Last week, Leytonstone Arts Trail kicked off. This week it’s been joined by its older brother Leytonstone Festival as well, bringing all manner of things noisy, pretty, contemplative and fascinating to our patch of Waltham Forest.

There is overlap between the two events - both in terms of the fact that they both run concurrently until 19 July, and also in the type of events provided. Some exhibitions are in the listing for both festivals, but broadly the Festival seems to offer performing arts, such as music, film nights and plays, while the Arts Trail provides visual arts, such as sculpture, painting and photography. Most events are free of charge – and everyone involved is committed to providing a fantastic cultural experience.

I’ve worked with both groups to help them identify which venues have disabled (step-free) access, and I’ve found myself on the organising group for the Arts Trail – after initially offering to keep their website updates, then being inspired to organise a group photography show, I found myself promoted to PR person! It’s been exciting to see everything take shape and look forward to people being surprised by it all.

So far, the biggest draw to the Arts Trail has been the conversion of Woolworths into a “pop-up” gallery – with over 60 artists showing work there. We’ve attracted coverage in the Independent and Time Out, as well as Waltham Forest Guardian of course. However there are 20 different locations displaying art, such as the Shadwell Centre Artists at Leytonstone Social Club – the place just down from the railway bridge that looks like a wooden shack –press the buzzer for entry and you will find it’s quite friendly inside, with lots to see, and cheap drinks into the bargain!

My own exhibition is about the North Circular - I’m showing photographs of the landmarks, bridges and underpasses, cameras that follow you round and also people who live and work along it. There’s also a time lapse film of the journey so you can whizz round the route at up to 300mph. Other artists are showing photography of the Kings Cross area, front doors, and a personal display about living with asthma called “Slow Down & Breathe”. Notably, two of us are wheelchair users, which meant the venue had to be exactly right – luckily Shah from The Star of India let us use his next-door venue, complete with adapted toilet.

Leytonstone Festival holds more surprises, as I’ve been less involved with it than the Arts Trail, but I’m particularly looking forward to performances of Cornelius Cardew’s music – a local avant garde composer who was killed in a hit and run accident while in his 40s. As well as “Cornelius night” there will be a mammoth all-day performance of “The Great Learning” spread across five different Leytonstone venues tomorrow, Saturday 11 July.

There’s a week left to join in! The festivals conclude next weekend, with “Leytonstone Day” taking over the Epicentre on Saturday with a range of exhibitions and events – and on Sunday there will be the popular “What’s Cookin’” Picnic in Henry Reynolds Gardens, where everyone is welcome to enjoy live music and an Art and Crafts fair. If you spot a redhead in a wheelchair, feel free to say hello!

To find out more, simply pick up programmes from Leytonstone Woolworths, libraries, and other participating venues, or visit www.leytonstoneartstrail.org and www.leytonstonefestival.org.uk.

My exhibition is open at 877 High Road (next to Star of India) on Thursdays from 11-3 and 5-9, Fridays from 3-7, and Saturdays from 10-6, last day Saturday 18 July.