Forty artists around the Mercury Bay area from Matarangi to Tairua are busy finishing work, preparing their studios and getting ready to welcome visitors to their studios over the next two weekends.

The annual Mercury Bay Art Escape Open Studios is an opportunity for visitors to see the artists' creative space, view new work, chat to the artists and purchase work.

Media to view include painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography, drawing, jewellery, mosaics, stained and fused glass, silk painting, art books and botanical inks, so there is something for everyone.

All studios will be marked with a bright blue Art Escape flag and visitors can collect an Art Guide at any Information Centre with members' details and maps or view on the new website while planning a trip around the peninsula including the great cafes, breweries, scenery and hospitality.

Caption: Mercury Bay Art Escape Open Studios. Photo: Supplied.

Dave Fowell's Whitianga studio includes a sculpture garden with over 20 sculptures. His studio has more than 150 paintings, including his 100-day portrait project, and visitors are invited to partake in tea and Greek coffee and delicious home baking. Marion Manson of Cooks Beach will be demonstrating the magic of Botanical Inks at her studio at 28 Riverview Drive.

Timing a visit to Kaimarama Potter Claire Bryers studio on Saturday 4 at 11am means seeing a kiln opening and she will be demonstrating each weekend 12-2pm.

Whenuakite potter Alan Rhodes will be busy on the pottery wheel both weekends.

It's recommended to allow extra time on the visit to Warwick Lidgards' Rings Beach Studio to enjoy a stroll around his studio garden and orchard including a very large pohutukawa tree.

Due to the cyclone damage on the Blackjack Road, Opito artist Gaylene Lonergan's studio at 11 Ohinau Drive is only open to people in Opito and Otama. More of her stunning paintings on silk will be displayed in Hahei at Jane Parson's Gallery, 49 Sarahs Hill.

Marion Manson's studio table. Photo: Supplied.

Michael Smithers exhibition will now be at Whitianga Waterways Office, 101 Joan Gaskell Drive, Whitianga. Vanessa MacKay's Coroglen studio will not be open but some of her work will be at Sally Samins, Hot Water Beach Studio.

At Hot Waves café, Hot Water Beach there will be the Showcase exhibition to see that includes one work from each member. It is a great starting point for the studio visits. The public can vote for their favourite work and the artist with the most votes receiving the coveted People's Choice Award sponsored by Kaizen at Go Vino, Cooks Beach.

A popular event is Artist in Residence between the Open Studio weekends. This will be held again at Hot Waves Café March 7-10 from 9am - 4pm and people can pop in to see artists working in their medium and have a chat.

The Mercury Bay Art Escape Open Studios runs on both weekends March 4-5 and 11-12, 10am – 4pm.

For updates see www.mercurybayartescape.com