The York Open Studios, which has attracted thousands of visitors from across the country and is now in its eighth year, will be staged from Friday until Sunday to highlight the city's creative talent.

It will feature more than 50 artists and designers who will be opening up their studios to the public.

The Old Dairy, a new venue which has been created by artist Hatti McKenzie below her two-bedroom apartment in Shipton Street, is among the new venues which are included in this year's event.

To bring a flavour of the building's heritage to life, Ms McKenzie and fellow artist Sally Storr have created paperclay cows which visitors will be able to decorate, glaze and fire.

Each model cow that is bought will come with a livestock passport giving its own identification number.

Ms McKenzie said: "It is dream come true to create the gallery space, and it is especially nice to be doing something related to the old dairy by creating the model cows.

"It is a venue which I will be able to use myself, but it will also give young and up-and-coming artists the chance to exhibit their own work."

Up to 3,000 visitors from across the North of England and from as far afield as Cambridgeshire travelled to York for last year's event, which saw more than 40 artists exhibiting in 30 venues across the city with a vast array of work ranging from paintings to ceramics and sculpture on show.

The event's chairwoman, Ruth King, said: "When the artists open their doors, the public enter their world of passion, humour, imagination and skill.

"This year's event promises to be an unrivalled opportunity to experience this world at firsthand and to celebrate and support this important aspect of the city's cultural life."

A free directory for this year's York Open Studios is available online at www.yorkopenstudios.co.uk or by calling 01904 706123.

Access to all venues and studios is free between 6pm and 9pm on Friday, 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 11am until 6pm on Sunday.