The group, which meets two mornings a week to give disabled people in Swindon the chance to take part in and learn about art, has begun a project to paint exhibition signs that the society will use at public events.

Over the coming weeks, artists from the group will produce at least one large canvas, based on the society's distinctive logo, which features Liddington Hill. Valerie Abbley will be working on the canvas, aided by volunteer Paul Hill, who is himself a paraplegic.

The leader of the group is Andy Collier, a retired police officer who founded Active Art three years ago. Andy and his volunteers work closely with Living Options, which is a managed unit of cerebral palsy charity Scope, and New Dimensions, which is concerned with providing therapeutic opportunites for people with mental health problems.

Vice-chair Graham Carter said the society relishes the opportunity to work with community groups in Swindon, adding: "Thanks to the money given to us by the Heritage Lottery Fund, we are able to afford the materials for Active Art to produce some display material for us, which is going to be very useful as we try to spread the word about Alfred Williams.

"We can't help thinking how much Alfred would have approved of his name being associated with projects like this one that not only bring people together but are a means of self-development. He dabbled in art himelf, as a young man, before he turned to writing, so was aware of the personal benefits that involvement in art can bring.

"But it's also important that Active Art get recognition out of this, too. They are a very small organisation, and Andy relies totally on volunteers helping out in his classes, and he both needs and deserves all the help he can get.

"We're really looking forward to going back in a few weeks' time to see how Val and Paul are getting on with the project we've set them."

If you think you might like to help out as a volunteer with Active Art, please phone Andy Collier on 07979 454441 for further information.

The pictures above and below show Valerie Abbley, Paul Hill and Active Art leader Andy Collier working on the signs for the society.

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