Artists across Bridport and west Dorset will be opening their studios for nine days

The town's renowned annual Open Studio event launches this coming weekend and runs for nine days.

Now in its 19th year, the event was started by artist Caroline Ireland to celebrate Bridport’s remarkable art scene, and has grown over the years to become a distinctive showcase for the artists who live and work in this vibrant creative community.

This year, you can discover 78 of west Dorset’s finest artists, designers and craftspeople in their studios, homes and galleries.

The open event offers visitors a rare glimpse into the fascinating world of the artist's studio, with an opportunity to talk with the artists and see first-hand their working progress. Most venues will have a diverse range of original artworks for sale, as well as cards and prints.

Pick up a free 48-page guide to the event with details about all participating artists as well as six maps and directions to all the venues.

The guide is available from arts centres, galleries and tourist information centres across the West Country. Distinctive arrows and banners across Bridport and west Dorset will further signpost the way to the 53 venues taking part this year. A wide variety of art will be on show including painting, printmaking, illustration, ceramics, sculpture, furniture, photography, textiles, jewellery, glass pieces, woodturning, hats from a local milliner, and metal pieces from an artisan blacksmith.

Several abstract painters are taking part including Martyn Brewster exhibiting at Sladers Yard with his lyrical abstract paintings and figurative drawings; plus semi-abstract paintings of Dorset and South West France by Gerry Dudgeon, distinctive emotional abstract paintings by Jon Adam, Amanda Wallwork paints with oil on plaster and is concerned with archaeology, geology and the formation of the landscape; also enjoy experimental pieces by Lynne Grace at Eype Church; dreamlike works in an idyllic setting by Veronica Hudson alongside mixed photographic montage and painting by Victoria Upton; then there are semi-abstract evocations of sea and landscape by Marian Young; large expressive oil paintings by Rob Morgan; colourful textural pieces by Billie Willcocks; powerful semi-abstract pieces by Mike Willdridge; textured atmospheric abstracts by Rita Brown; mixed-media semi-abstract landscape paintings by Charlotte Miller and semi-abstract scenes through doors and windows by Caroline Liddington.

Figurative painters include dramatic cinematic west Dorset landscapes by Kit Glaisyer; drawings and paintings of landscapes and people by Helen Lloyd-Elliott; distinctive meticulously crafted paintings by David Brooke; bright and vibrant pieces that emerge from an intuitive process by Caroline Ireland; pastoral paintings inspired by nature by Annalisa Renee; evocative landscapes and seascapes by Joy Smith; colourful wildlife paintings by Leonard Hollands; inventive figurative pieces by Peter Hitchin; all manner of unusual subjects by Irene Usher; inspired meditative pieces by Penelope Strong; pastoral watercolour paintings by Nicola Leader; experimental and traditional watercolours by Jane Coxhill; plein-air and still life paintings by George Paul Sainsbury; colourful and expressive landscapes by Chris Neaves; Elizabeth Sporne paints portraits with a strong sense of character and you’ll find Dorset landscape paintings (many of Colmers Hill) by Marion Taylor. Prints, Drawings and Illustration also appear, with colourful lyrical landscape prints by Liz Somerville; eye-catching pieces by award-winning illustrator Paul Blow; conceptual drawings often minimalist and repetitive by David Smith; a strong narrative aesthetic by author-illustrator Suzanna Hubbard; letterpress cards, poster block prints and bound books by Squirrell Bindery & Press; striking photographic prints and designs by Sally Davies alongside landscape prints by professional photographer Neil Barnes; energetic paintings and prints by Suzy Moger; delicate etchings and prints by Jan Summerton; lively atmospheric paintings and monoprints by Antonia Phillips; visually intriguing juxtapositions by Megan Dunford alongside Sarah Jane Ross who finds a feminine aesthetic in her playful work; plus 2D and 3D collage works by Sue Barnes; bold and stylised ink works by Russ Snedker and watercolours and monoprints by Trudi Ochiltree.

Sculptures can be found in several outdoor spaces, including some made from scrap metal by Greta Berlin in Fishponds; large hand-wrought sculptures by Oliver Strong in Waytown; Colleen du Pon combines traditional forging techniques with contemporary metalworking in mild steel in Nettlecombe; enjoy a selection of plaster and bronze sculptures by Ian Williams on Crock Lane; figurative and animal sculptures by John Wolfe in Melplash; then there are intriguing and thought provoking sculptures by Isla Chaney on the St Michael’s Trading Estate as well as the smaller unique ceramics series The Many Vesseled Women by Philomena Harmsworth.

Ceramics, textiles and decorative works abound: at the Portmanteau Gallery on North Street there are ceramic vessels with texture and pattern by Bjork Haraldsdottir inspired by her architectural background; at Brown’s Farm in Nettlecombe enjoy jewellery in gold, silver and precious stones by Sian Evans as well as rounded, symmetrical ceramics by Adam Beales and inventive pieces with an intimate understanding of wood by Alice Blogg; then there’s thrown / coiled and slab-built ceramics by Katharine Lloyd in West Milton; a range of beautiful Fabric designs by Sophie Sharp in Broadoak; personally-sourced jewellery in gold, silver and bronze by Jocelyn Rodber Pardoe at Sladers Yard, where you’ll also find leading examples of ceramics by Peter Hayes, Richard Batterham, Akiko Hirai and Svend Bayer, alongside Petter Southall’s exceptional steam-bent furniture; in Beaminster there are hand-thrown earthenware pieces by Louise Hamlin and organic stained and fused glass pieces by Caroline Lewis alongside stitched textiles by Wendy Hermelin; then up the road in Mosterton visit for daily Raku firing demonstrations at 11am and 3pm daily by Eeles Pottery; in Broadwindsor kiln-formed glass pieces by Gillian Hulse in alongside bespoke letter-cutting by Phil Brown; in Maiden Newton you’ll find hand-thrown domestic ware by Sharon Oliver; in Rampisham Peter Thomas & Trevor Ball produce natural edged functional items; Elizabeth Sayers works with hand-dried layered silks in Plumptree Gardens; and at St Michael’s Studios you’ll see colourful textured stained glass works by Steve Rose, plus Jennie Hanrahan who uses coils, slabbing and pinching techniques in her unique ceramic pieces, as well as milliner Fiona Neylan who designs, makes and sources hats, headwear and accessories.

For up to date information follow the event on Twitter: @BridportOS and Facebook facebook.com/bridportOS and visit the website bos2017.website