THE biggest annual art event on the York calendar will be underway from this evening, when as many as 100 artists and craftsmen will open up their studios to herald the start of the two York Open Studios weekends.

This is a chance to take a peek behind the scenes at the workshops of painters, potters, sculptors and jewellers, while tracking down studios across the city at this free event.

The Open Studios will take place from this evening to Sunday and April 29 to 30, and full details of the participating artists and their locations can be found at yorkopenstudios.co.uk, as well as in the event directory available around the city.

York Open Studios offers the opportunity to see art and crafts in the places where they are made, places that are rarely open to the public, from town houses and cottage workshops to rustic garden sheds. In all of them, makers will be ready to demonstrate their work.

Open Studios’ new chairman, Beccy Ridsdel, says: “We’re very lucky to live in such a vibrant, creative city with so many wonderful artists and craftspeople. We’re really excited, pleased and proud to have over 100 of them exhibiting.”

York Press:

PICA Studios artists who will be taking part in York Open Studios: left to right, Rebecca Carr, Evie Leach, Lu Mason and Mark Hearld. Picture: Frank Dwyer

There will be almost 80 locations to visit, and in a change from past years, the artists are listed by their position on the map, rather than in alphabetical order, so that you can work out a trail and "perhaps drop in on studios you might otherwise have missed". And don't worry, if you are looking for a favourite artist, you can still find them named in an alphabetical index towards the back of the directory.

Once again, the line-up includes four entries representing York College and York St John University and there will be two multi-media bursary artists this year too.

Among the new locations for 2017 will be PICA Studios, the new art hub on the ground floor of Michael Sessions' Quacks Books publishing house at 7 Grape Lane. No fewer than six PICA artists are taking part: Lesley Birch, Rebecca Carr, Evie Leach and Emily Stubbs at PICA; Lu Mason at Ben Arnup's house, at 2 Love Lane, and Mark Hearld, whose home studio with partner Emily Sutton, at 104 The Mount, will be a hot attraction as usual.

"The first time I took part, it was at my house, luckily in the centre of York, so I had really high footfall," says jewellery maker Evie Leach. "I can't imagine how many more will be coming here to PICA, now there's a group of us here! We're all completely different in our disciplines and that's the case for all of us at PICA, where no two artists are the same."

Ceramicist Emily Stubbs has been selected for York Open Studios for a third time. "The first two years were at my house, near the racecourse, so I was on a good loop, but being here at PICA is really exciting," she says. "I think we feel stronger being part of a group."

York Press:

Spectrum, by PICA Studios ceramicist Emily Stubbs, on show at York Open Studios

Mark Hearld will be showing mainly his collages, paintings and prints at 104, The Mount, but will have examples of his work at PICA too. "What we have to remember is the key part of York Open Studios is that it supports and nurtures the creative forces in York," he says. "Nothing should get in the way of that; that's what it brings to the table; that's its purpose, supporting the people who run it, take part in it and enjoy going to the studios."

He is relishing being part of the PICA art hub. "The energy coming off other people working in the space makes you feel energised too," he says. "I find it works better than working in isolation."

Rebecca Carr is making her York Open Studios with her textiles, using Yorkshire wool, Irish linen and hand-dyed cotton for collections that experiment with stitch, form and movement. "Open Studios is a wonderful chance to have interesting conversations with people about your work and it's an opportunity I've been waiting for," she says. "It's good to be part of an event like this."

Lu Mason, who makes mobiles and lightboxes, enjoys the creative camaraderie. "It's good to have other people seeing your work as you work, and to see others at work, to ask for reactions to the work. For me, that's been really useful," she says. "Working together also means more things are possible."

York Open Studios takes place on April 21 to 23 and 29 to 30; studios will be open this evening from 6pm to 9pm; both Saturdays, 10am to 6pm; both Sundays, 11am to 5pm. For full details and maps of all the studios, visit yorkopenstudios.co.uk; for a free copy of the event programme, register online or email info@yorkopenstudios.co.uk