The quaint, higgledy piggledy houses of Staithes are about to play host to a record-breaking 145 artists

THE Staithes Arts and Heritage Festival is in its fourth year and the line-up is bigger than ever on September 12 and 13 when the historic fishing village becomes one huge art gallery, with local and national artists exhibiting in the quaint, higgledy piggledy houses – this year, a record-breaking 145 artists in 90 "galleries" over two days.

Among new attractions this year is a night-time Illumination Trail, giant sculptures in willow and an internationally renowned costume designer. Visitors to the two-day festival will be able to buy art direct from the artists in Staithes’ historic cottages while being entertained by buskers on every corner and enjoying some great street food.

There are practical artist workshops, guided walks and fascinating talks, including a session with Tim Birkhead, author of The Wisdom of Birds who has spent the past 40 years studying the seabirds of the British Isles. Durham-based light artist Mick Stephenson will be illuminating the village in a unique and eye-catching way – look out for a giant deckchair by the harbour, a rather unusual Reliant Robin and some strange cobles on the water.

Find Whitby sculptor Emma Stothard’s wonderful wire and willow animals dotted around the village – the kids will love spotting them. Her work is featured nationwide, in locations as grand as Prince Charles’ Highgrove, Le Manoir aux Quait' Saisons and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show – and now Staithes. Fine artist Sue Wilmington’s work has taken her all over the world; she’s designed costumes for La Boheme, The Pilgrims’s Progress and A Midsummer Nights Dream, and she’s bringing her exquisite drawings to the amazing Bethel Chapel. She’s currently working on a new production of Tristan and Isolde for Germany and a dance piece for China – so it’s a coup for Staithes to have her.

There’s a special exhibition in St Peter’s Centre called Staithes At War recalling U-Boat escapades, German spies, life in the air raid shelters and the tragic sinking of the SS Empire Heath with the loss of eight Staithes men. Other guest speakers include Roger Osborne, author of the Dinosaur Coast and Curator of Geology at Whitby Museum, who will bring alive the extraordinary fossil and mineral heritage of the Yorkshire coastline; Barbara Morden, author of an acclaimed new biography of Dame Laura Knight, the most celebrated of the

famous Staithes Group of painters; and Christine Pybus celebrates a great Staithes born artist, George Weatherill, "the Turner of the North".

Tom and Rosamund Jordan have been dealers and specialists in the Staithes Group of artists for many years. As well as exhibiting, Ros will give a well illustrated talk on the group on both days of the festival.

Gather at Kipper's Corner for the outdoor picture show on Saturday night – it’s become a festival favourite, with old photos and film projected onto the wall to live piano accompaniment – it’s a real Cinema Paradiso.

One of the highlights in previous years has been Rod Jewell’s superb collection of Victorian lantern slides of Staithes and Runswick Bay taken by William Gilbert Foster RBA (1855-1906). The collection was found by Rod a few years ago in a garage lock-up in the midlands. Until then they had remained unseen for over 100 years. Rod will once again be holding a selling exhibition of his lantern slides and prints.

Local historian Bill Hinchley will be leading walks around Staithes, pointing out its secret corners alongside tales of smugglers and murder. And tales of the sea will come from lifelong Staithes fisherman John Cole as he demonstrates the art of making lobster pots.

The food and drink offerings will come not only from Staithes’ wealth of local pubs and cafés, but from local pop-up tea rooms. Jane Gjertson from the Ship Inn at Port Mulgrave will be running a vintage tea room from her cottage in Gun Gutter while gingerbread artist Liz Druce will be serving sweet and savoury delights from her vintage VW campervan, Bella, and Ted Gush will be returning with his fabulous herring pies.

Throughout the weekend there will be a vibrant musical programme of bands, buskers, and choirs. The Staithes Festival website staithesfestival.com and Facebook page has details of exhibiting artists and the weekend programme of events as they develop. The Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage is being supported by the Coastal Communities fund as part of the Sea Life, See Life project delivered by the North York Moors National Park Authority.

The Coastal Communities Fund is funded by the Government, with income from the Crown Estate’s marine assets. It is delivered by the Big Lottery Fund on behalf of UK Government and the Devolved Administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.