CELEBRATING its seventh year, The Deepbridge Chester Arts Fair is taking place at Chester Racecourse this weekend.

From Friday, November 16 to Sunday, the North's largest artist art fair will have plenty in store for everyone with the arrival of more than 120 British and international artists showcasing more than 2,000 pieces of art, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photography and mixed media artwork.

Famous names selling work at this year's fair include Damien Hirst, Marc Chagall, Sir Peter Blake, David Hockney, Marc Quinn, and Tracey Emin.

These heavyweight names are joined by a host of leading Northern artists including Anne Sudworth, Angela Scott, Louise Morgan and Andy Dobbie.

Chester Arts Fair will offer a range of complementary activities for visitors to enjoy. Highlights include a full programme of live talks and demonstrations, plus a complimentary children's art area in partnership with the Cheshire Wildlife Wild Life Trust.

David Harper, BBC TV antiques presenter, will be hosting a charity art auction at the Fair, raising money for The Countess of Chester Hospital Charity.

Artists have donated generously with all proceeds directly going to the to The Memory Lane Project and include pieces from award-winning artists including Frances Ackland-Snow and Carne Griffiths.

Speaking on the event, Fair director Laura O'Hare said: "Our ambition is always to support and nurture a flourishing art market in Cheshire and across the North, and this year's fair has our largest line-up to date.

"More than half of those artists are set to bring pieces that have not been seen at any other fair, with many pieces created exclusively for sale in Chester. The Fair is creating a real is a real buzz and is proof that world class artists want to be part of this prosperous art scene in the North."

Parking is free to all CAF visitors at Chester Racecourse. A cafe serving hot and cold refreshments will be open all weekend and disabled facilities are available.

The Fair will open with a Charity VIP preview for the Countess of Chester Hospital. Over the weekend, the Fair is open Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am-5pm.

  • For more information and to pre-book tickets, visit www.chesterarts fair.co.uk.