DRAWN to the Valley takes place once more this summer, as 59 artists of the Tamar Valley open their doors to the public, between August 29 and September 6, including Bank Holiday Monday.

The public is welcomed into private working studios and homes to meet the artists, see their art and chat about their inspirations, aspirations and processes.

Those following the artistic trail can explore hidden areas of unspoilt scenery between Launceston and the Rame Peninsula, including Plymouth and Tavistock, stopping for a meal or cup of tea en route.

The studios are free to browse for as long as you like and you can take your time to choose painters, ceramicists, jewellers and many other skilled practitioners; consult the maps and directory on the Drawn to the Valley website, or pick up a free directory from local outlets. Work is for sale at reasonable prices.

At a recent Drawn to the Valley exhibition at Mount Edgcumbe Gallery, Michael Galsworthy CVO CBE DL, Vice Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall said: 'I am convinced that Drawn to the Valley is going to create for this part of Cornwall and Devon a new school: a new centre of influence on the Art World.'

On both sides of the River Tamar, where JMW Turner travelled and painted in the 19th Century, the natural environment has drawn together a strong community of professional artists, who work in many different disciplines.

Despite starting in the aftermath of the Foot and Mouth Crisis, this largely self-funded group is flourishing _ feeding into the local creative economy.

This is their sixth year as an artist-led collective of around 140 members.  They are united by their passion for the dramatic visual contrasts in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, part of the World Heritage Site, where they live and work.