ART lovers across the region are in for real feast when some of the region's artists open up their studios for the Lunesdale Arts Trail.

In addition to the open studio weekends on May 19-20 and May 26-28, the artists’ work will be featured at a special Trail Exhibition at Leck Gallery, near Kirkby Lonsdale, where visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the work of potters, painters, sculptors, glass workers, textile artists and printmakers.

Janet Nuttall, owner of Leck Gallery and curator of the shared exhibition, said that she's really excited by the opportunity to launch the Lunesdale Arts Trail for 2018 and to showcase throughout May such a diverse range of local artistic talent.

On show as part of the trail just a stone's throw from Leck Gallery will be the paintings, ceramics and textile art of Leonie Rutter. Leonie’s abstract acrylic paintings create a backdrop for her wheel thrown ceramics, many of which are modified and fume fired. This year Leonie will be joined by textile artist Maddy Wright, whose finely crafted work incorporates felt and free style embroidery.

Landscape painter Terry Hird is making a welcome return to the trail and will be opening his studio in Burton-in-Lonsdale again this year. His landscapes and abstract paintings all have a strong compositional structure which reflect both his background as a graphic designer and

his love of the mountains.

Elsewhere, Kevin Brown will be opening his studio at Clapham, showing his watercolour landscapes that capture the essence of the local Yorkshire Dales scenery.

Near Bentham, painter Sarah Parker will be opening her studio and garden to feature her own landscapes and the work of renowned stone sculptor Sarah Smith.

The work of abstract and landscape painter David Davies and textile artist Hannah Smeds-Davies will be featured at the Maiden Bridge Gallery and painter and printmaker John Hatton, who won the 2017 Hawthorn Printmaker Award, will be holding an open studio at nearby Tatham.

Another artist returning to the trail this year is Mike Barlow, opening his studio near Wray. Mike will be showing his mixed media constructions, drawings and abstract paintings.

Meanwhile, at Hornby, Anne Somers will be showing her handmade fused glass. Not forgetting at Over Kellet, James Hake opens his pottery studio. James, whose style and glazes are influenced by Oriental ceramics, is becoming an established name in the wonderful world of ceramic art. James is also trail chairman and said that the Lunesdale Art Trail has been an important part of the cultural scene in the Lunesdale area for more than 20 years.

Studios will be open between 11am-4pm on exhibition days.

For further information on the trail or to download a trail brochure go online at www.lunesdalearts.co.uk.