HOW about taking The Clifton Trail at the second weekend of York Open Studios?

"There's a group of artists around Burton Stone Lane who are all taking part in this year's Open Studios that reflects this part of town becoming more interesting and creative," says Lotte Inch, who runs the Lotte Inch Gallery in Bootham, where she has worked with several of the artists in question or done so more widely. "I often feel that this side of town, especially beyond Bootham School, gets forgotten about and actually there’s a lot going on," she adds.

Taking part in the 2017 event are semi-abstract landscape and seascape painter Steve Williams at 2, St Luke's Grove; paper-cut, collage and mixed-media artist Rosie Scott-Massie at 2, Shipton Street; whimsical mixed-media artist and potter Harriet McKenzie and Open Studios debutant portrait artist Sue Clayton, both at 4a Shipton Street; felt textile artist Jean Drysdale and watercolour, silverpoint and graphite artist Jane Wright, both at 17, Bootham Crescent; bird and animal lino printmaker Gerard Hobson at 51 Water Lane; weaver Jacqueline James at 4, Rosslyn Street and stained glass artist Ann Sotheran at 345, Burton Stone Lane.

Steve Williams will host a Meet the Artist Brunch on Sunday at 11am at 2, St Luke's Grove. More than 100 artists are exhibiting at 80 locations in and around York from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday in the 2017 York Open Studios. Full details can be found at yorkopenstudios.co.uk; copies of the free directory can be picked up all over the city.

York Press:

Lauren Hollowday's York Open Studios installation

THE longest profile in the York Open Studios 2017 directory goes to multi-media artist Lauren Hollowday, who is exhibiting a text installation and audio work in her front room at 42 Emperors Wharf, Skeldergate, York.

Her exhibit addresses domestic abuse, gender, sexuality and how home can be anything but home, sweet home. Unquestionably it is the most harrowing work in this year's event, but if it heralds a broadening of the boundaries of the Open Studios , then it is the most significant work too.

Here is a shorter version of what Lauren's directory statement says: "My practice deconstructs and re-defines the parameters of social interaction via a conscious manipulation of discomfort, submission and trust; exploring private interpersonal situations through often playful, sometimes sordid, experiments involving participation and confession. My work plays with the extreme; violating boundaries of social convention and engaging with an alternative morality, all while observing your subconscious behaviours."

Do see it.