Watford artists, sculptors, photographers, musicians, and writers –pick up your brushes, cameras, instruments and pens and head into the heart of Watford where a new art hub is opening just for you.

Attico Art Centre – opening on Saturday on the first floor of a formerly disused building on Watford High Street, opposite St Mary’s Church yard – is the brainchild of Nascot Wood resident and art buyer Andrew Horn.

“My initial concept was quite clear,“ says Andrew, “it’s going to be supporting artistic talent from Watford and Hertfordshire. I wanted a forum to promote local people in all manner of artistic fields.“

Andrew is funding the art centre himself and will be running it with his son Narotam, a former Purcell School piano and composition pupil who has had his compositions performed in places like the Royal Albert Hall and Cadogan Hall.

They opened Attico informally two months ago and the official opening takes place this weekend, at which Watford’s Elected Mayor Dorothy Thornhill and a number of local artistic and musical groups will be making an appearance.

Many local groups and individuals have already expressed an interest in making use of the 3,500 sq ft the centre offers, and Attico will soon be home to the likes of rehearsing music groups, art classes and workshops, exhibitions, live performances, and drama workshops.

“From my understanding, an art centre like this is something that’s been sadly lacking in Watford, at least centrally,“ says Andrew. “It’s quite an ambitious project but there’s a lot of potential. This is a spacious venue with a unique ambience in which artists from all departments can have a chance to shine.“

The grand opening is at Attico Art Centre, 1st Floor, 101 High Street, Watford on Saturday, April 4 at 2pm. Details: 01923 247228, atticoartcentre.com