SOUTERS will have the chance this weekend to create their own flood wall artwork.

Artist Svetlana Kondakova won the commission earlier this year to produce mosaics for a stretch of the Ettrick Water defences.

A Selkirk Legacy will feature three main themes - the Common Riding community, a mythological kelpie to represent the Ettrick River's floods, and local wildlife in the shape of leaping salmon.

Svetlana is midway towards completing her Common Riding and kelpie scenes.

And she is helping the people of Selkirk produce the 100 or so salmon mosaics which will make up the completed installation.

This Saturday (November 25) Svetlana will hold a workshop at the County Hotel.

Svetlana told us: "Anyone can take part regardless of their age or art experience, this project is meant to truly capture the community spirit through participation.

"Contributions of objects and mosaics from the local residents will ensure that the artwork leaves a lasting legacy for future generations.”

The installation of the artwork between the Bridge Street footbridge and the new crossing gate is expected to take place in May.

Svetlana’s Common Riding and kelpie mosaics will occupy around 20 metres of the 200 metre defence wall, with around 100 smaller salmon mosaics being dotted along the remaining length.

The Edinburgh-based artist has already involved local primary schools in making several of the fish out of natural and recycled materials.

St Joseph’s pupils made mosaics with river pebbles in September and Knowepark pupils recycled household materials into mosaic fish in October. Earlier in September Svetlana also ran a pop-up workshop at the Haining, as part of the YES Arts Festival.

She added: “Everyone seemed to really enjoy the workshops.

"I am very grateful to the schools for the opportunity to work with their pupils and impressed with the resulting creations."

The mosaics are produced by temporarily attaching pieces of tile and other materials onto mesh until they are ready to be permanently adhered to the wall.

Potential mosaic makers are encouraged to bring items with personal or local significance to be incorporated into their salmon.

It is hoped that each of the salmon will be unique and represent the person or people who made it.

Saturday's workshop in the County Hotel will be open from 10am to 5pm and is free of charge.

Everyone is asked to bring small weatherproof and durable objects to be used in the artwork and to make their own mosaics.