Artists open their doors to the public next week for Bucks Open Studios. Ushma Mistry chats to some of the artists taking part and finds out what they will be doing this year.

THOUSANDS of art-lovers are expected to attend Bucks Open Studios which is highly acclaimed as one of south Bucks' biggest free art events.

Now in its 20th year, the two-week event from June 18 to July 3 promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

Visitors will not only be able to buy great pieces of artwork to take home but they will also get an exclusive insight into the working world of an artist by getting a peep into their studios.

Susan Anderson, co-ordinator of Bucks Open Studios, which is hosted by the Visual Images Group, says: "You won't find artists turning lights on and off but you might come across highly skilled crafts people who will demonstrate their expertise and may even let you have a go yourself."

Bucks Open Studios is run by the Visual Images Group and brings together more than 400 artists and craftsmen who all live and work in the Buckinghamshire area.

As well as traditional artists who produce a vast array of paintings and sculptures there are many who push the boundaries of art to the limits. One of these displays is entitled The Three Painters which will be at the Obsidian Art gallery, The Bucks Goat Centre, Old Risborough Road, Stoke Mandeville.

Artists Annie Gunning, Tony Ashton and John Tydeman have combined traditional skills with modern ideas and techniques including photography, ceramics and glass and they will be available to talk to visitors from 7pm to 9pm on June 23.

Trisha Woodcock of the Obsidian Art Gallery, says: "Annie is quite well known in the area and her work is primarily semi-abstract and landscape orientations and often her work includes Chilterns landscapes.

"Tony has been painting for many years and his work is highly geometric and he has got all sorts of influences in his work and finally John does a lot of figurative work and is well known for his portraiture.

"It should be a really good show and we are really looking forward to it."

To accompany the three artists there will also be a photography show and ceramics and glass displays will be used to complement the two.

Some artists will be displaying work in all sorts of unusual materials such as lace, net curtains, sandpaper, children's toys and even some computer parts all mixed up with paint.

For the less daring, there are traditional pieces of art including local landscapes, nudes, flowers, garden water features and bold abstracts.

Those wishing to attend any of the Bucks Open Studios are given a helping hand thanks to a full-colour mini directory which has details of all the artists' studios, exhibitions, galleries and events which are taking part during the art fortnight and an easy-to-use map.

Tony Ashton, of the Visual Images Group and an artist, says: "We have got more artists this year than last year and a few of them have appeared on television.

"Bucks Open Studios has given 100s of artists a bit of space to display their work and it means families can go out and really enjoy it. With the brochure you can plan your day out, meet the artists and have a go."

The Abney Studios art group in Bourne End will not only be showing the work they have produced, but they also want people to get involved, so they are holding a life drawing workshop with Varvar Neiman who studies fine art in St Petersburg. The the lifestyle workshops is on June 25 and there are two painting workshops on June 18 and July 2.

Anthony and Joyce Curtis of Flackwell Heath have been taking part in Bucks Open Studios since it started and this year they will be back again with their recent works which include drawings and paintings in oil, watercolour and gouache.

The husband-and-wife team will be opening the doors to their purpose-built studio at their home at 143 Heath End Road, Flackwell Heath.

Anthony says: "We have exhibited most years. My wife does mainly portraits and landscapes and my work is primarily landscapes but I take myself out over the planet looking down and out of the planet. People need to really come and see what we do."

The Joyce and Anthony Curtis exhibition will be open every weekend during the Bucks Open Studios fortnight from 11am to 6pm and during the week by appointment only.

Bucks Open Studios is on from June 18 to July3. Free directories for Bucks Open Studios can be picked up from most libraries, galleries and art centres or by calling Susan Anderson on 01494 862745.