Artists open doors to public for free across North Yorkshire

It’s not often art lovers get the chance to see artists at work inside their own studios often inside their own homes but that’s what’s happening across North Yorkshire this month.

Thanks to the Open Studios scheme, scores of artists of all styles will be throwing their doors open free over two weekends - June 6-7 and June 13-14 .

This popular, annual event puts the focus on artists in different styles and materials, including printmakers, hatmakers, woodcarvers and photographers, all keen to reveal the imagination and hard work behind each piece of art.

Event director Rick Faulkner of North Yorkshire-based Chrysalis Arts said: “North Yorkshire Open Studios offers so much more than a trip to a gallery. It’s a chance to talk to the artists, find out what makes them tick and learn about the techniques they use in their work.”

In Harrogate a mum and daughter team Steph and Charlotte Black will be inviting visitors to find out more about their ceramics and abstract paintings whilst Anna Whitehouse has created a new collection of exquisitely-detailed porcelain specimens especially for this year’s event.

On one street alone, West End Avenue, there’s a cluster of artists: Chris Moss who specialises in wire sculptures, Eric Moss who will be displaying his ceramics and Fiona Mazza and Hilary Holmes stained glass panels.

A feast of art is on offer at Pateley Bridge’s Old Workhouse Studio complex where the public can view Moxon and Simm’s jewellery inspired by their recent trips to Finland, Maureen Little’s paintings which are influenced by poetry and landscape and sculptor Annette Jeffery’s cloth figures.

The town’s Olley’s Ristorante will be giving a showcase to painter Sarah Garforth who will be showing her most recent work.

And many artists in the Ripon area are also taking place, inspired by the rural landscape.

At Artison in Masham see intriguing assemblages by Josie Beszant, landscapes by Ian Scott Massie and quirky ceramics by Charlotte Morrison which reflect her love of collecting vintage objects.

In nearby Mickley there will be mixed media artists Anna Poulton and Stuart Whitehead as well as mosaic artist Ruth Wilkinson.

Sowerby printmaker Andrew Dalton will be showing how his etching press operates in his newly built print studio, whilst just down the road Jane and Richard Burnley are opening up their home to display their paintings and furniture designs.

Rick Faulkner said: “Many of the artists featured in Open Studios draw their inspiration from their surroundings and there is a huge variety of studio locations to explore: from urban streets to cottages and smallholdings in the remote Moors and Dales.”