An impressive roster of award-winning artists will participate in the inaugural Gloucester Arts Festival May 20-28, and local art patron enthusiasts will have an opportunity to pre-purchase their work.

Seventeen competing artists and three guest artists—all featured in Gary Pendleton’s definitive book “100 Plein Air Painters of the Mid Atlantic”—are confirmed to participate in the festival.

Hand-picked by curator artist Dorothy Fagan, the artists will celebrate life at the river over the course of the festival, capturing the Gloucester countryside and seascape in the first-ever Heart of the River Collection.

The artists will participate in outdoor “plein air” painting sessions to capture the natural beauty and charm of the area, and festival attendees can gather at designated venues to watch the artistic magic unfold. Venues include Little England Farm, Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, Beaverdam Park, York River Yacht Haven, Ware House Landing...