THE artists for this year's Printfest have been selected, with 44 highly-regarded printmakers showing work at the major Cumbrian show.

Printmaker of the Year Gail Brodholt heads the line-up for the event at the Coronation Hall, in Ulverston, which runs from Thursday May 3 to Sunday 6.

The London-based artist, who uses the lino-cut technique to portray images of transport and travelling, was chosen through links with the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers.

Printfest chair Sally Bamber says: “One of the features we love about her work is the use of vibrant colour.”

Also showing will be this year’s Printmakers’ Printmaker, Georgina Bown, who was voted in by her peers in 2017.

Printfest, held annually in Ulverston, is dedicated to the exhibition and sale of contemporary hand-made prints and offers the opportunity for the best of the UK’s printmakers to gather under one roof, to share practice and learn from each other.

The weekend event offers visitors the chance to view and purchase art works, to meet the artists and to learn more about printmaking.

It attracted more than 1,700 visitors in 2017, when it returned after its first break in 16 years, with more than £57,000 worth of sales over the two days open to the public.

Printfest was founded in 2001 by print-making artists Judy Evans and Ronkey Bullard, with the help of Chris Benefield, who owned The Tinners’ Rabbit in Market Street, Ulverston.

The current team includes Judy, alongside Tina Balmer, Valerie Madden, Sally Bamber, treasurer Keith Bamber, and returning member Janet Benefield, the wife of the original chair, who sadly passed away in 2015.

They have been joined by Katie Edwards, from Newby Bridge, and winner of the Founders’ Award in 2017, and Alyson Dickson, who has been a visitor to Printfest almost every year since it began.

All sponsors of 2017’s awards have returned to support this year’s event, with two new sponsors bringing with them three new awards, making a record 12 awards in all.

Zillah Bell will be on the look-out for a winner for their award, Best Newcomer to Printfest, who will be offered an exhibition at their gallery in Thirsk, Yorkshire.

Visitors to Printest 2018 will be able to see Zillah Bell as they are taking a stand in the Ante Room at the Coro. They represent several previous Printfest Printmakers of the Year: Katherine Jones, Anja Percival and Jason Hicklin.

In the Foyer there will be Handprinted - the mobile printmakers shop run by printmaker and teacher Shirley Scott - and Hawthorn Printmaker Supplies are returning to the Supper Room with their family-run business manufacturing presses, rollers and inks.

The full line-up for Printfest 2018 is: Debby Akam, Sinclair Ashman, Jill Barneby, Jamie Barnes, Monique Borst, Laura Boswell, Ann Bridges, Stuart Brocklehurst, Cath Brooke, Adele Burdon, Sarah Cemmick, Henrietta Corbett, Hester Cox, Sarah de Feu, Cathy Duncan, Katie Edwards, Janis Goodman, Jason Hicklin, Sam Knowles, Marion Kuit, Suzie MacKenzie, Sarah Mander, Gail Mason, Flora McLachlan, Julian Milner, Martin Mitchell, Angie Mitchell, Stef Mitchell, Carol Nunan, Mark Pearce, Jane Peart, David Peduzzi, Neil Pittaway, Anthony Ratcliffe, Morna Rhys, Simon Ripley, Sarah Ross-Thompson, Sophie Schärer, Jay Seabrook, Rahil Sheikh, Kelly Stewart, Geri Waddington, Isobel Walker and Frans Wesselman.

The main Printfest show will be open to the public at the Coronation Hall on Saturday May 5 and Sunday 6.