Mixing very small children, paints and valuable works of art may not be the most obvious or seemingly sensible choice, but that is just what happens once a fortnight at Falmouth Art Gallery.

The gallery has been running its baby paint sessions since 2004 and, touch wood, there have been no major catastrophies. Encouraging young children to explore and be surrounded by art is top of the agenda during the workshops.

Freelance educator, Glyn Winchester, who leads the baby paint sessions, said: “Small children are fascinated with colour and texture and these sessions are a great way to get babies involved in art from a really early age and have fun at the same time.

“Even though they are tiny they are still surrounded by art and I think they do look at it. They just get familiar with being here and the hope is as they get older they will keep coming back and feel that it’s a place that they belong.”

Mum Amanda James said: “We come to the art gallery a lot because where else in Britain can you do art at this age? It’s phenomenal.

“It’s great that the art gallery let the kids play with all the automatons and the staff are fantastic – it’s become part of our weekly routine.”

Some teenagers who have been visitors to the gallery since they were toddlers, are now volunteers and are keen to provide care for the objects that they have grown up with.

Paint sessions are free and are open to children up to the age of three and their carers. The workshops have a drop-in format and run between 10.30am and 11.30am. For more information call 01326 313863.