AS many as 100 artists and craftsmen will be opening up their studios over two April weekends for the annual York Open Studios.
This is a chance to take a peek behind the scenes at the workshops of painters, potters, sculptors and jewellers, while tracking down studios across the city at this free event.
The Open Studios will take place from April 21 to 23 and April 29 to 30, but first comes a free taster weekend in a preview exhibition at the Stained Glass Centre, St Martin-cum-Gregory Church, Micklegate, on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. This launch event will feature work by all the artists selected for the two weekends, in order to provide a full flavour of the variety in store.
Full details of the participating artists and their locations for later this month can be found at yorkopenstudios.co.uk, as well as in the event programme available around the city.
York Open Studios offers the opportunity to see art and crafts in the places where they are made, places that are rarely open to the public, from town houses and cottage workshops to rustic garden sheds. In all of them, makers will be ready to demonstrate their work.
Storm Moving In From The East, by York Open Studios artist Robin Grover Jacques
Returning to the Open Studios, after holding a fringe event instead at their home in The Mount last year, will be Emily Sutton, with her exquisite watercolours of shopfronts and interiors, and Mark Hearld, with his exuberant collages and screenprints of flora and fauna.
Printmakers will include Alan Coates, whose etchings are influenced by old, anonymous photographs; Sally Clarke, whose collagraphs reflect early English painting, and Gerard Hobson, a trained zoologist, whose love of nature dominates his lino prints.
Techniques on show will range from Rosie Scott-Massie’s papercuts of local landmarks to the stained glass art of Ann Sotheran. Among the jewellery designers working in a multitude of materials will be Charmian Ottaway, who favours high carat gold and precious stones; Nicola Bloom, who creates bubbleglass earrings, and Ruth Claydon, who specialises in recycled Bo Jangles Bangles, designed for fidgets and dancers.
Ceramic lovers will be spoilt for choice this year with renowned studio potters Ruth King, Loretta Braganza and Ben Arnup all opening up their spaces, as well as emerging talents being given the chance to catch the eye.
York Open Studios’ new chairman, Beccy Ridsdel, says: “We’re very lucky to live in such a vibrant, creative city with so many wonderful artists and craftspeople. We’re really excited, pleased and proud to have over 100 of them exhibiting.”
York Open Studios will takes place on April 21 to 23 and 29 to 30; studios will be open on the Friday from 6pm to 9pm; Saturdays, 10am to 6pm; Sundays, 11am to 5pm. For full details and maps of all the studios, visit yorkopenstudios.co.uk; for a free copy of the event programme, register online or email info@yorkopenstudios.co.uk
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