THE first ever Southampton Open Studios Trail gets under way tomorrow.

This offers a chance to visit working artists studios in Southampton and see the creative work being made there. The studios are open this weekend and next weekend from noon to 5pm.

Three major Southampton visual arts organisations have joined together to launch the trail, giving the public the chance to view and buy affordable original artwork and meet artists living and working in the city.

The Southampton Open Studios Trail is a collaboration between: Arches Artists Studios, Red Hot Press, Tower House Studios and unit11studios.

Members of the public will be able to visit all the studios to see the work being produced there in a variety of different mediums.

Red Hot Press is a fine art print workshop in Captain’s Place, Southampton, dedicated to the production and promotion of original prints as a fine art medium.

During the Open Studios Trail they will be exhibiting work by members of Red Hot Press and have original artwork for sale, plus cards, books badges and more.

Run by a space growing creative communities, the Arches Artists’ Studios, also in Captain’s Place, give emerging artists a base from which they can develop and grow their practices. The Arches Studios are home to illustrators, painters, screenprinters, sculptors, flute makers, leather goods makers, knitters and more. There will be an exhibition of selected work by Arches Studio holders in Arch 4 at The Old Cattle Market.

Tower House is a character location in Southampton’s Old Town area located on Winkle Street/Town Quay Road and is part of the creative working space provided in the city by “a space arts”.

It houses a community of film-makers, animators and designers.

Unit11studios in Suite 7a Fairways House, Mount Pleasant Industrial Estate, is a not-for-profit artists’ collective providing affordable studio space for local artists.

Sunday, July 8 sees the return of the ever-popular Cattle Market Wayzgoose Fete hosted by Red Hot Press and Arches Artists Studios. All are welcome on this day which will include printmaking demonstrations and “have-a-go” taster sessions at Red Hot Press and music.