COME weekend and the UK’s foremost artist-led printmaking festival takes over the highways and byways of Ulverston.

And this year's Printfest will be a truly multi-venue event.

Centre stage is the printmaking exhibition held within the walls of the Coronation Hall, with 49 artists displaying their work and talking to visitors about their methods and skills.

There will be two pop-up shops selling all things printmaking: rollers, ink, cutting tools and paper, presses and stay-open inks.

Additionally, courses are being organised by Print Share after Printfest at Little Barn, Meeting House Lane, Ulverston. These can be booked at Printfest, where it is possible to meet the tutors in the supper room.

Printfest's Printmaker of the Year Sadie Tierney will be displaying her commissioned print - inspired by the mountains and lakes around Wastwater - in the Coro foyer.

Elsewhere in town, all the Printmakers of the Year, since 2010, will have their commissioned prints on show at Natterjacks cafe and gallery on Queen Street throughout May, with a special opening on Saturday, from noon-4pm. Sadie will also be showing her paintings at Gallery 68 in Market Street along with Ulverston-based artist Tina Balmer, who is on the organising committee of Printfest, and Rosie Wates.

Not forgetting, home and giftware shop Squirrel will host a drop-in printmaking workshop in mark-making for toddlers to grandparents, 10.30am-4pm at 43 Market Street.

Plus Cumbria Crystal is running glass blowing workshops at Canal Head and Fired Up Furness has an exhibition and sale of ceramics, pottery and sculpture organised by Potters Collective opposite the Coro at 1 County Mews.

Printfest chairman Sally Bamber said that they always wanted to encourage fringe activities as well as make Printfest the northern hub of printmaking. She added: "It is great that anyone coming to Ulverston for the Printfest weekend can get the benefits of all these other artistic activities." As for Printfest itself: "Our visitors have told us they most enjoy talking to the artists, they love the variety of printmaking on show and the stunning quality of the work," explained Sally. "They have found it a fabulous opportunity to find out more about printmaking."

Printfest is open Saturday, 10am-5pm and Sunday, 10am-4pm.