEATHERED headdresses and a giant model dragon are just some of the colourful creations artists have been making for this year’s Colchester Carnival.

Professional carnival artists Colin Spalding and Steve Hoyte have been sharing their expertise with 12 local artists who were lucky enough to be picked for the workshops.

They were held at Slack Space, in Queen Street, this week.

The experts passed on their knowledge to the local artists, who will now be able to take their new-found creative skills out to others in the Colchester community.

Those groups will then have the skills to make their own art for the carnival procession.

Dorian Kelly, Colchester Carnival’s artistic director, said: “The idea is we want to build a community of people in Colchester who are interested in and skilled in carnival, so that carnivals in Colchester can take off from here and they only get better as the years go by.”

The workshops, which ran from Sunday to Tuesday, saw the artists create a huge dragon from fibreglass and aluminium, as well as elaborate feathered headdresses.

Mr Kelly added: “We are also looking at building something to make people’s eyes pop out, which will be beautiful and fantastic!”

The two artists, Mr Spalding and Mr Hoyte, come from Luton and work with events organisations and schools to teach them carnival art.

Mr Spalding said: “We are very happy to be here. It is an easy job, working with real artists, so we’re not holding back on any of the techniques to create the spectacular – as everything is being so well absorbed.”

Paula MacGregor, a Colchester artist who attended the workshop, added: “There is so much colour and excitement here – bling seems to be the theme! Steve and Colin are larger -than-life characters.”

Colchester Carnival, sponsored by Weston Homes and officially supported by the Gazette, takes place on July 16. It will be followed by a family fun event in Castle Park.

The carnival is being organised by Colchester Round Table, with profits being put back into the local community.

For more information go to www.colchestercarnival.com or visit www.gazette.news.co.uk/carnival