SO YOU think your van’s cluttered?

Artists at the Holmfirth Arts Festival have been bringing new meaning to getting the most out of your vehicle with their incredible “vanstallations”.

On the outside they look like normal vans, but in reality they are mobile mini-galleries, each with a distinct theme.

On show yesterday, they ranged from a very compact cinema to a nine-year-old’s unmade bedroom.

Jacqueline Rose had made her theme “Knitting” while Adrian Sinclair had converted his tiny touring caravan into the “Caravan of Love”.

The idea was that the artists used the space available to create an installation which can include anything from performance, sound, light, art or sculpture.

Holmfirth Arts Festival committee member Andrew Otterburn said the vans were just one aspect of a fantastic event.

He said: “There have been around half a dozen vans with people doing their own drawings to display in them, hanging sculptures inside them and more.

“There was even one in a 1950s summer holiday style.

“The vans are just one aspect of the show however.

“The Art Market is actually bigger with 30 to 40 artists from displaying their work from the area but also further afield.

“They have been buzzing with queues developing outside before the doors have opened.

“It really is a brilliant showcase for the depth of talent across the valley.

“Last weekend the rain affected us and there were about 1,000 people, but this weekend that was easily up to around 3,000.

“There was also a variety of lunchtime music events and concerts.”

These included sopranos Rebecca Parr and Stephanie Ball and Baritone Nigel Rothery, who entertained 100 listeners in the church.

Andrew added: “Next week the comedy events are starting and we’re all looking forward to that.

“We start with a guy called Toby Hadoke who’s doing the festival as a preview to his Edinburgh show and that’s proving to be very popular.

“He’s followed on Thursday by Jo Caulfield and then on Saturday by Hardeep Singh Kohli.”

There are tickets left for the Thursday and Saturday shows.

Events also include poetry and folk and blues specials, and there’s also a chance to get to meet the artists involved.

You can find out more about the festival and order tickets on the www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk website.