YORK Open Studios 2013 will showcase the work and working practices of more than 50 artists over two weekends this month.

Studios across York will be open from 6pm to 9pm next Friday, 10am to 6pm next Saturday and April 20 and 11am to 5pm, next Sunday and April 21.

“It’s a great chance to pick up a studio map, pop on your walking shoes and seek out a host of hidden spaces in the heart of York,” says Ann Hutchison, one of the original founders of this annual event, who has taken up the chairman’s reins this year.

“The quality of the artists and makers taking part in this year’s event is stronger then ever. York is a hub of creative activity and this is a great opportunity to meet artists on their own territory, find out more about their techniques and inspiration, and perhaps have a go yourself.”

The participating artists range from painters, sculptors and jewellers to photographers, illustrators and furniture makers working in traditional to contemporary styles.

The event is a showcase for established and emerging talents. Judging by past years, there will be queues at The Mount home of printmakers and partners Mark Hearld, nominee for the 2012 Elle Deco awards for his flora and fauna prints, and Emily Sutton, whose work is in growing demand from publishers.

Sally Arnup, who exhibits regularly at the Royal Academy of Arts, will give a talk at 11am each Saturday at her Panman Lane studios in Holtby on her passion for bronze sculptures of birds and animals.

Ceramacists will include Ilona Sulikova, at Holmfield Community Centre, Heslington. For her raku-fired hand-built pots, wheel-thrown domestic ware and carved porcelain, she uses techniques that she learned while working with Somali and Sudanese potters and she will demonstrate these techniques in a workshop on both Saturdays from 2pm to 3pm.

Chiu-i Wu, who originally trained in Taiwan, now lives in York, where she crafts her distinctive hand-built stoneware and drawings in Manor Park Road, Rawcliffe.

Photographer Peter Heaton, whose studio is in Mount Vale, creates atmospheric, multi-layered black-and-white images that explore ideas around natural habitats. He is a past winner of the National Trust/Kodak Vision of the Trust national photographic competition, whose work combines traditional techniques with digital imaging.

Wilf Williams will be exhibiting his bespoke furniture and lighting designs in a range of sustainable hardwoods at his studio in Waynefleet Grove.

Among the new faces are Emily Harper, artist in residence at Bootham School, and figurative painter Hannah Ostapjuk, whose figurative oil paintings will be on show at Space 109, Walmgate.

Emily, whose work can be seen in Bootham School’s Recital Room, creates artworks that capture and secure small moments in time and space and contemplate intimate, everyday scenes to examine light and find beauty in the mundane.

Hannah’s autobiographical paintings focus on colour and chiaroscuro lighting effects combined with techniques employed by the old and modern masters. “It’s not just about investigating appearances. I record my experiences and emotions in response to the relationship between artist and sitter,” she says.

For something challengingly different, Andrew Dale will be showing what he describes as “steampunk requisites for the retrofuturistic adventurer about town”. His ornaments, costume adornments and altered jewellery will be on show at St Swithin’s Walk, Holgate, but not on the Friday.

Entry to studios is free and many artists have organised additional events such as private views, workshops, demonstrations and afternoon tea and cake.

To find out the full programme of artists, visit yorkopenstudios.co.uk or the event facebook page. For a free copy of the event map register online, email info@yorkopenstudios.co.uk, or call 01904 706123.

And take note, the good news is that most of the studios, which are as varied as the works on show, can be reached on foot as well as by bicycle or car.

• As well as visiting the studios, you can support the event by becoming a Friend of York Open Studios for £20 per year. For more information, contact Emma Whiting on 07950 019840 or visit yorkopenstudios.co.uk/documents/YOS-Friends.pdf