TAKE a peek behind the scenes as York artists open up their studios for a second weekend.
Nearly 100 artists and craftspeople are opening up their studios, so you can enjoy workshops hosted by painters, potters, sculptors, jewellers and other artists while following the trail of studios in and around the city.
There are more than 70 venues to choose from this year, offering a chance to discover art in a range of spaces rarely open to the public, ranging from town houses and cottage workshops to adapted garden sheds and historic buildings, such as the York Cemetery Chapel and Nether Poppleton’s Tithe Barn, as well as community spaces.
Event chairman Anne Hutchison says: “This year we're delighted to welcome more than a third of new artists to York Open Studios, including a selection of makers based at the York School of Jewellery.
"Pop into studios, have a chat and perhaps a cup of tea with the artists and uncover the stories behind their work. You could even find yourself travelling home with a stunning new artwork.”
Sudeshna Chattopadhyay
In Hansom Place, Sudeshna Chattopadhyay's figurative paintings, drawings and prints feel to her "like pages in her diary", through which she negotiates and explores everyday feelings associated with the experiences of relationships. She does this by using acrylics, oils and graphite, working in a playful way to create interesting surfaces on her work.
Among the ceramicists is Peter Humpherson, who was pictured at his wheel on the front of last Thursday's What's On supplement in The Press. From his studio in York Road, Haxby, he produces hand-thrown pots in stoneware for use in the home.
A keen walker around the woodlands, moors and shores of remote parts of Scotland, Peter finds many natural reference points of textures and colours for his work.
Printmakers include Steve Bowen, whose letter press prints, at York Letterpress, Vicoria Farm Estate, bring the history of Rowntree chocolate-making alive anew.
Gerard Hobson, at Water Lane, Clifton, is exhibiting limited-edition hand-coloured lino prints of birds and animals and will be demonstrating his skills on Sunday afternoon.
June Hardy's artwork
June Hardy's artistry span mixed media, painting and printmaking, with a love of gouache and acrylic, on show at The Tithe Barn, Church Lane, Nether Poppleton.
"Paring down, simplifying, looking for shapes and lines to reconstruct and intensify is the essence of my work," she says.
"My paintings have a strong design influence as I like to focus on structure and the simplicity of shape within landscapes. Two projects: fishing boats on the east coast and trees in my locality have provided inspiration for artworks."
Reclaimed glassmaker Suzanne Decker
Suzanne Dekker, a glassmaker at Eastfield Crescent, Badger Hill, is inspired by nature and most of her work is made from reclaimed window glass, using a wide range of techniques. "Giving the material a new lease of life as a unique piece is central to my practice," she says.
Wood carver Graham Gamble’s countryside-inspired carved reliefs, at See Stalker's Lodge, Acaster Malbis, draw on skills gained from a lifetime of restoring sculptural carvings in stately homes.
New artists include Lu Mason, at East Parade, whose graceful hanging mobiles in paper and perspex feature motifs from architecture, flora and fauna and play on shapes and shadows. She also makes perspex brooches.
Fellow Open Studios debutant Alun Kirby, at Grange Garth, specialises in analogue and cameraless photography, including hand-printed black and whire prints and cyanotypes that explore natural forms.
York View, by David Patrick
Open Studios stalwart David Patrick's landscape and cityscape drawings and paintings of York are on show at his studio in Penley's Grove Street.
Harriet McKenzie, In Shipton Street, focuses on drawing, ceramics and painting and has exhibited widely, both solo and in group shows since graduating from Bradford School of Art with First Class Honours.
Her latest series of ceramic work, Time Beings, is influenced by her ideas on identity and belonging, which also relates strongly to her work for City of York Council as a foster carer.
Harriet McKenzie's Time Beings
"Time Beings are beautiful, unique handmade ceramic objects decorated with images that record memorable events and personal thoughts, capturing ‘moments in time’ forever," Harriet explains.
At the York School of Jewellery, at Hospital Fields Road, you can see the unique creations of four designer makers, all taking part for the first time.
Weekend Two of York Open Studios takes place on Saturday, from 10am to 6pm, and Sunday, from 11am to 5pm.
For full details and maps of all the studios, visit yorkopenstudios.co.uk and for a free copy of the event programme register online or email info@yorkopenstudios.co.uk
Look out for the York Open Studios placed outside each location and make sure you carry the tear-out map from the back of the programme to plan your route.
* Meanwhile, the York Open Studios taster exhibition continues to run at Blossom Street Gallery, Blossom Street, with a selection of work by plenty of the participating artists.
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