It’s an arts who done it — A mystery artist commissioned to do a painting depicting life or history in the Roanoke Valley.

On April 30 the mystery will be solved when the first painting in Canvas Halifax is unveiled and the artist is identified.

Their painting will be auctioned and 100 limited edition matted prints of the painting will be sold for $35 with the artist signing them and discussing what inspired them to do their painting.

This will be the first of what the Halifax County Arts Council plans as an annual fundraiser and to put the vision of local artists on canvas, says Sherry Wade, first vice president of the organization.

The event will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Grist Mill in Weldon, which adjoins Riverfalls Park.

“I think it will be a lot of fun,” Wade said Friday. “It’s a mystery that I think will be well received.”

The council’s board of directors selected an artist to paint a piece specific to Halifax County. “It has to be reflective of Halifax County,” she said.

The event will feature a harpist and servers floating through the grist mill with appetizers on palettes.

The only people who have seen the painting are the board of directors, Wade said. “It (the painting) goes back to the very beginning of Roanoke Rapids.”

For more information contact Wade at 252-532-4078.