STEAMPUNK, Lego Minecraft and a top children’s book illustrator will all feature at Otley Courthouse during the half-term break.

Nick Sharratt, an award-winning author and illustrator, will lead a Big Draw Along on Thursday, February 19. The event, at 11am, is open to aspiring artists of all ages.

In anticipation of his visit, the venue will hold a drawing competition on Monday when children will be asked to draw and colour their favourite Nick Sharratt character.

Running from 10am to 5pm, the competition is free to enter and split into three age categories — two to four, five to seven, and eight to ten.

The winners, who will receive some Nick Sharratt themed prizes, will be picked by the illustrator himself on Thursday.

Storyteller Vickie Orton will also be in action on Monday when she recites tales of magic and mayhem before showing how to make a whole book from a single sheet of paper.

The family-focused event takes place from 10am to 11.30am.

A Steampunk craft workshop, meanwhile, will be held on Tuesday when Philomena Spector will demonstrate how to use all kinds of old materials to produce striking creations.

Aimed at anyone aged eight or over, the two hour event runs starts at 10am.

Hit animation The Lego Movie will round off the half-term fun at 2pm on Friday, February 20. It will be followed from 3.30pm to 4.30pm by a Lego Minecraft workshop, for anyone aged seven or older.

Top musical satirist Mitch Benn will share his unique and quirky take on life when he visits Otley this month.

The comedian, a regular presence — along with Harry Shearer — on BBC Radio 2 and Radio 4, will present Don’t Believe a Word at Otley Courthouse from 8pm on Friday, February 27.

The critically-acclaimed show is intended to prompt thought and laughter in equal amounts and will feature several songs.

The self-styled ‘37th Beatle’ will seek to debunk myths, ridicule nonsense and grapple with the very nature of knowledge itself.

Mitch himself sums up his position as: “I’m a sceptic. But don’t take my word for it. Or indeed anybody’s. For anything.” Tickets cost £12 or £10 in advance or £13 or £11 on the door.

In March, meanwhile, singer-songwriter Luke Daniels will showcase his new, critically acclaimed contemporary folk album, Here What’s Gone.

He will be accompanied by Julian Sutton — a long-time member of The Kathryn Tickell Band — on the melodeon, along with another former Kathryn Tickell Band member, Ian Stevenson.

The Luke Daniels Trio show is on Saturday, March 7 from 8pm. Tickets cost £12 or £10 in advance, or £12 or £11 on the night.

More live music is coming to the Courthouse on Saturday, March 14, when Unfurl play their distinctive mixture of jazz, Indian raga, flamenco and Arabian melodies.

Tickets cost £10 or £8 beforehand, or £13 or £11 on the door. Visit otleycourthouse.org.uk or call (01943) 467466 for more or tickets.