E H Gombrich wrote: ‘There really is no such thing as Art. There are only artists.’ You can chew over the meaning of that while you engage in one of the delights of the summer, the annual Open Studios weekends. A combination of map-reading, gorgeous scenery, art of all kinds and much good conversation, the two weekends let you have a good old nosey into artists’ studios.

You’ll find they’re not such a strange bunch of people (well, all right, some are quite nicely strange) who are eager to chat about their work and, who knows, give you some kind of insight into the working life of an artist.

The variety of work is one of the great attractions of the event, from painters like Clothylde Vergnes and Andrew Cheetham, who take landscape as their starting point, to those like Sally Gatie and Jehan who focus on the human; and then on to jewellers, glass-makers, potters, felt-makers, wood-turners and sculptors too numerous to mention by name. In a sense the medium is less important than the use made of it by the artist. One of the great delights of Open Studios is arriving somewhere new and not knowing quite what awaits you inside.

So, get out on the road, or have a good stroll around Scarborough, and give yourself a treat. Whiel we’re on strange quotes, L S Lowry is reputed to have said ‘All the art in the world isn’t worth a good potato pie.’ But ignore him and take some dosh along with you – most artists have inexpensive works you can pick up along the way.

Open Studios 2010: 11 to 13 June and 19 to 20 June