THE festive season arrived early at Fire Station Creative as it opened its doors to the West Fife public.

The Dunfermline gallery's latest bi-annual Open Studios event took place at the weekend and more than 20 artists showed off their work.

It offered visitors a unique opportunity to take a look inside an artist's studio – as well as buy work directly from them – and organisers hailed the event a big success.

Claire Christie, whose 'Clarabella Christie' business was on show, co-ordinated the event and said: "We had lots of local people out supporting us and people from Edinburgh and the surrounding area, which was great.

"We had an artisan market this year; we want to mix it up for local people and the studios do change – there's always new artists and new work to show.

"Every time you come in you will see different work and people who have been coming from the beginning are able to see how artists have been developing.

"It was an opportunity to buy affordable work from local makers; it's a nice connection and for local people to see how many creative people there are here."

She added: "We're all independent businesses and our success is based on people who know us. I'd say around 50 per cent of people who came along had never been, and there's still people who live in Dunfermline who have never been in!

"We try to encourage people to come into Fire Station Creative and use the cafe. I think, along with the new museum, it adds a bit of vibrancy to the town.

"We had a great turnout, had some good feedback and we appreciate it immensely."

All studios at Fire Station Creative, whose next open studios event will be in June, are open by appointment, and details of the artists can be found within the cafe.