The Grapevine Late Summer 2019 Grapevine Aug-Sep 2019 v2 | Page 17

Open doors
to original art
o behind normally closed
G
doors, see the inside of artists’
studios and talk to them about
how they make their work, as
Worcestershire Open Studios
returns this bank holiday
weekend.
The August bank holiday weekend
from 23 to 26 August sees the return
of Worcestershire’s largest free art
event at over 80 locations around the
county.
Worcestershire Open Studios, now
in its fifth year, is an artist-led
initiative that offers art adventurers
the chance to speak to local artists
and see where they create their work.
Over 180 artists are taking part and
will be inviting visitors into their
home studios, shared spaces and
galleries.
Sally Morgan, one of the event’s
organisers and a participating artist,
said, “Worcestershire Open Studios
is such a fun-filled way to spend a
bank holiday weekend. We’ve got
more artists than ever taking part, so
whether you’re an art lover, a crafter,
a budding young artist or have never
set foot inside an art gallery, you’ll
definitely find something to interest
you!”
Alongside fine art and abstract
painters, visitors can discover art
forms as diverse as glass fusing,
printmaking on vintage machinery,
handloom weaving, illuminated
calligraphy, green woodworking,
textile art and ceramics. Entry to all
venues is free and some artists will
also be offering visitors the
opportunity to watch
demonstrations and have a go at
their art form.
Worcestershire Open Studios is also
the perfect opportunity to start your
Christmas shopping early or to pick
up unique, locally-made art for your
home, as most artists will be offering
work for sale.
Take a scenic drive through some of
the more rural parts of
Worcestershire or plan a walking
route around the artistic hubs of
The Grapevine

Anna Cummings painting in her Colwall studio
The glass artistry of
Wendy Stafford in Offenham
Photos by Lewis Membery
Worcester and Malvern. Wherever
you choose to go, you are guaranteed
a very warm welcome and the
opportunity to talk to artists and
makers about their techniques and
materials.
A full list of participating artists and
an interactive map showing their
locations can we found at
www.worcestershireopenstudios.org
and in guides available in libraries,
tourist information centres and other
locations near you from July.
Worcestershire Open Studios is a not
for profit organisation run by a group
of artists who want to connect the
region with local arts. The event was
highly commended in the Visit
Worcestershire Awards of Excellence
2018 and is sponsored by the
Malvern School of Art and Bevere
Gallery.
Quotes from participating artists
Anna Cummings, an oil painter from
Colwall, said, “This will be my third
year taking part. The first year I set up
and thought no-one will come, and
then I saw two pairs of feet coming
down our steep drive and started to
relax a bit! Some people chat, some
buy, everyone is interested and in all
it’s a fun, uplifting weekend.”
Wendy Stafford, a glass artist
working out of her home studio in
Offenham, said, “I love taking part in
Worcestershire Open Studios, it
gives the public an opportunity to see
art in a different way. They can meet
and talk to the artist in a relaxed
setting. For myself I love meeting
new and old customers and showing
the flowers in their natural settings.”
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