A NUMBER of local artists will be displaying their work throughout September as part of Devon Open Studios.

The event invites artists across the county to open their studios to visitors and exhibit their work. It provides an opportunity to meet artists in their place of work and discuss their art.

It takes place from September 8 to September 23, and there will be more than 20 studios opening in the area. Work shown and available to buy will include ceramics, paintings, woven and printed fashion textiles, photography and more.

Okehampton will host exhibitions by painters Celia Olsson, Patricia Lomax, and a combined exhibition by mother and daughter team Susan Eckles and Hilary Sharp with both paintings and sculpture.

Dartmoor's landscape and nature is the inspiration for the work of two Okehampton photographers, Anna Curnow and Graeme Snowden, both exhibiting at Country Lanes Garden Centre. Potter Neil Edgson will show his stoneware, influenced by both Oriental and British traditions, at Kigbeare Studios.

Pynda Farm at Monkokehampton sees new work from Shane Hahn, and work by professional binder and restorer of rare books James Cassels. Beaworthy's Beacon Down sees the work of Sheran Beard, celebrating life and exploring humanity's relationship with the spirit of nature, using various media. Meeth sees quirky pottery from Stephen Bennett.

Hand-thrown wood-fired stoneware is the focus at Belstone Pottery, and Belstone Village Hall will see the paintings of Diane Bailey and prints by Marielle Ebner-Rijke. Diane's lively paintings and prints observe the individual characteristics of animals, while Marielle's prints reflect the interaction between people, animals and the natural environment.

Lees Barn in the village will hold exhibitions by three artists: Stephen Park's drawings, Alison West's decorative and functional porcelain, and Sophia Clist's sculptures and installations.

Chagford-based Yuli Somme makes arts, including leaf-shaped shrouds, from felt and will be displaying her work alongside the paintings of Angela Allerfeldt's dramatic textured paintings at Bellacouche Barn. Rima Staines creates illustrations, paintings and clocks rooted in folklore and stories, and opens her studio on Great Weeke Road in Chagford.

The Cleave Studio in the town will also be open to see the work of Tessa Rubbra and Lucy Dickens to showcase Tessa's ceramics and Lucy's paintings, drawings and woven scarves.

Gidleigh will see Jane Leitch show her oil, pasted and water colour paintings of animals and nature at Way Cottage. The village's Greenaway Barn Gallery throws open its doors for a varied exhibition with art of different mediums, and Great Ensworthy Barn will showcase the work of Rachel Van der Steen, Claire Gladstone, Hannah Palfrey and Jessica Palfrey.

Entry to all the open studios is free and a comprehensive guide, with details of each artist, is available to help plan your own art trail. This can be found at tourist information offices, libraries and galleries as well as shops.

Further information and an online guide can be found at http://www.devonartistnetwork.co.uk/AboutDOS">www.devonartistnetwork.co.uk/AboutDOS