York Open Studios 2014, April 4-6; April 12-13

From tomorrow until Sunday and next Saturday and Sunday too, there will be open access to 79 artists working in sculpture, printmaking, painting, traditional crafts, illustration, textiles and ceramics.

Most of the studios, in spaces ranging from living rooms to garages and gardens, can be reached on foot or bicycle, and Open Studios visitors are encouraged to wander around York's streets in search of studios, planning their route with the help of the event guide available from info@yorkopenstudios.co.uk or online at yorkopenstudios.co.uk or by phoning 01904 706123.

This event represents some of the best artists and makers living or working within a ten-mile radius of the city.

York Open Studios was set up as a not -for-profit organisation run by a committee of volunteers. From its first weekend in 2001, when only 20 artists took part, it has grown steadily to reflect the quality and vigour of contemporary visual arts in the city. Over the years it has introduced more than 180 artists to the public.

In turn, the support and encouragement of visitors old and new for both the well- established and the emerging artist is much appreciated and is seen as important to the continuing development of York's cultural environment.

Looking ahead to the two weekends, chairman Anne Hutchison says: "We have more artists taking part in the event this year with many new faces. This is a great opportunity to see art, buy art and meet artists on their own territory, and perhaps even be inspired to have a go yourself."

Many of those artists will be offering additional activities at their open studios, from taster workshops and demonstrations to afternoon tea and cake, and admission is free.

Picking out highlights, the Open Studios will be a treasure trove for lovers of ceramics, with internationally respected ceramicists Ruth King, Loretta Braganza and Isabel Denyer all participating at St Denys Road, Mount Vale and Church Lane, Wighill, respectively. Meanwhile, you can glam up your china cabinet with a visit to Jack D March, a young potter who is bringing glamour to ceramics at Eastfield Crescent, Badger Hill.

Among the artists passionate about keeping traditional craft skills alive are willow weaver Heather Dawe at York Environment Centre, St Nicholas Fields, Rawden Avenue, and stained glass expert Ann Sotheran in Burton Stone Lane.

The event offers the chance to take a peek behind the doors of buildings being converted into creative spaces such as Rogues Atelier Art Studios, a former tannery in Franklin's Yard, Fossgate, which now houses the work of ceramicist Penny Phillips and upholstered furniture maker and printmaker Jo Walton.

Judging by past years, queues will be forming at The Mount home of collage and printmaker Mark Hearld and artist and printmaker Emily Sutton, whose artwork will be displayed alongside the ephemera of objects that have inspired them.

“My work incorporates a love of pattern and detail and is strongly influenced by the landscape and creatures of my surroundings in the Yorkshire countryside, as well as all kinds of weird and wonderful objects found in museums and antique shops," says Emily.

Look out for the figurative sculpture of Marzena Madziag at the York Environment Centre at St Nicholas Fields. Newly graduated in 3D contemporary craft from York College, she makes her pieces in clay, latex and other materials.

“I’m constantly pushing my boundaries to explore my potential and experimenting with a variety of media," she says. "My work is about observations of our society and the world we live in, and my favourite media is clay, which I find very pliable.”

Among those new to York Open Studios this spring are paper-cut and collage artist Rosie Scott-Massie, photographer Luke Bell and sculptor, illustrator and collage artist Andrew Gabraitis.

Originally from Masham in the Yorkshire Dales, Rosie now works from her York studio in Lower Darnborough Street, taking inspiration from the historic buildings, estates and gardens in Yorkshire and the north. She combines traditional landscape and architectural subject matter with contemporary mixed media and paper-cutting to create her unusual work.

Luke's photographs can be found at the Bull Centre, next door to Dean’s Garden Centre Unit, at Stockton-on-the-Forest. He focuses on small-format, digital, fine-art photography prints inspired by rural life and the ever changing environment.

Andrew's sculptures and illustrations can be viewed at The Mount School, Dalton Terrace. His work captures everyday personal experiences, domestic situations and companions, which he uses to compose narratives based around the garden.

Among the many regulars will be Freya Horsley's mixed-media, semi-abstract land and seascape paintings at Bootham School Hall; Jill Ford's porcelain bowls and vases and Linda Combi's mixed media and collages at Walnut Cottage, Tadcaster Road, Dringhouses; Ben Arnup's "trick of the eye" stoneware at The Cottage, Love Lane, The Mount; Sally Arnup's bird and animal sculptures in bronze at Panman Lane, Holtby; and Judy Burnett's painting and collages, at Holly Terrace.

Check out Richard Mackness's sculptural head forms, examining technology and consumerism, at St Mary's, Bootham; Tim Morrison's painting, printmaking and sculpture at Bootham School Hall; Rory Motion's playful, joyful interiors, text pieces and York scenes, in oil, pastel and watercolour, at York Environment Centre; Charmian Ottaway's jewllery in gold, silver and Tahitian pearls, at Holly Terrace; David Patrick's landscape and cityscape drawing and painting, at Grays Court, Chapter House, Street; Lesley Seeger's paintings, prints and mosaics of flowers, birds and landscapes at the New School House Gallery, Peaseholme Green; and Linda Wormald's exploratory landscape paintings at Windmill Lane.

In addition, there will be student showcases for York College student Angela Hume's Yorkshire landscapes in glass and Arturs Strikis's figurative sculptures at The Healing Clinic, Club Chambers, Museum Street, and for the mixed-media works of York St John University 's Autumn Garner and Victoria Gater in the Arts Reception/Foyer in Lord Mayor's Walk.

The York Open Studios 2014 launch exhibition has been running at Blossom Street Gallery, Blossom Street, since March 18 and is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5.30pm, and Sundays, 10am to 3pm, until April 13.

York Open Studios 2014 opening times: tomorrow, 6pm to 9pm; Saturday, 10am to 6pm; Sunday, 11am to 5pm; Saturday, April 12, 10am to 6pm; Sunday, April 13, 11am to 5pm.

To find out more about all 79 artists taking part , visit yorkopenstudios.co.uk or visit the event facebook page.