ART lovers are in for a treat when more than 50 artists across the region open their doors for one of the must-see events on the cultural calendar.

The eagerly-awaited Green Door Art Trail runs this coming weekend (September 28/29) promising another impressive array of original work, including ceramics, drawing, glass, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, textiles, jewellery and more.

Trail venues are far and wide, stretching from the Furness peninsular to Burton-in-Kendal with group venues also including the Athenaeum at Leasgill, near Milnthorpe, and, of course, Green Door Studios at Market Place in Kendal. The Beach Hut, Grange-over-Sands also features.

Among the 23 venues centre stage will be Greenodd Village Hall home for the terrific two-day feast to landscape painter Jacqui Bassett, sculptor Roger Bell, mixed media artist Carol Lewis, felt artist Jane Mallinson, painter Fiona Reeves and printmaker Marie Wright. There will also be prints and hand stitched books from Elizabeth Shorrock, and Shaker boxes from Keith Shorrock, with Egton cum Newland WI serving up refreshments.

"My work is informed by the drama of land, sea and sky," said Jacqui Bassett. "I create a sense of mystery and mood in my pieces which are always somewhat abstracted. I work largely in oil and coldwax, collagraph printing or mixed media."

Carol Lewis paints in mixed media combining water-based mediums, pastels and textural materials such as tissue paper and thread. A sense of place is very important to her work. Much of her inspiration from the Cumbrian and Pennine landscapes: the cragginess of the fells, the patchwork patterns of the valleys, the movements created in the rivers and Lakes and the changing hues of the seasons and weather conditions.

Elsewhere at Ulverston, Rachel Pearson will exhibit at The Medicine Garden. David Pooley will be showing his vibrant, local countryside inspired art at the Paper Bunny on Market Street, and over at the town’s Gallery 68, work from Sally Bamber, Jan Huntley Peace, Annie Luke Turner and Rosie Wates will be displayed.

"I'm inspired by the diversities within life, the natural world and the energy within all of creation," explained Rachel. "I work intuitively with crystals, flowers, fabrics, gold leaf and mixed media, and creates healing, ceremonial, and therapeutic art and jewellery."

Kendal town will be awash with art with more than 10 venues and galleries taking part in the massive trail, including Space2Create at The Factory, The La'al Studio Gallery on Highgate, Bumblebee Gallery at Blackhall Yard and AC Gallery on Elephant Yard.

And Frances Winder and John Davenport will be opening their beautiful house and garden on Oxenholme Road for next weekend’s trail. Frances works in a range of media, including watercolour, gouache and acrylic and enjoys experimenting with different techniques. She paints primarily landscapes, but expressed in abstract terms, rather than purely representational. Meanwhile, John will be showing his hand-built, frost-proof stoneware ceramics.

Also, artist Lynda Gray said she will be showing new work in response to her garden on Castle Road, as well as on location sketches, prints and cards from Cumbria and travels abroad. She added: "I have always loved working in sketchbooks. I used to use sketches in the traditional way, to develop other larger pieces of work from. Gradually, over the years, the sketchbook or individual sketch, done on location, has become the finished piece itself. I continue to make and exhibit concertina sketchbooks of my travels but my current pre-occupation is in maintaining the curiosity and mindset of the traveller closer to home. For the last year or so I have been absorbed in sketching my home town of Kendal."

Sue Rowland is a printmaker and textile artist, who has recently moved to Cumbria: "Its a place I have loved exploring since I was a child,” explained Sue. "My detailed, illustrative lino prints are mainly inspired by the countryside, British folklore and superstitions of the past, a time when we were more in tune with nature, the landscape and the weather. For me there is something magical about printmaking. I particularly enjoy the mindful process of cutting marks into lino, followed by inking up the block and the excitement of seeing the first print emerge from the press. My layered textile pieces are often created alongside print themes and include lino, screen or digital printing with hand dyed fabrics and embellishment. I find text fascinating and often include poetry or lyrics in layers of free machine applique and embroider.”

Sue will be exhibiting work at Green Door Studios alongside Jamie Barnes, Sue David, Colin Reynolds and Sonia Vietoris.

Green Door administrator Janice Benson said that the trail is a wonderful opportunity to visit GD’s talented members in their homes and studios to discuss, admire and purchase their work, as well as celebrate just how much original art is created in the area. “Visitors can find out more about the techniques artists use and the passions which inspire them. Some artists will be giving demonstrations and many will be showing their work in progress. Entry to all venues is free and artists will offer you a warm welcome. It’s a great way to spend a day or the whole weekend.”

All trail venues are open on the Saturday and Sunday with a number also opening their artistic doors on the Friday (September 27). The free catalogue - complete with trail map, timings and details of all the artists taking part - is available at www.greendoor.org.uk or it can picked up from outlets around the area.