MANCHESTER.- Buy Art Fair returns on 26-29 September. From over 70 galleries and 500 artists, we've picked the best and most interesting pieces ahead of the Fair's launch on 26 September in Spinningfields, Manchester.

Supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, Buy Art Fair famously offers original work from £50 up to £5000+ and creates new art audiences and collectors across the UK, as well as attracting seasoned experts to add to their collection. Buy Art Fair is free to enter and offers talks and workshops as well as the art for sale.

Popular galleries such as Hepplestone Fine Art, Art Dog London and Atelier Rose and Gray will return to exhibit paintings, sculptures, photography and mixed media works to an expected audience of 7,500.

Pick of the pics:

The Editors
Charles Emerson's work was projected across huge screens during The Editors Glastonbury gig this year, and his artwork also features on the cover for their "The Weight of Your Love" album. The Editors commented "The management and band have a clear idea of what we want from LP covers. We love them and want people to love them too. Charles mixes photography and paint and we loved the depth of the series that he had produced straight away, it resonated with the album title, ‘The Weight Of Your Love’. " The work chosen for the album, released on July 1, is part of the flower series produced by Emerson in 2011, which “draws on the composition and lighting values of still life paintings”. Emerson added “I’m really pleased with the design of the finished album and am of course hugely excited to be working with such an established and respected band." Emerson's work is represented by Antlers Gallery.

Famous names
Of course there are also the familiar leading art names. Work from Damien Hirst, Gary Hulme (currently enjoying an exhibition at the Tate) and Norman Ackroyd (recent subject of a TV documentary) will all be available at Buy Art Fair. Street art features strongly this year too with work from Banksy, Dolk, Mr Brainwash and Pure Evil, from Art Republic Gallery. Hirst, Hulme and Ackroyd's work is represented by Atelier Rose and Gray.

Breaking glass
Steve Yeates produces haunting sculptures. Angeline is a reclining nude constructed from the shattered glass of vandalised London bus shelters. Steve comments, "My work explores the emotional repercussions on the soul of any individual of any emotional or physical act whether it be positive or negative." Steve Yeates exhibits his work across England and has numerous works in private collections.

Knitting pretty
Well, crochet actually. Claudia Elliott's work is beautifully detailed, and at first glance delicate, until you realise it's crocheted steel and copper. Claudia re-examines crocheting and, with her choice of material creates pieces, shows the old in a refreshing new way. Claudia's work is represented by Siott Gallery.

Mekon
Jon Langford, a Welsh born artist and musician, relocated to Chicago in 1992. He has a degree in fine art from the University of Leeds where in great British art school tradition he downed brushes to co-found that seminal punk rock band, The Mekons in 1977, a band which Lester Bangs called "the most revolutionary group in the history of rock n’ roll" . Jon is a prolific and respected visual artist best known for his striking portraits of country music icons. These multi-layered paintings take imagery from old country music publicity photos and sheet music and envelope them in a haze of ironic nostalgia. His paintings appear on bottles and other items for the Dogfish Head Brewery and he illustrated the comic strip Great Pop Things under the pseudonym Chuck Death. Jon's work is represented by Art Dog London.

Artist in residence
Visitors to Buy Art Fair will also be able to see an artist in residence. Kris Hardy will be painting during the fair on Friday 27 September between 2 and 4pm Kris will be painting a cityscape which will be available to buy from the Fair upon completion. Kris trained in automobile design before attending RCA and worked as a designer for Lotus cars, however has concentrated exclusively on painting since 2003. Kris Hardy is represented by Art2Arts.

What else you'll find
A tours programme hosted by curators from Manchester Art Galleries and Contemporary Art Society and will give visitors an in-depth look at works by selected artists and an opportunity to hear about their influences and professional journeys as well as highlighting ones to watch. Partnerships with Living Ventures’ new Spinningfields kitchen & bar, Artisan (opening this summer) and live music venue, Matt & Phred’s, will provide art fans with entertainment and food & drinks during the course of the event.