OPEN Culture is offering Christmas shoppers an alternative to the high street with its Winter Arts Market  at St George's Hall in Liverpool this weekend.

Liverpool’s largest arts and crafts market, it will take place in St George’s Hall and feature 120 stalls selling the work of 150 artists and designers.

Painter Jane Adams, from Aigburth, is among those taking part in the event. She has been involved in Open Culture art and craft fairs since 2008.

“That was around the time I was starting out with the idea and they were running smaller fairs so I feel as though I have grown with them,” she says.

Adams specialises in painting Liverpool architecture, which she began creating as gifts for friends who had a special connection with a certain building.

“I used to work for the council and I spent a lot of time walking around the city,” she explains.

“I started to notice all these beautiful buildings.

“A lot of people who buy the paintings chose them because of their memories of buildings. They’ll say ‘My father used to sit in that pub’ or ‘My dad used to collect his wages from there’.”

During the fair, there will also be a series of free concerts held in the former courtroom. Performers include the Liverpool Ukulele Orchestra, Showstoppers concert band and local choirs on Saturday, and Mike Badger, Nick Ellis, Laura James, and Mark Delane on Sunday.

Visitors are also invited to discover some fascinating facts about the Grade I-listed venue from roaming Dickensian characters brought to life by the Friends of St George’s Hall.

Meanwhile, theatre company Lormac Productions are bringing Queen Victoria and her royal entourage back to life to greet visitors in the Heritage Centre.

THE Winter Arts Market takes place at St George’s Hall on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets £1.50 (under-16s free). Further details at winterartsmarket.wordpress.com