ARTISTS from across West Devon are all set to throw their doors open and welcome visitors from near and far as part of 2008's Devon Open Studios.

The annual event is organised by the Devon Artist Network and sponsored by Devon County Council. There are nine designated art trails throughout the county including one in West Devon which will feature many artists in the Okehampton area.

More than 30 West Devon artists, ranging from internationally renowned sculptor Peter Randall–Page to first time exhibitors, will be showing their works in their studios or homes.

Highlights will see pottery at Belstone, abstract paintings by Ron Andrews in South Tawton, there will be murals by Suzy Maxwell, felt making by Yule Somme and paintings by Steve Dooley in Chagford while in nearby Gidleigh there will be landscape, figurative and animal paintings by Jane Leitch and Paddy Langworthy, ceramics by Abigail North, stitched and painted landscapes by Bridget Thomasin and paintings plus prints by Michael Hardy and Amanda Jackson.

Artists in Hatherleigh, Wembworthy and Winkleigh including Anna Farrall Doyle, Matt Thomas and the Combe Barton Group will be exhibiting on the North Devon trail.

West and North Devon studios will be open from Saturday, September 6 to Sunday, September 14.

The event presents a unique opportunity to see artists at work and a chance to venture from the beaten track, as many venues are outside village or town centres.

Open studios is increasingly important to Devon based artists with £325,000 worth of sales and commissions across the county during the 2007 event.

Gidleigh based self-taught artist Jane Leitch exhibited for the first time last year and her paintings of animals proved immensely popular.

She said: 'I'm still working on commissions I received as a result of last year's Open Studios.

'I'm looking forward to this year, it will be a real family affair as I'm exhibiting with my mother who paints landscapes. We're hoping to see lots of visitors.'

Chagford based Helpful Holidays, who are one of the sponsors of this year's event, believe Open Studios has a significant impact on the West Devon economy.

Moray Bowater, from Helpful Holidays, said: 'Our office in Chagford regularly hosts exhibitions by local artists, so we know that visitors like to see and buy locally produced work.

'Devon Open Studios also brings valuable custom to accommodation, cafes, restaurants and businesses and of course to the artists themselves, so we are really happy to be sponsoring the official website Devon Open Studios this year.'

Each Devon Open Studios trail has its own map, featuring artists' work, directions to venues and facilities available there while each venue will have distinctive signs to guide the way along the trail. Entry is free and all visitors are welcome. For more information go to http://www.devonartistnetwork.co.uk">www.devonartistnetwork.co.uk.