A LEADING player in the digital art world wants to encourage more Furness people to get involved and learn new skills.

Signal Films will play host to visiting digital artist Emma Tolmie who will leading a series of free digital art workshops in Barrow throughout March.

This will allow people aged 16 years plus - of all skills and experiences, to try taster sessions in using digital media, photography, the web and film creatively.

Participants then have the option to go on to work in small groups with Edinburgh-based Emma, who was awarded the Alt-w Award 2009 for her project Imagine 3D and mixes low-tech gadgetry and high-tech imagery to develop further digital art skills.

She will give help and advice on everything from getting images and work online using flickr, youtube and vimeo to creating video artworks and web based artwork.

Finished pieces will be exhibited locally and online later this year - artwork from last year’s workshops will be exhibited at Artgene, opening to the public on March 6 during Signal Films’ Film Insiders Talent Festival.

Stephen Fallows, of Barrow, took part in the November workshops and said he found it a great opportunity to work with a professional artist and “explore new possibilities and learn new ways of working with art”.

Similarly, Ellie Chaney, of Ulverston, said: “I really benefited from being in such a relaxed environment and being encouraged to experiment.”

Since the course Ellie has secured a residency at Lanternhouse International developing her artwork.

Travel costs can be covered for people outside of Barrow and anyone interested should visit www.signalfilms.co.uk or 01229 839983. The deadline for registration is Friday, February 26.