The town of Haslemere enjoyed a launch party last week for “a really joyful” exhibition, which residents had helped to create.

Haslemere Museum’s ‘Celebration Redesigned’ show, was inspired by its major collection of European peasants arts but given a modern twist.

Peasant art was famously made for “for love not money” and the museum collection is full of home-made gifts to enrich the home, presented to family and friends to mark special occasions, such as engagements, weddings and christenings.

The museum’s artist-in-residence Diana Burch led a series of workshops leading up to the exhibition, in which residents young and old lovingly created their own extra-special versions of similar domestic items, using recycled materials, to show the tradition lives on.

The exhibition which continues until Tuesday, April 18, includes a community mosaic, ‘From the Ordinary to the ExtraOrdinary.’

Diana said: “This is a really joyful exhibition made by our own community, from all ages and walks of life. Visitors have been chatting and laughing, identifying materials and how things have been designed and made.

“They are really connecting with the work on show.

“The people who had work in the exhibition saw it in a new light, as part of a larger, curated display.

“They also commented on the fun and friendliness of the workshops, which was lovely to hear.

“I have a real passion for the social and wellbeing aspects of creativity, making and decorating is something humans have always done.

“It’s a great antidote to the isolation of the digital age.”