MORE than 120 artists will take part in this year’s North Yorkshire Open Studios event, which invites visitors to venues as different as beach huts and bus shelters as well as conventional locations.

The event starts next Friday and continues on Saturday, June 12, and Sunday, June 13, followed by the weekend of June 19 and 20.

Now in its sixth year, North Yorkshire Open Studios is one of the most fascinating events in the county’s cultural calendar.

It offers an opportunity to meet artists, gain an insight into how their work is produced and what inspires them, and to buy pictures, sculpture and craft work.

Studios are open from 10.30am-5.30pm, ranging from a caravan on the North York Moors to baiting sheds in Scarborough, suburban living rooms in Harrogate and cottages in the Yorkshire Dales.

In the remoter parts of North Yorkshire, visitors often find themselves off the beaten track and sometimes trying out recommendations from the artists about local haunts.

Among those taking part is Richard Burnley, of Sowerby, who designs and makes contemporary furniture. His work can be seen alongside landscape paintings by his wife, Jane, in their shared studio.

Other husband-and-wife partnerships are Colin and Sheila Smithson, who will open their studio at Forest Cottages, near Scorton, as will Lesley and Ken Jones at Stalling Busk.

Also in the Yorkshire Dales are Carol Tyler at Hawes, Andrea Hunter and Helene Shovlar in Hardraw, Angela Keeble in Bainbridge, Caroline Dunn in Fingall, and Winifred Hodge in Redmire.

Near Darlington, two artists at Croft, Frances Connolly, who works in chalk pastels, and ceramicist Petra Lloyd will mount an exhibition in the village hall over both weekends, with refreshments available. Brian Pike, of Gilling West, and Hester Cox, at Masham, are two other well-known Yorkshire artists participating.

On the North York Moors, a studio owned by sculptor Peter Coates, who has helped in the development of public spaces across the North and abroad, will be open. His recent pieces include a commission for Gateshead.

One of the most picturesque studios is that of Maria Silmon, a photographer and video maker, who works from a converted caravan at Spout House, Farndale West Side, in the North York Moors National Park. She recommends taking walking boots to try the two-mile circular walk around the head of the dale from Spout House, via an ancient green lane and the river.

A programme of artist-led workshops, talks and other events across the county, has also been arranged. Maps and guides to help in tracking down the studios are available at www.nyos.org.uk or free from the organisers, Art Connections, tel 01756- 748529 or email:info@artconnections.org.uk.

● Artists from across Teesdale are being encouraged to take part in an open studios festival in the autumn.

October half-term will see the third Teesdale Open Studios, but the vetting event takes place this month at which participating artists will be selected.

Organiser Ray Landon said: “All professional artists living or working in Teesdale are welcome to submit work for consideration. All disciplines are welcomed.

“Last year’s event included pottery, sculpture, glass jewellery, silverwork, textiles, millinery, design, etching, mixed media and range of painting styles and subject matter.”

Anyone interested should call Mr Landon on 01833-650612.