Arts festival celebrates 30th anniversary

About 150 venues across Somerset are taking part in the festival, including artists' studios like Kim DeVries', who is pictured above

The 30th anniversary of an arts event that gives visitors the opportunity to see inside artists' studios is being celebrated.

More than 150 venues will take part in Somerset Art Weeks, organised by Somerset Art Works (SAW), from 13 to 28 September.

The history of the event is being marked with a special exhibition, called Lustre, at the Musgrove hospital in Taunton. Curated by Paul Newman it features 30 selected works from SAW Members.

Lisa Takahashi, an artist printmaker, said: "It's just a really great showcase of all the creativity that is around in the county, and there's a huge diversity in terms of the kinds of artists that Somerset can offer."

She added: "To actually see the works in the flesh and see it all en masse is just a really fantastic and exciting opportunity."

She said she "likes to think it inspires people to get creative themselves".

"I think that making art and engaging with art is just as nourishing as going for a walk in nature," she added.

Artist Lisa Takahashi will be taking part in the arts festival

Curating the Lustre exhibition, Mr Newman said they wanted to portray a message of positivity and well being.

"It's 30 years this year and I think actually given the challenges of the last few years, it's incredible really that an organisation like SAW is still able to carry on doing the good work that it does," he said.

"The way that art can help is just staggering. I'm really excited that we've done something like this, that I think has an important and positive message behind it."

Visitors are given the rare opportunity to see inside artists' studios or where they like to paint

There will be about 150 venues across Somerset taking part in the festival including areas such as Taunton Deane, Sedgemoor and Mendip.

Mr Newman said: "Somerset Art Works do a fantastic job in raising that awareness of how important creativity is in all of our lives, whether it's something that people just want to have a go at, or people are more professionally established.

"I'd really urge people to get out and explore the county over those 16 days."