Over 150 artists across North Yorkshire will soon be throwing open their studios in the latest version of this much-loved annual celebration of the visual arts. The dates to remember are June 1 & 2 and 8 & 9 (10am – 5pm).
North Yorkshire Open Studios (NYOS) is an artist-led organisation covering North Yorkshire, York and the historic Riding of North Yorkshire and has been growing in reach and popularity for almost twenty years. All artists are selected by independent curators.
As we are such a large county, NYOS is split into three areas: Dales, Central and Moors & Coast. It includes artists and makers working across a range of different disciplines including painting, printmaking, ceramics, woodwork, glass, jewellery, photography, sculpture, textiles, mixed media and more.
You don’t have to travel very far to discover a wide range of art and studio experiences – there are a wealth of gifted artists in our immediate area, including Frank Gordon (Giggleswick), Terry Hird (Burton-in-Lonsdale), Tony Roberts (High Bentham), Hester Cox and Penny Hunt (Horton-in-Ribblesdale), Judy Metcalfe (Bell Busk), Annie Farrer (Clapham) and Katharine Holmes (Malham). All different but all with one thing in common: a commitment to producing work of the highest quality.
This is a rare opportunity to see artists and makers in their natural habitat of studio practice, hidden away from the often sanitised showplaces of gallery and museum. And of course, there’s the chance to buy work straight from the easel – mind the wet paint!
For full details of all artists and their work visit https://nyos.org.uk/summer-open-studios/.
If you can’t make it to a studio, most artists would be happy to arrange a visit at a time that suits you both. You can find an artist’s contact details on their profile page on the website or in the NYOS brochure. Most artists also have their own websites with more details about how to contact them or other events in which they are taking part.
Image: Stainforth Force, winter morning – Frank Gordon