A GROUP of artists has initiated a Three Peaks Arts event for the purpose of showcasing the abundance of artistic talent in the area.

In the past, the North Yorkshire Open Studios (NYOS) had presented an opening for creative people in the county.

However, this will not be happening this year after a review and consultation by Chrysalis Arts and Arts Council England decided to discontinue the body in its current form.

Instead, with the absence of NYOS this year, a group of artists have initiated Three Peaks Arts.

This group is newly formed for the purpose of presenting the talent prevalent in and around the Three Peaks area through a series of regular arts events.

The first will be an Art’s Trail running for two weekends of June 30 and July 1, and another on July 7 and 8.

These events will give local residents and visitors the opportunity to visit artists’ studios.

To showcase the new idea, The Arts Trail will open with a preview evening on Friday, June 29 at the former Horton-in-Ribblesdale Primary School which will act as a hub for the event.

An exhibition on the preview evening will include work by artists on The Trail. The Hub will be open for viewing the whole week and four Manchester School of Art Students will be working on a project reflecting and relating to the area.

There will also be printing, ceramic and landscape workshops during the week, which will need to be booked beforehand.

The workshops are all £5 each and last for two hours so it is a good chance to have a go at a very reasonable price. A selection of venues will be holding poetry readings and a series of films will also be shown at the hub.

Settle portrait artist Sam Dalby will hold a question and answer session at his studio.

The various poetry readings, films and question and answer session are all free and there is no need to book for these events.

Free leaflets for the Arts trail are available in Tourist Information Centres, galleries and local hotels. For information regarding workshops, poetry readings, films and booking for workshops, please see the website www.threepeaksarts.co.uk

Three Peaks Arts is also planning an event on September 8 and 9 which will involve The Settle/Carlisle Railway.

Plans include a train journey, workshops and exhibitions in three stations, Settle, Horton in Ribblesdale and Ribblehead.

Further information about this event will be announced on the website in due course.