Quay lines up feast of attractions

The event will kick off on Friday June 19 with artist Edgar Mueller designing a huge specially-commissioned street painting.

Following this will be a host of music performances and a Wimbledon tennis week.

X-Leisure's creative director Robert Warner said: "It's a new venture. If it's successful - and I'm sure it will be - then we want to repeat it every year. We want to make it London's number one alfresco, quay-side festival.

"We've not done anything like this before but the support from bars and restaurants on West India Quay has been overwhelming. They've all bought in to this idea."

The festival kicks off with a week of art which will include an art trail from one end of the quay to the other featuring works of both local and national artists.

The second week will see the focus on sport and in particular the Wimbledon tennis championships, with some bars showing televised action of the tournament and strawberries and cream being served to visitors.

Meanwhile, LA Fitness will be holding free workouts quayside for people to join in.

The next week will see music come to the site, with a number of bands and solo artists including folk act Rob Cohen as well as the group Laurel Collective and other acts, yet to be confirmed.

Bars will also be putting on their own entertainment late into the evening.

The festival will culminate in a British street carnival involving stilt walkers and jugglers.

Meanwhile, Cineworld will be showing some British classics over the month including Get Carter.

The idea of bringing Edgar Mueller over to do 3D street painting came from Mr Warner following an email from X-Leisure chief executive PY Gerbeau.

Mr Warner said: "PY sent me this email two years ago and we were all impressed.

"When the festival plan began I instantly thought of Edgar."

Go to westindiaquaycentre.co.uk.

- Internationally acclaimed street painter Edgar Mueller is developing a 100sq m scene for the area to coincide with the summer festival.

Known for his 3D work on waterfalls and ice age scenes, he is currently devising a piece that he says will blow the minds of Wharfers.

He said: "What people can expect from my art is that if they are standing at the right sport they will be confused and there will be a real distorted depth perception. It's like it doesn't make sense.

"But from another angle it all becomes clear.

"I try to find paint a scene you don't expect in that particular place. Something strange and wonderful. A hole or a crack in the ground, or a water scene."

He will be arriving in London to start work on the project on June 18. It is expected to take five days to finish.

The German artist first started creating street art at the age of 16.

Edgar, now aged 40, has just returned from China where he is planning a cave scene for a corporate client later this year.

However, it is his work at West India Quay, which he is currently designing on computer, that has his full attention.

He said: "The main reason I wanted to go and do the West India Quay job is that I can do what I want - I have free licence.

"I've done quite a lot of commercial work recently but this is much better."