AN "extraordinary" art festival will return this weekend, promising "remarkable and affordable" artwork.

Printfest will return to the Coronation Hall, Ulverston, after a year's absence.

Boasting an array of talented and unique artists and their work, the three-day festival will welcome artists to the town from across the UK and abroad.

Sally Bamber, chairwoman of Printfest, said: "It's a very exciting time for us as we prepare to bring it back.

"Printmaking is truly extraordinary. It's a very diplomatic way of sharing views and creations.

"They all do an edition run of their work and, by doing that, it brings lots of affordable, brilliant art to everyday people to hang on their walls."

Mrs Bamber promised an array of stunning artwork from the festival.

She said: "We have some really fantastic subject matters, from abstract art to landscapes and flowers. Some of it is really quite remarkable."

Mrs Bamber says the artists have to completely immerse themselves in their creations.

She said: "It's a bit like looking at the world back to front.

"You have to design it backwards for it to get printed the right way, so they have this amazing perspective and way of looking at the world.

"There's a lot of different methods our artists use, from etching and woodcuts to screen printing, so there's a massive choice of techniques available to our artists."

The event is set to welcome more than 50 artists to the town to showcase their work, with a host of local talent involved.

The list includes three members of the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers.

Northern-based charity New Light will also be attending with a stand to promote northern artists.

Mrs Bamber said: "The artists are coming from all over the country and beyond.

"We've got someone from Amsterdam, Belfast, Scotland and Wales to name a few, and there's a good number of local artists which is always important.

"Around half of them are returning to Printfest, but we've got a lot of newcomers making their first appearance here.”

The festival was first set up in 2001 by print-making artists Judy Evans and Ronkey Bullard, along with Chris Benefield, who owned The Tinners' Rabbit in Market Street, Ulverston.

It will begin with the award sponsors choosing their winners tomorrow, before a two-hour private viewing, including a welcome talk by patron Tim Robertson.

Doors open to the public from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, with guests asked to nominate their favourite for the Visitors' Choice Award to be presented on Sunday afternoon.