A MAJOR exhibition of work by local artists starts in a former railway station this weekend.

A total of 21 artists and craftspeople from Richmondshire will display work at the old Richmond Station building, from Saturday until June 26.

All the artists are members of the Dales Guild, previously known as the Richmondshire Arts and Crafts Guild.

A series of practical workshops and demonstrations in paper sculpture, felt-making, painting and linocut printmaking will be held during the three-week exhibition.

Dales Guild co-ordinator Liz Hawkes said: "We are really pleased to use the old station building for this year's exhibition. The vast, airy space of the building, especially in its empty state, makes it the ideal venue for an art exhibition of this nature.

"It gives individual artists a real opportunity to exhibit their work in different ways."

Organisers believe one of the highlights of the event will be an opportunity to glaze handmade pottery and witness it being fired outdoors in a raku kiln.

This workshop is being run by local potter and Guild chairman, Andrew Hague.

Admission to the exhibition is free and there is full disabled access.

Opening times are 10am to 4pm daily.

Published: 01/06/2005