The North Yorkshire Open Studios event, which stretches across two weekends (June 20-21 and Friday to Sunday, June 26-28) has grown increasingly popular since it began five years ago.

It's not surprising since it offers breathtaking views, culture and a chance to hone your navigation skills – all for free.

More than 100 artists are taking part, opening up their studios and workshops to showcase their work.

Their workplaces certainly add to the interest and range from caravans on the North York Moors and harbourside baiting sheds in Scarborough to suburban living rooms in Harrogate and beautiful back gardens in the remote Yorkshire Dales.

The work on show is also diverse and includes everything from stained glass, knitted jewellery and miniature paper shoes to sculpture, paintings and pottery.

One of the most remote and picturesque artist studios belongs to Maria Silmon, a photographer and video maker, who works from a converted caravan at Spout House, Farndale, on the west side of the North York Moors National Park.

Maria creates limited edition digital canvas prints, as well as video pieces for exhibition. Nature is her "muse" and the elemental moorland environment offers endless inspiration for her contemporary nature-based art.

To find out more about the landscape that inspires her she recommends donning walking boots to try the two-mile circular walk around the head of the dale from Spout House, down an ancient green lane and beautiful riverside walk.

Andrew Cheetham, who has documented the decline of the Yorkshire fishing industry through his paintings, will show a selection of new work created through his role as artist-in residence for Rosedale.

His pictures will be on show at the Reading Room in Rosedale.

Potter Ray Davies will be opening his studio, a former blacksmiths workshop which stands on Reeth Green, where he creates a wide variety of pots including his frostproof garden range and cream glazed kitchenware.

He says: "I have been investigating the effects of light on hollow ceramic forms and recording the results through the photographic image, with the help of the photographer, Reinhard Klopp."

He will also be directing visitors across the road to sample his home-made damson cheese, on sale at the Garden House Shop.

Visitors to farmer and artist Richard Snowden's studio, based on his farm near Harrogate, may also be able to get their hands on some of his late asparagus.

As well as growing his own veg, Richard paints large, contemporary, loosely realistic paintings.

Over on the Yorkshire coast, textile artist Angela Knipe produces quirky, knitted jewellery in her gallery/ studio on the South Bay.

Scarborough is home to a growing number of emerging artists, including Dawn Brooks, a young printmaker whose strong images are inspired by the industrial landscape of the North-East, and Tracey Himsworth,
who produces work from the materials she gathers, including
discarded objects.

Running alongside the Open Studios is a programme of artist-led workshops, talks and other events.

These include the Dome d'Ombre Artists' Collective, which will be developing Source, an experimental installation for the crypt of
St Martin's Church in Scarborough.


Freedom to browse

North Yorkshire Open Studios is spread over two weekends on June 20-21 and Friday to Sunday June 26-28, with studios opening from 10.30am to 5.30pm. There is no entry fee to any of the studios, which are grouped geographically into the Dales, Central area of North Yorkshire and the Moors and Coast.

There is a free colour brochure/guide, which includes brief artists biographies and maps. This is available from Art Connections tel: 01756 748529, email:info@art-connections.org.uk or find it on www.nyos.org.uk