You wait all year for a major annual art event and then two come along on consecutive weekends: the London Bus phenomenon played out by art exhibitions.
My two biggest in-person art shows of the year are both coming up in the next few weeks. I will concede the timing could be better but the blame lies with the moveable feast of Easter and the fact that this year’s early May Bank Holiday weekend is actually in April. But it is what it is and who needs sleep anyway?
It would be wonderful if you were in either Yorkshire or Cumbria at the relevant times below and were able to come and say hello.
York Open Studios
15th-16th and 22nd-23rd April, 10am-5pm daily
Venue 45
Stoneflower Studio
25a Windmill Lane
York YO10 3LG
First up is York Open Studios. This huge event is bigger than ever this year; nearly 160 artists in over 100 different venues within 10 miles of the centre of York will open their doors and welcome visitors to see where it all happens. It is truly ‘open studios’ with artists required to show in their own home or studio, or sometimes to share the workspace of a friend who is also taking part, so visitors really get to the heart of how an artist’s work is created. No hired exhibition spaces allowed!
You might already know that I have been one of the volunteer organising committee since 2014 and ironically this means I don’t always exhibit myself because there is so much work involved. This year however is one of the years I am showing. My studio is Venue 45 (studios are numbered sequentially around the map to make it easier to find your way around) and I will be there 10am-5pm each day to show you where and how I work and of course offer you pieces currently for sale. Click the button below for full information about all the artists showing.
Printfest
29th and 30th April, 10am-5pm Saturday, 10am-4pm Sunday
The Coro
County Square
Ulverston LA12 7LZ
I got the news that I had been selected for the UK’s foremost artist-led print festival in the middle of a January night, while waiting by an airport baggage carousel. Dog tired and stressed (I don’t know about you but I find the anxious wait to see if my suitcase has made it by far the worst bit of flying), I thought I must have misread the email as I really couldn’t believe the selectors had picked ME. It has long been my dream to take part in Printfest, but competition for places is strong and includes internationally known and respected printmakers. There are only 42 spots available and this year there were more applications than ever, probably in part because this was the first opportunity to apply for three years after the 2020 event had been postponed twice, for obvious reasons.
So what this all means is that I am beyond thrilled to be taking part and am doing my best to suppress a tendency towards Imposter Syndrome. If you are in the area, do come and see me on my stand and reassure me I’m supposed to be there and it wasn’t an admin error.
As well as the exhibiting printmakers you will find workshops, talks, art supply stalls and CAKE. More information on the button below.
Shop closure AGAIN
Yes sorry - I know the online shop was closed just last week while I went gallivanting off to visit my small grandson in Canada, but I’m going to have to close it again while I’m taking part in York Open Studios and Printfest. It is the nature of my sort of printmaking (very small limited editions) that a print can sell out quickly and I can’t risk you buying something online that I’ve just that minute handed over to a show visitor. So if you can’t come to one of the shows and want to snap up something you’ve had your eye on, get in quick before 14th April. In May, once the dust has settled and I’ve done a stocktake, I’ll be adding some new work to the shop and some new greetings card designs too.
Latest work
If you read the last newsletter you will have seen this print develop in a short video. ‘Bluebell Path’, a spot of dapple scrumping in a limited edition of 9 prints, will be available at York Open Studios and Printfest, and then any remaining will be in my shop in May.
That’s all for now - thanks for reading and see you again soon.
Jane