ARTISTS across the town are busy putting the finishing touches to their very own masterpieces ahead of opening the doors to their studios to the public this weekend.

Swindon Open Studios returns for its first weekend of 2016 on Saturday morning with artists from all corners of the borough sharing their work with art lovers as part of the popular trail.

Spread out across the town, the trail will take in 45 studios, some featuring numerous artists exhibiting their work together. A large number are concentrated in Old Town, offering a miniature trail for those without transport who can’t get out to some of the more rural studios.

Beginning at Prospect Place there will be three artists exhibiting at The Willows Counselling Service at 11 Prospect Place. These will be Ruth Wintle, Marilyn Trew and Lisa Lane. Lizzie Kendall can also be found nearby at 46 Prospect Place.

Next, Beverley Greig can be found at The Core on Devizes Road where her work can be viewed during their normal opening hours throughout the week, while Alex Coppock-Bunce and Teresa Davey can be found at 86 Avenue Road, although they will only be opening their studio on Saturday, September 10 between 11am and 5pm.

Moving on to Marlborough Lane, David Bent can be found at The Old Nursery where he will be welcoming guests on Saturday between 11am and 5pm and Sunday, September 11 between 11am and 5pm.

Tim Carroll can be found on St Margaret’s Road at number 52 where he will be open on Saturday and Sunday this weekend between 11am and 5pm and next Sunday too.

The Town Garden’s will be home to Terry Humphries and Susan Carr on both Saturdays of the event between 11am and 4.30pm.

Meanwhile Goddard Avenue will play host to three separate open studios. Brenda Lammin and Nicola Day can be found at 123, Caroline Day will be at number 74 while Mammy Wagon can be found at number 8.

One street over on The Mall, trail-goers will be able to find Ken White at number 20 and Andrew Tucker and Sam Silverton at number 39.

Noriko Macfarlane, Molly Leslie and Sue Pready will be showing their own works in a garage at the back of number 23, Okus Road while Suzie Campbell can be found a short way away down Mill Lane at number 2West Leaze.

But that is not to say that all of the action will be taking place in Old Town, and art lovers are being encouraged to venture further out of town to visit some of the artists exhibiting on the fringes of the borough.

A little further out of town at Guernsey Farmhouse is Jaquie Primrose who will be exhibiting her striking garden moasaics, while Sharon Rich at Henleaze Farm and Pat Elmore at 13 Abney Moor can both be found on the eastern reaches of the trail in Longcot.

Copies of the full trail can be found at the Swindon Advertiser’s offices on Victoria Road, or on the opposite side of the road in the Post Office. Copies can also be found nearby in the Museum and Art Gallery, the Beehive on Prospect Hill, The Hop Inn on Devizes Road, Earle's newsagents on Newport Street, the Central Library or in the recycling bins at 52 St. Margarets Road.