Printfest prides itself in, among other things, providing art lovers with the chance to buy original and affordable art. Running at Ulverston's Coronation Hall on Saturday and Sunday, May 10/11, the event's artistic director Ronkey Bullard says he's delighted with the response from artists wanting to participate in this, the third Printfest. "Artists as far away as Argentina and Holland as well as Cumbria are interested in being part of this success story - from vivacious abstract monoprints to etchings of sweeping landscapes and tiny charming woodcuts. The selection of prints available this year has also increased and includes lino prints, collographs, lithographs, screen prints and types and mixes you have never heard of," he said. Printfest offers the chance to meet the artists and talk about their work - from students embarking on their careers, to experienced artists and printers.

THE gorgeous soprano voice of Miriam Dix is among the line up of talents for Queen Katherine School's Leavers Concert on Sunday, May 11 (8pm), at Kendal Parish Church. The Kendal school's senior and chamber choirs, accompanied by an invited orchestra conducted by Lesley Talbot, perform Handel's Coronation anthem The King Shall Rejoice; pianist Ruth Leavett plays Finzi's Ecologue for Piano and Strings; and Victoria Smith is soprano soloist in Tippett's spirituals from A Child of our Time. Jazz is courtesy of the QKS 11-piece combo, including this year's Mary Wakefield Festival Jim Noble Award winner, David Rees. Tickets are £6 / concessions £3.

Meanwhile, I'm told 11 QKS music students have gained 16 grade eight passes between them, apparently never before achieved by the school at one time.

SWARTHMOOR thespians star in the All England Theatre Festival North West Divisional Finals of One Act Plays, staged at the Victoria Hall, Main Street, Grange-over-Sands, tomorrow night (Saturday, 6pm). Swarthmoor are one of four groups from the North West region vying for the title. Tickets are available at the door £4.50 adults / £4 oaps / £2 children.

Meanwhile, there's more one-act drama at the Victoria Hall, courtesy of the festival, being staged by the Furness and Cartmel Drama Group on Monday and Tuesday (May 5/6) at 7pm. Tickets are £3 and available from Poole's Newsagents, in Grange, or at the door.

Two striking performances of baroque music are planned by the Bach Invention group - the first at Christ Church, Carnforth, on Friday, May 9 (7.30pm), then at Cartmel Priory the day after (Saturday, 8pm) as part of the priory's summer series. Music by Telemann, Couperin, and Bach will be arranged in a tapestry of shorter and longer pieces, all of great colour and charm, performed by experienced players Ann Bond (harpsichord), Hilary Stock (baroque oboe) and Andrew Crawford (baroque flute).

PHOTOGRAPHER Steve Reeve is turning heads with his landscape images at the Lake District Visitor Centre, at Brockhole, Windermere. Steve has gone out on a limb to take some of his dramatic Lakeland pictures, even hanging from a cliff edge. "In there are shots other people can't get," he said. Steve's exhibition covers all the seasons and runs until May 22. For further details contact the visitor centre on 015394-46601.

IF YOU want big and colourful - look no further than painter Grant Wyness's acrylic on board abstracts (above), on show at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre's Sugar Store Gallery, from May 8-12. Grant was brought up in Windermere and is now based in Australia.

May 1, 2003 11:30