Artists open their studio doors

Local artists and craftspeople are about to open the doors to their studios so that visitors can see them in their working environment. It’s time for South East Open Studios, now in its 21^st year and a well-established highlight of the cultural calendar. Nick Terdre reports.

More than 250 artists and 148 studios will be participating in this year’s South East Open Studios, which runs from Friday 9 to Sunday 25 June across the whole of the south east.

It’s impossible to visit all the venues but it is worth taking a whole day, or several, to plot a route around some exciting studios, stopping along the way for lunch, the organisers recommend.

The artworks come in all sorts of media, including traditional oils and watercolours, ceramics, textiles, photography, fine metalwork, digital and mixed media, glassware, printmaking, textiles, sculpture, woodwork, jewellery and more.

Hastings area

In the Hastings area local artists taking part include Dominic Zwemmer in Hastings Old Town, who works in charcoal taking inspiration from wildlife and wild places. Based in Pett Level is Tim Riddihough, who will be showing his collection of sculptures, house installations, ceramics and paintings.

Anne and John North are to be found at East Guldeford near Rye. Anne works with glass, paint, canvas, paper, wood, metals, stain and print, while John is currently concentrating on abstract sculpture.

Up on The Ridge in Hastings is Julia Hilton, who makes jugs, mugs, teapots and bowls with glazes inspired by lichen covered tree bark. She has got together with several colleagues to present a show called Art in the Garden – a collaboration of four artists and a garden. They will hold a private viewing on Friday. Over the weekends of the open studio season each artist will also give a workshop – see details below.

Altogether 14 artists at nine studios are taking part across Hastings and Rye.

There is no pressure to buy works of art, but visitors will have the chance to meet, talk to and see the artists at work. You’re guaranteed a warm and friendly welcome – and it’s all completely free!

Permanent collaboration

In some cases working together on SEOS has led to a more permanent collaboration between artists. In Tonbridge, a collective of 18 artists have opened the ArtSpring gallery to showcase their work.

“South East Open Studios has been a wonderful way for local artists to meet each other as well as to see the work that talented people are producing throughout the region,” said glasswork artist Hildegard Pax, one of the moving forces behind this venture.

“We are delighted to have found a space on the high street where we can all display our work. ArtSpring is the only gallery in Tonbridge and the response from the local community has been very enthusiastic.”

 

South East Open Studios 2017 Across the south-east, Friday 9-Sunday 25 June, 10am-5pm seven days a week. Not all artists exhibit every day, so check the guidebook or visit the website for more information.

Full details – names of artists, contact details, travel directions and maps – can be found in a free guidebook available at local libraries, shops, galleries, tourist information sites and elsewhere; a PDF version can be downloaded from the website.

Visit the Facebook page or follow the event on Twitter at @SEOpenstudios.

The workshops arranged by Julia Hilton and her fellow-artists will cover ceramics (Julia), watercolours (Stephanie Fawbert), drawing in charcoal (Lucy Brennan-Shiel) and paint-making (Joanna Sheldon). For more information see Julia’s website or call (07714 443221) or email her ( juliahilton@clara.co.uk).

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