THE coordinators of South Lakes Art Collective (SLAC) have set up a new art group called Cumbria Outsiders, which will specialise in an 'underrated' format. 

Timothy Leeson and Denny Derbyshire set up the collective in 2016 in Ulverston, and it now has 890 professional and amateur artists who have signed up as members from Kendal, Barrow and Ulverston. 

While the pair are still running SLAC, they have decided to start a new art group. Cumbria Outsiders started this month and is open to artists from across the county beyond the South Lakes region. There is a Facebook group for those who want to participate. 

Timothy said: "The group was set up to showcase work and share ideas on the genre of Outsider art. Outsider art is an art form which is considered to be opposed to good taste and pushes the boundaries of art to its limits. 

"Traditionally it has been used by artists who have been marginalised. 

"Outsider art is often raw and always honest. It can be used to convey powerful messages and often aims to shock although it may be completely normal to the creator.

"The group was set up as we felt it was an underrepresented genre in this area and we wanted to make it accessible to people who may not get past the starting post in more conventional art groups and forums.

"We hope to support each other and participate in group exhibitions."