Artists all over Kerikeri threw open their doors during Labour weekend, offering art lovers a rare chance to see artists at work in their own studios and buy directly from the creators.
The sixth annual Kerikeri Open Art Studios Art Trail (Koast) featured 63 artists working in glass, painting, photography, fibre, wood, sculpture, leather, jewellery, copper and even kaleidoscopes.
While most stops along the trail were at home studios, a few were in collective hubs including one, at Kingston House, for guest artists from outside Kerikeri.
Koast chairman Jonathan Foley, who sculpts in Carrara marble, said visitor numbers were up about 50 per cent on the previous year, boosted by a publicity drive in Whangārei and Auckland.
"On Saturday the town was alive with people driving around looking for art. It's been way busier than last year with a lot more informed art lovers.''
