TALENTED illustrator Hannah Firmin is a popular attraction of Art in Action at Waterperry House and is planning to once again pack up her art kit to show hundreds of visitors how she produces the celebrated lino prints which won her a Best Book Cover of the Year' title at the British Book awards.

They were illustrations for the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency book series by Alexander McCall Smith. Hannah, who lives in Woodburn Town, normally works quietly in her studio and knows she will be bombarded with questions at Waterperry by curious admirers. But it is the charm of the event near Wheatley, Oxford from July 19 to 22.

The Kent-born artist is attracted by nature, which is why she was chosen to exhibit at the Museum of Garden History in the past. She finds the Waterperry grounds are a good source of inspiration and hopes she will have time to tour the extensive gardens which are open to the public in art week.

"The development of my work is guided by my love of the processes involved in creating a print; the designing and cutting of the wood or lino block; the evolving of colours and textures during the printing process. The restrictions and discipline of working to a design or illustration brief suits me well; especially in contrast to the freedom of doing personal work for exhibition," she said.

It has been a busy season for Firmin who has spent the last few weeks working on a packaging assignment and more book covers for a publisher.

No sooner had she put her pens away than the paints come out for her exhibition creations.

She said: "People are fascinated to hear how I switch from those sort of commercial jobs which are prescribed images and get on with work for myself for Art in Action as well as an exhibition of my own work in a year's time. I also have to make time researching and attending exhibitions, travelling and gardening to get ideas. It's always busy, I am always on the go."

Wycombe furniture maker Stuart Linford from Kitchener Road will join Hannah and more than 250 artists and craftsmen demonstrating Chinese Arts, Indian Arts, Abrahamic Arts, Calligraphy, Ceramics, Drawing, Glass, Illustration, Metalwork and Jewellery; Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Textiles and Woodwork.

New features include demonstrations and opportunities to purchase work by students and alumni of the Prince's School of Traditional Arts and by artists-in-residence from Nature in Art, a charitable trust whose emphasis is art inspired by nature. There will also be a contingent of ten artists from India organised by the Indian art and craft organisation, Dilli Haat as well as performing artistes, story-telling and guided tours of the Georgian gardens from 10.30am to 5.30am daily. Tickets cost £14 but there are cheaper concessions and children under nine go free.