TALENTED artists in Winchester flung open their doors as they kick-started a Hampshire-wide project to bring art to the masses.

Hampshire Open Studios sees artists open up their homes and invite the public to come and view their work.

The annual event is an art trail, which allows the public to visit artists and craft makers in their homes, studios, workshops and sometimes village halls for larger groups.

Among the goodies on display throughout the two-week event are paintings and jewellery, ceramics and sculpture, prints, photographs, textiles, glassware and more.

One of the most interesting parts of the Open Studio events is the fact that it gives visitors the chance to talk to artists about their work and sometimes get a short demonstration of how it is made.

Many of the artists and craftspeople make greetings cards especially for the occasion, so even if people cannot afford to buy their larger works or prints, which are sometimes cheaper as they are being bought direct, can buy something. There is no pressure to purchase anything and the event is just as much about learning about art as it is about buying.

This is the eighth year the event has been running and there are around 200 venues to visit throughout the county featuring the work of around 600 artists.

Among the Winchester artists taking part are Ellie Gosse, whose textile company makes hand-woven scarves and accessories from luxury fabrics, and Josephine Chisholm, a talented painter and artist from Hyde.

Donna Vokes is an artist from Sparsholt, who will be taking part for the first time this year with her mother, Wendy.

Donna said: "The Hampshire Open Studios this year is my first and I am very excited about it because I've just decorated and furnished my flat after saving hard. Also, it is very rare to have all my paintings at home at the same time as I am often exhibiting somewhere.

"I usually sell my work at local markets along with my mum, Wendy, who makes and sells bags and children's aprons, which are always popular, but I haven't been doing so well this year because of the credit crunch and the weather is very dodgy. I am doing it because you get a sense of being part of a community of artists. Working as an artist can be very lonely and I wanted to try something new.

"Hampshire Open Studios provides a rare opportunity for people to see where I work, how I work and, more importantly, see how Sparsholt has inspired me from childhood to adulthood."

Most venues are open from 10am to 6pm and the Open Studios runs until August 31. For more information and a map of all events taking place, visit www.hampshireopen studios.org.uk. The website, now in its third year, is the result of a partnership between HCC and districts.

3:38pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

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