Sculptor Sarah Smith is as much an engineer as she is an artist.

Born in Yorkshire, she spent her early years studying figurative art, taking her inspiration from the rolling hills of Malhamdale.

Following a spell in Italy, she returned to her home county a few years ago, bringing with her a brand new device which has revolutionised the way her work can be seen. From her studio in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, Sarah uses local stone to carve her tactile pieces and, using turning pins, it means she can display sides of her sculpture which would never normally be seen.

"Because the sculptures can be turned smoothly and easily, they capture the light as it changes throughout the day, " she says.

"The ability for my sculpture to turn has proved a real bonus. It means I don't have to worry so much about the difficulties of working in small spaces or which way the pieces should face. It's also a great way for children to interact with art."

Sarah has had commissions ranging from pieces for large formal Japanese gardens to small city plots, across the UK and her reputation has also taken her work to Sri Lanka.

"It is the challenge of getting the mood and feel absolutely right that I enjoy so much, " says Sarah, who will open her studio to the public next month.

"I love working with gardens and the natural landscape. For me, it's about understanding what will work with it, which is the real challenge. When I came back to Yorkshire four years ago, I found the landscape began to influence my work more than ever before. I want something that is in keeping with its surroundings, I don't want the work to impose something alien on to the backdrop. To me, working with local stone and clay is the perfect accompaniment in garden design. It has taken me to quarries all over the country and it is a never-ending journey of fascination and design."

Having learnt her trade at the Elizabeth Frink School of Figurative Sculpture, Sarah has also been commissioned to create a number of portraits and four years ago she completed a fitting tribute to Yorkshire cricketer Fred Trueman and the likeness won her much public praise.

"My work often relates to the growth of human consciousness, " she says. "It's about what we hide and what's inside."

While the work of any artist can be a solitary pursuit, over the years Sarah has been keen to pass on her knowledge to others, running a series of sculpture workshops for both adults and children at the Malham Tarn field studies centre.

"It's about getting people to engage with sculpture, " she says. "You don't have to be a great artists, all that you really need is an open mind. One of the best things I find is just walking around the countryside. Once you begin to note its rhythms and its beauty, it's a great source of inspiration."

The North Yorkshire Open Studios event takes place on June 20 & 21 and June 26 to 28. To download a full programme of events, visit www.art-connections.org.uk.

Sarah's work is also currently on display in the arts trail at Newby Hall in Ripon which runs to September. In July, Sarah will also be part of a special exhibition at the award-winning Peel Castle in Hellifield which featured on Grand Designs.