RHEGED is a terrific exhibition space for artwork particularly the staggering, high altitude landscapes of painter Julian Cooper.

A colossus of mountain art, to immerse yourself in the astonishing vertiginous vistas of the class Cumbrian artist is one of the many good reasons to visit this year's Mountain Arts Festival staged at the Penrith venue from Friday-Sunday (October 21-23).

Julian's father William Heaton Cooper (1903-1995) was one of the most successful and respected Lake District artists of all time as was his grandfather, Alfred (1863-1929), who pioneered the painting of Lakeland fells and valleys, and put the region's glorious landscape firmly in the frame. Julian's mother was the highly regarded sculptor Ophelia Gordon Bell (1915-1975).

Mountain Arts Festival 2016 features talks, films, workshops, music, a Mountain Bazaar of Nepalese crafts, innovative ‘walking workshops,’ and an exhibition of contemporary art inspired by A Day in The Hills, that as well as work by Julian, Ali Pretty, Luke Walker, and Sarah Cullen, shows a text wall made especially for the festival by internationally acclaimed walking artist Hamish Fulton.

The art will remain on show until October 27.

The whole event has been developed by Community Action Nepal (CAN), a Cumbrian-based charity whose aim is to help the mountain people of Nepal, founded by eminent mountaineer Doug Scott, who in 1975 made the first British ascent of Everest.

CAN’s Nepal Earthquake Appeal has been actively supporting the people of Nepal following the devastating earthquake in April 2015 that killed almost 9,000 people, injuring 22,000, and damaging or destroying nearly 800,000 homes.

More than a year later, while some of the debris has been cleared away, very little reconstruction has taken place. CAN’s Nepal Earthquake Appeal continues to support the Nepalese people in rebuilding their lives with estimates to fulfill that estimated at £2 million. So far, over £1 million has been raised.

Doug said they are very excited to be presenting the second Mountain Arts Festival.

He added: “This year we have an extended programme which includes veteran mountain guide Gwen Moffat of Penrith, the world's finest female alpinist, acclaimed local artist Julian Cooper and a host of other artists, sculptors, writers, film makers and mountain thinkers. We hope that this year’s event will help continue Community Action Nepal’s fundraising efforts.“

During the towering, three-day festival there will be walks, talks, and lectures given by a range of highly acclaimed writers, artists, climbers and thinkers.

Included will be renowned 'Rock Queen’ Catherine Destivelle, in conversation with Doug on Saturday (October 22), talking about some of her incredible climbs, including solo winter ascents of the three most legendary Alpine walls – the Eiger, the Grandes Jorasses and the Matterhorn.

Two separate guided walks, led by Professor Terry Gifford, Claire Hind and Clare Qualmann, on Friday allows participants to question the relationship between creativity and hill walking, while lectures on Saturday include Professor Terry Gifford’s thoughts on Mountaineering Literature.

On Sunday, Climbing as An Art sees Andy Kirkpatrick in conversation with Doug Scott, followed by Gwen Moffat and Claire-Jane Carter talking about climbing with Ben Ayers.

Music also plays its part, with a various performances, one of which is a supper and a ceilidh evening on Friday, starring one of Cumbria's best known ceilidh bands, Striding Edge.

It wouldn't be a Rheged festival event without use of its fantastic film

An extensive programme of films, most notably a few of the late Jim Curran’s engrossing films, run alongside other fascinating lectures delivered by a number of acclaimed speakers, including Sir Chris Bonington. An emphasis is placed on discussing the work of CAN in Nepal.

At the Mountain Bazaar, where exhibitors will be selling many things including books, films and prints, there is also a special pop up exhibition of Savage Arena: The Legacy of Joe Tasker run by the Mountain Heritage Trust.

Meanwhile, young explorers can enjoy a climbing wall on Saturday and Sunday, supplied by Keswick-based Kong Adventure, with fully trained staff and safety equipment, and proceeds donated to Community Action Nepal.

For further information and to book visit rheged.com or telephone 01768-868000.