ARTISTS in Lothersdale and Cononley are allowing the public into their workspaces this weekend.

Nicole Dickinson and Kirsty Mason are among dozens of artists taking part in the North Yorkshire Open Studios.

The festival began last weekend and continues this Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am to 5.30pm.

The popular event is brimming with creative talent, with basket makers and blacksmiths, potters and painters, photographers and printmakers, stained glass makers and jewellery makers.

All are opening up their studios for free to showcase their talents, sell their artwork and share their passion.

Nicole Dickinson’s paintings are inspired by her love of nature with its different lights and moods created by the ever-changing weather.

Her studio is at Lower Kirk Hill Barn, White Hill Lane, Lothersdale.

In Cononley Kirsty Mason will show a selection of her artworks made using embroidery, in her studio is at Weasel Green Farmhouse in Moorside.

Meanwhile over at Thornton House in Thornton-in-Craven, stonemason and sculptor Fiona Bowley will display her work, including sheep carvings.

Fiona uses techniques drawn from Ancient Greek, Assyrian, and medieval sculptors to create their fleeces.

North Yorkshire Open Studios encourages people to get off the beaten track to visit studios hidden away in breathtaking locations.

Event director Rick Faulkner, from Gargrave based Chrysalis Arts, promised a fascinating day out whether people were art enthusiasts or just casually interested in art.

He said: “We are blessed with a range of inspiring landscapes in North Yorkshire, which help make our Open Studios one of the most spectacular open studio events in the country.

“This is a unique opportunity to meet artists, to gain an insight into how their work is produced, find out what inspires them and to buy high quality art and craft directly from them."

All the studios are open both days, and visitors can drop in any time between 10.30am and 5.30pm.

North Yorkshire Open Studios is run by Art Connections, a Chrysalis Arts project. Visit chrysalisarts.com for more details about Chrysalis Arts.

Chrysalis said the Open Studios event, now in its tenth year, had grown to become one of the major events in North Yorkshire’s cultural calendar.

A spokesman said: “It has become one of the North’s most prestigious open studios events.

“North Yorkshire Open Studios is also one of nearly 50 events officially selected as part of Yorkshire Festival 2014.”

Email info@nyos.org.uk or visit nyos.org.uk for a free event guide featuring full artist details and pictures.