In the 17th and 18th Centuries, young ladies and gentlemen would set off on once-in-a-lifetime grand tours of Europe to expand their cultural experiences. But if you prefer to get your fix of art and culture a bit closer to home and more conveniently, and once every year, then the Herts Open Studios 2014 are, quite literally, right up your street.

“Herts Open Studios 2014 has 154 artists exhibiting in 94 exhibitions across Hertfordshire,“ says Open Studios project manager Linda Warminger. “There’s a mix of regular exhibitors and news artists and craftmakers, all showing their latest pieces, and keen for you to see what they’re doing.“ This annual autumn show, organised by Herts Visual Arts, takes place in artists’ studios and homes all across the country, and there are plenty of places for you to meet them and browse their work here in Watford.

Visit the Oxhey Road Studio to see Gerry Langton’s delicate and sensitively observed figurative drawings and paintings in pastel and acrylic.

If you are looking for fresh, well executed watercolours then visit Anthony Wildig to see his emotive landscapes and distinctive architectural studies.

For something exuberant then visit Graham Boyd who creates wildly colourful and textural abstract paintings – uplifting for the soul or a tired interior.

At Vivo Art you can find Karen Pollak who creates a wonderful variety of work in clay – from useful household pieces to whimsical and abstract ornaments. Sarah How at the same studio displays evocative semi-abstract works in mixed media, plus folios, delicate mini-paintings and cards.

There are many more talented artists on show in the area and just beyond our doorstep, so why not make a day of it and do a little Grand Tour of your own? Just pick up a brochure and get planning your route.

  • Herts Open Studios takes place at various venues across Hertfordshire from Saturday, September 6 to Sunday, September 28. Details: 07813 100651, hvaf.org.uk, openstudios@hvaf.org.uk