ARTISTS and craft-workers from throughout the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley will again be throwing open the doors of their studios and display spaces, with a total of 48 participants for the 2014 Forest and Valley Open Studios (FANDVOS) event.

Taurus Crafts will again be hosting their Open Studios Taster Exhibition, which showcases many of the artists who are involved with the project, and their displays provide an opportunity for planning visits to the artist's own exhibitions. This will run daily from July 5 - 20.

The main event will be centred on two weekends: July 12/13 and 19/20 between 11am and 5pm, but many of the participants are also opening their doors on other dates between July 9 - 23.

A spokesman for FANDVOS commented: "All of our artists live and work in this area of outstanding natural beauty, and many take their inspiration from it. This is your chance to visit each and every one of them in the place where their inspiration comes to life.

'Whether you like painting, drawing, fine art photography, sculpture or design we have something for everyone in easy to follow trails in a beautiful landscape."

To explain the various opening times, and to outline the artists and craft-workers involved in the event, a full colour brochure and map has been printed, and is available widely from outlets throughout the area. Cross referenced by the area in which they work or are exhibiting in, the brochure also contains detailed directions for finding the many venues available to art seekers.

Ian Gorton, Chairman of the Forest and Valley Open Studios, commented: "The Open Studios event seemingly goes from strength to strength, and we look forward to welcoming returning regular visitors, and lots of new faces to our fantastic event.

"The organisers have made some significant improvements this year to the website, introduction of social media, a downloadable brochure, and lots of other stuff to improve the visitor experience and choices."

He added: "We hope that the weather is kind to us, but many of the studios are cosy places whatever the weatherman says."

The organisation now has a website at http://www.fandvos.org.uk">www.fandvos.org.uk, where the full brochure for this year's event can be viewed, or downloaded for printing or transfer to portable devices, as a pdf file.

There are also links to their facebook, twitter and pinterest entries.