Robyn Rosen CROUCH End artists will be opening their homes to the public this weekend at the fifth annual Open Studios event. Sculptors, photographers and painters will be among those exhibiting works in their homes, studios and other venues all within w

Robyn Rosen

CROUCH End artists will be opening their homes to the public this weekend at the fifth annual Open Studios event.

Sculptors, photographers and painters will be among those exhibiting works in their homes, studios and other venues all within walking distance of the Clock Tower.

Kim Valdez, a sculptor from Sandringham Gardens, helped come up with the idea five years ago.

"Being an artist is very isolated so the idea was to form a group which could get to know and help each other," she said.

"There are a lot of artists in Crouch End and each year we offer something fresh and new."

One of the contributors, former Classic FM presenter Alan Wolfson turned to art in 2000 as an "outlet for creativity".

The 58-year-old now describes himself as a "painter, poet, public nuisance, self-appointed pencil sharpener of pointlessness" and will be opening his Barrington Road home to visitors.

"I've been doing the open studios since it started," he said.

"I thought it was a really good idea to see the art in the environment which the artist is working in. When I first opened up my home, it was a bit strange but now it's cosy and social."

Among his work is a huge painting of the Clock Tower rocketing off into the sky.

"I was so fed up with the pathetic decorations for Christmas each year that I thought it would be wonderful for something brilliant to happen instead," he added.

Suzie Zamit, 51, will display a collection from her wax and clay sculpture work at a studio in Park Avenue South.

"When you're always working on your own, it's nice to be part of a local community of artists," she said.

"It's good to get people's advice and puts me in touch with a bigger audience."

The Glasslyn Road resident turned to full time sculpting in 1999 after a career in film make-up and prosthetics.

"I never liked doing fashion make-up and got increasingly interested in more extreme things where I was making wounds or scars," she said.

"During some time off, I did a modelling class and after one session I was utterly addicted and decided to change careers.

"I really enjoy looking at people's faces, it's really fascinating.

"I find sculpting very therapeutic."

This year will also feature a new group show entitled, Twenty One, exhibiting the work of 21 local artists at the Original Gallery in Hornsey Library.

Haringey's culture boss, Cllr Dhiren Basu, said: "It shows how art can bring communities together and support local business, bringing thousands of people into Crouch End to enjoy the work and the great shops and restaurants in the area."

Crouch End Open Studios will take place between May 8 and 10. Twenty One will be displayed between May 7 and 11.

For more information and location details, visit www.crouch

endopenstudios.co.uk.