The biennial event from July 5 to 20 was started in 2000 and is open to all artists living and working in the county.

It is a celebration of the visual arts and crafts and has grown since its inception from a handful of exhibitions and open studios to incorporate hundreds of pieces of work.

Last year the event’s organiser Warwickshire County Council announced it would no longer be running it.

But luckily, a group of seven artists volunteered to keep it going and have been hard at work to make sure it gets underway. They have also produced 20,000 booklets detailing the events during the week.

Group chairman Bryan Sapwell said: “The county council called a couple of meetings last summer and told us we could organise it ourselves or it wouldn’t happen. It came as a bit of a shock, but seven artists said they didn’t want it to fold and took it on.”

The group has managed to secure sponsorship from Chiltern Railways.

And the booklets, which cost around £10,000 to produce, were paid for by the artists featured and with funds from the county council and Warwick, Stratford and Rugby district councils.

Mr Sapwell added: “I can understand why the county council did it with finances as they are. It did not totally shut the door on us and the county arts officer was helpful in pointing us in the right direction.

“It has been a monumental task, but we are there now and full of confidence. Everything for the booklets is at the printers and we are almost on budget. The event is a celebration of artists and makers of all kinds and their work.”

During the week artists will promote their work through galleries, open studios, exhibitions, workshops and demonstrations.

There will be an exhibition at Warwick Museum in Market Hall and artists’ work will be on a video loop in the foyer of Leamington library.

www.warwickshireartists.co.uk