ARTISTS from all over the city are opening their studios up to visitors as part of an annual festival.

York Open Studios will see work by more than 120 people go on display.

People will also be able to meet artists and watch them at work in venues across York.

The festival was launched at the weekend at the Stained Glass Centre at St Martin’s Church on Micklegate, where designers and organisers showcased a selection of the artworks to feature in this year’s event.

Venues include The Mount School, Middletons Hotel, York Pilates Space, City Screen York and York Cemetery chapel.

Artists in other areas such as Haxby, Nether Poppleton and Osbaldwick will also be opening up their workshops to visitors.

An independent panel has selected the makers taking part in this year’s exhibition and the line up includes four students from York College as well as two multimedia bursary artists.

Photographs, ceramics, textiles, jewellery and prints will be on display in addition to drawings and paintings.

Landscapes of York by artist David Patrick will be on display ay Middletons Hotel while artworks by Mark Hearld will be exhibited at 104 The Mount.

New artists taking part in this year’s event include printmaker Michelle Hughes, whose linocut images will go on display at 67 St Swithins Walk, Chris Hall, whose etchings will be on show at The Whitestone Gallery at St Peter’s School and photographer Danny Knight, whose pictures of Germany can be seen in The Basement at City Screen York.

And Rebecca Carr’s handcrafted clothing will be available at Pica on Grape Lane while Ellie Crosby’s silver jewellery inspired by 1940s fabrics will be available at South Cottage Workshop off Shipton Road.

The event aims to celebrate the best artists living or working within 10 miles of the city.

Visitors can buy original artworks at the event and the organisation also runs workshops with selected artists.

Studios and exhibitions are open to the public on April 14, 15, 21 and 22 from 10am until 5pm.

However not all workshops are open on both weekends and visitors are advised to check yorkopenstudios.co.uk for details and maps.