Instead of going in search of picture postcards this summer, design your own and send them in to be displayed as part of an annual art trail.

Artists, families, teenagers and children from inside and outside the borough are invited to participate in the ninth Art Trail Wanstead. You can even create your art postcard on holiday, and send it from foreign shores.

The idea is from Wanstead based artist Eugene Coyle, who is organising this opportunity as part of the free event. He wants anyone motivated to create some art to have a chance to show their work.

Eugene wants participants to be inspired by the trail’s theme this year, The Human Condition. “Be as creative and open in interpreting the theme, using whatever medium and subject matter you like,” he says. “After all, making art is a part of the human condition.”

Eugene adds: “It’s easy, fun and free to take part, so I’m hoping that it will appeal to both artists and non-artists alike. It would make a great small project for children on their school holidays as well as for artists wanting to explore serious issues and creative topics.

“It will hopefully present an opportunity to anyone, who has never had work displayed before, to see their creative work exhibited in public for the first time.”

All you need to do is create a piece of art on a blank postcard, using any materials that will withstand the postal system, and put your art title, the medium used and your name and email on the back. Add a stamp, then post it to: Wanstead Post Art, c/o Wanstead House, 21 The Green, Wanstead, E11 2NT.

The wear and tear of the postal journey is part of the wait-and-see outcome. Start sending in postcard art from now; they must be received by the end of August, at the latest.

Eugene works mostly in sculpture and 3D art. He says: “I’m currently working with some of my old black and white photographic images, taken on my trusty 35mm Nikon FM. I combine these images with reclaimed and unconventional objects of interest to create sculptural artworks.

“My work has evolved over the years, since leaving art college. In my early days I exhibited in various solo and group exhibitions and then art took a back seat to work and life commitments, with each year passing promising myself to resume my artistic pursuits”.

He says he is delighted to have a local art trail to show work in. Many high street businesses and community centres take part, and this year both Wanstead and Snaresbrook Tube stations will be among the venues.

Art Trail Wanstead runs from September 8 to 23 and is run by Art Group Wanstead. It is sponsored by The Stow Brothers estate agent, which is producing free guides for the public which will be widely available. For more information about the postcards and trail go to artgroupwanstead.com