COMBINING family fun with the chance to get your hands on some fabulous original artwork, artists in Weymouth and Portland are continuing their open studios event this weekend.

This is the third year that the Artwey collective has thrown wide its doors and invited the public in and there are a number of very interesting venues to explore.

A beach hut on Portland Bill, the Full Gamut coffeeshop in Chickerell Road and the porch of a family home are just some of the quirky places to visit.

This afternoon, you can expect to shake paws with a full-sized fabric tiger at Cat’s porch and garden in Lakeside Gardens.

Cat Owen is a textile and soft toy creator whose pieces have sold all over the world and today she is displaying her huge collection of cuddly toys and fabric designs, while someone wearing one of her tiger suits will be entertaining children in the garden.

You also have the chance to try your hand at rock carving at the Beach hut Studios at Portland Bill, where Sarah Gilpin and Wendy Manning will be displaying their work.

There are 19 galleries and exhibition spaces for you to choose from across the borough.

Artwey Open Studios came about as a result of Dorset Art Weeks, the county-wide event that takes place every two years.

Potter Bill Crumbleholme explained: “We all enjoy the art weeks so much, and the public gets so much out of it too, that it seemed a shame to only hold it every other year, so Artwey decided to do its own thing.”

For further details visit artwey.co.uk