UNDER the banner of CREATE, 19 professional York artists are opening their studios to the public this weekend in the new York Open Studios venture to exhibit and sell their work.

Event co-organiser Anne Hutchison, herself an artist and picture framer, says: "Many major cities in England hold Open Studio events but this will be a first on this scale for York. Our city is renowned for its historic interest but little is known about its wealth of artists, which includes painters, potters, photographers, weavers and printmakers.

"So, key features of the event will be the chance to get to meet the artists, ask questions, buy direct and see their studios and tools of their trade."

A free route planner, providing details of each artist and the location of each studio, is available from libraries, tourist offices, York Theatre Royal, York Barbican Centre, City Screen, and York City Art Gallery.

Better still, Anne suggests that anyone yet to acquire the directory should start the tour at 108, East Parade, Heworth, where she and fellow organiser Gail Fox will provide the all-important planner.

Anne is exhibiting figurative and still-life drawings and multi-faceted mirrors at that Heworth address, alongside Gail's ceramics and the drawings and paintings of York by Jake Attree. Tomorrow, Attree is holding a drawing workshop from 10am to noon and 1.30pm to 3.30pm at Minster Yard Studios, 7 Minster Yard, at £10 per session. To book, ring Adze Gallery director David Durham on 01904 674348.

Taking part too in CREATE will be Jacqueline James, woven textiles, in Rosslyn Street, Clifton; Isa Denyer, ceramics, and Lesley Seeger, paintings, in Priory Street; Linda Combi, illustrations and drawings, and Jenny Rivron, ceramics, Albemarle Road; Sue Dennis, paintings, Wentworth Road; Pamela Knight, collagraph prints, Norfolk Street; Ben Arnup and Ruth King, ceramics, Fulford Cross; Anna Baker, photographs, Sue Brown, paintings, Ilona Sulikova, ceramics, Holmfield Community Centre, Peel Close, Heslington; Adrienne French, paintings, 85 East Parade; Caroline Lord, textiles, 97 East Parade; Peter Wray, prints, Stable Printmaking Workshop, rear of Fox Inn, Stockton-on-the-Forest; and Julie Bailey, printmaking, Lyngarth Cottage, The Village, Stockton-on-the-Forest.

Look for the York Open Studios 2002 sign displayed outside each artist's premises.

York Open Studios takes place from 10am to 6pm tomorrow and Sunday, and the organisers intend to establish this showcase as an annual event.

"In future years, we'd like the York Open Studios to grow, making it an important date in Yorkshire's art calendar," says Anne. "If you'd like to take part next year, either as an artist, advertiser or as a contributor in any other way, please contact me or Gail at the YORtime Resource Centre on 01904 553440."

Updated: 09:44 Friday, March 15, 2002