Five Barnet artists will take part in this year's Herts Open Studio to bring the art world to our doorstep.

Sculptor Paula Barnard Groves, June Faulkner, Isabella Gibson Wood and Artist Andy from Crescent Arts and Qing Qi, a British Chinese artist based in Barnet will all take part in workshops for people across venues in Hertfordshire.

For Ms Barnard Groves, the garden is where she is inspired, while for Ms Qi, many of her paintings are inspired by childhood memories of animals and beauty scenery, with a strong oriental theme running through.

Ms Barnard Groves said: "I design and make beautiful focal points for gardens that are enhanced as nature embraces them.

"When the plants surrounds them with their flowers and foliage, when it rains or when the sun moves across the sky creating shadows and silhouettes, I'm in my element!"

For Ms Faulkner, she gained her BA in Art from the University of Hertfordshire as a mature student and is inspired by creating or painting delicate textiles, and Ms Gibson Wood works with the harder materials such as wood and metal to create wire-woven pieces, almost like Medieval chainmaille.

For Artist Andy, a former theology student, she has experimented with everything from printmaking to arthouse filmmaking, and is currently working with the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School in Barnet on a new project.

She said: " "I love the instant results that printmaking offers, once the plate has been made a person can be incredibly creative with very little experience and understanding.

"I boldly go forward, exited to see where The Lord will take me!"

Each will be running workshops in their specialist fields throughout the open studio project.

To find your closest venue, visit www.hvaf.org.uk