AN artist whose Cullompton studio attracted more than 100 visitors when it opened last year hopes success will be repeated this month.

Clare Schmidt-Norris will throw open the doors to her Duke Street workshop for Devon Open Studios, an event she hopes will grow throughout Mid Devon.

More than 260 artists will showcase their work at more than 130 Devon locations from Friday, September 4.

The 16-day festival recorded more than 30,000 separate visitors in 2009 — a twofold increase on the previous year.

She says this rise in visitor numbers signals the event's growing success and her multi-media images, created using both paint and photography, were appreciated by visitors from locations including Kingsbridge and Bath.

Ms Schmidt-Norris, who took part in the event for the first time in 2009, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to meet and chat with artists where they work and see their creative processes first hand."

Her images range from abstract portraits to contemporary prints, drawing on inspiration from France, Spain, Dartmoor, the coast and local landscapes.

They are made by layering paint with fragments of photographs.

She is also a protrait artist — a relatively new venture which has really taken off since last year's visitors saw paintings of her daughter Freya.

Plymtree artist Siddy Langley has been working with glass for 30 years and will also welcome visitors until Sunday, September 19.

She creates blown glass pieces varying from small perfume bottles to large vases from her rural workshop in the heart of the Culm Valley. Siddy will demonstrate several techniques including blowing, sand casting, fusing and lampwork.

A display of small glass originals and jewellery will decorate her studio while visitors try their hand at making their own glass tile or coaster.

Oil painter Roderick Baxter will display work at his Bullfinch Close studio in Cullompton and artists Cristina Ulander, Jane Page and Mary Carter, from the Honiton area, will also open to the public for the event. Artists in Tiverton and Crediton are also taking part.

A full-colour event guide with details on participating artists and their studio opening times is available from libraries and tourist information centres. Alternatively, visit www.devonartistnetwork.co.uk.