You've got to hand it to Pocklington's Open Studio artists

"Next weekend we'll be letting people see how things are made by hand," says co-organiser and Lyn Grant, from Fangfoss Pottery. "Hands can throw a pot, sew a garment, or paint a picture: they are our best tools for creating beautiful products.

"So we’d like to invite you to visit our studios and workshops to see how we make handsome things and handy items, such as bowls, teapots, scarves and rings, as well as paintings, prints and photographs."

This is the event for you should you ever have wondered what a 'naked Raku firing' is? Or how a tea pot is made from start to finish? Or what the techniques of Japanese Shibori involves?

On hand: Pocklington Area Open Studios artists gather at Jill Ford's studio at Providence House Pottery, Ellerton. Back row, Penny de Corte and Gerry Grant; front, Jill Ford, left, and Sue Giles

"Now is the opportunity to find out," says Lyn. "Everything we produce is lovingly made with our hands, using skills that have been handed down and perfected over many years. Open Studios is a chance to browse through the work, to chat about how it’s made and maybe buy something that's been made with passion and skill."

Ten studios and 18 artists are taking part next weekend from 10am to 5pm each day. Soft pastels artist Catherine E Inglis will be at work at The Old Granary, Skirpenbeck; printmaker and mixed-media artist Judith Pollock and photographer Lesley Peatfield at Park Lane End, Bishop Wilton; ceramicist Gerry Grant, 2D and 3D printmaker Peter Shoenecker, textile and mixed-media artist and silver jewellery maker Carol Seaman and watercolour and acrylic artist Shirley Davis Dew at Fangfoss Pottery.

Ceramicist Penny de Corte opens her studio doors at 56 Garths End, Pocklington; jewellery designer, painter and sculptor Lillo Piano at 106 Wold Road, Pocklington; ceramicist Tony Wells at 3 Stable Court, Londesborough; mixed-media artist Peter Edwards and experimental textile artist Liz Edwards at Manor Farm, Hayton.

Handiwork: Gerry Grant making a pot's rim

Pastel and watercolour artist Noreen Thorp and textile artist Sue Giles can be found at Church Farm, Hayton; ceramicist Jill Ford, fine-metal jewellery designer Avril Cheetham and palette-knife acrylic painter Heather Burton at Providence House Pottery, Ellerton; and wearable textile artist Chris Cullum at Newfold House, Newton on Derwent.

"There'll be pieces to suit all pockets and tastes, from a few pounds to a few hundred pounds," says Lyn. "Many artists are happy to undertake commissions for special, bespoke piece of art or craft. If you’re inspired to try your own hand, many artists offer lessons and courses for beginners and improvers."

A programme of 11 free talks and demonstrations has been arranged throughout the weekend, enabling visitors to learn more about assorted techniques.

Times to note for May 4 and 5 are: 10.30am, palette-knife painting by Heather Burton in Ellerton; silver earring twists by Carol Seaman in Fangfoss. 11.30am, naked Raku firing by Penny de Corte in Pocklington; making a porcelain wall piece by Jill Ford in Ellerton. 12.30pm, watercolours by Shirley Davis Dew in Fangfoss; vitreous enamelling by Avril Cheetham in Ellerton.

Pocklington Area Open Studios artists Peter Edwards, Liz Edwards and Carol Seaman, in the back row, and Lillo Pisano and Noreen Thorpe, at the front, at at Manor Farm, Hayton

At 1.30pm, making a teapot by Gerry Grant at Fangfoss Pottery; soft pastel techniques by Cath Inglis at Skirpenbeck. 2.30pm, throwing a large platter by Tony Wells in Londesborough; making a wooden sculpture by Lilo Pisano in Pocklington. 3.30pm, Japanese Shibori techniques by Sue Giles in Hayton.

Refreshments and cakes – home-made and hand-made, of course – will be available at the studios and pubs and cafés aplenty can be found on the route.

For more information, go to facebook/pocklington area open studios and Instagram, #pockareaopenstudios. A leaflet with a recommended route is available from Lyn Grant at Fangfoss Pottery; email Lyn@fangfosspottery.co.uk.