Painting the town alive with Swindon Open Studios' biggest creative takeover yet

By Swindon Link - 24 July 2018

Arts and CultureCommunity

Swindon Open Studios are preparing for the biggest event of their cultural calendar as artists get ready to takeover the town.

More than 100 Swindon-based artists will be welcoming you as they throw open their doors at 67 studios and pop-up galleries across Swindon.

For the last two weekends of September (22 to 23 September and 29 and 30 September) the much-loved Swindon Open Studio community art event will be returning this year.

With a record number of locations listed for 2018, the event is preparing to wow its Swindon audience through various mediums of art. Artists will showcase inspirational artwork from ceramics and glass, to jewellery, photography, textiles, printmaking, painting and sculpture. From amateur artists to professional, traditional to cutting edge and contemporary, this year’s Swindon artist listing has something to inspire all sensibilities.

Swindon Open Studios is a unique opportunity to meet local artists and see where the artistic process happens. In most studios art of some form will be available for purchase.   Art lovers who visit the most Open Studios locations in and around Swindon will also have the chance to enter a free prize draw.

A sample of artists work will be on show during the month of September in many business windows throughout Swindon, including John Lewis, Deacons and Darkroom Espresso as part of our preview.

For more updates and the full list of participating artists visit www.swindonopenstudios.org.  Follow us on Twitter @swindonopen and SwindonOpenStudios on Instagram and Facebook where we post daily introductions to our artists. This year the event is being sponsored by Waddell Digital Ltd.

There will be an official launch party which the Mayor of Swindon will attend on Friday 14th September at the Central Community Centre – tickets will be available for this at Event Brite please check the website. The High Sheriff of Wiltshire is also set to visit artists in their studios this year.

Individual artists and collaborative studios are set to open this year all over Swindon, including Stanton Park's Every Cloud Arts and Crafts, Artsite Ltd, Acorn Arts, Urban Sketchers and Great Western Embroiderers.

Artists include...

Ruth Pike: ceramist

Ruth had a childhood exploring the amazing rugged hills and waterfalls of the Peak and Lake Districts. From this she made many mud pies and found ways to make things out of nothing! These early influences continue today, blended with a keen interest in upcycling.  The weathered effects that the elements have on man-made objects are regularly featured in her work; rust, peeling paint etc. suggesting a story of a life well lived.

Having recently completed a 3D Design course at Swindon College, Ruth has produced work influenced by Japanese philosophy; ideas about beauty in imperfection and things that happen by chance.  Already she has work on show at the Whyberd Gallery in Somerset.  She is participating in Swindon Open Studios for the first time and excited by the new opportunity.

Studio: 156 Moredon Road, Moredon, Swindon SN25 3EP

www.facebook.com/RusticEarthcouk/

Rhianon G Beardsall: Mosaic artist and painter

Rhianon has painted for a long time but in more recent years has found the mosaic process intriguing.  Her work often depicts nature in a free and abstract way. Though working mainly in her studio, her inspiration is born in nature, walking the Ridgeway and the Wiltshire Downs.

She makes her best art when working instinctively, slowly building up a picture to create the final piece. Rhianon’s work is experimental and often trying a new technique leads to unexpected results.  The piecemeal nature of mosaic, like collage, means that small discarded items become something beautiful in a new form.

Studio: 14 Falklands Road, Alexandra Park, Wroughton, Swindon SN4 0TH

https://rgbeardsall.wixsite.com/website

Lorraine Green: Watercolour artist

Lorraine Green art work - Nosey Cow

Lorraine’s love of the nature around her is central to her work. With the rolling hills of Wiltshire and the picturesque Cotswolds on her doorstep, there is no shortage of inspiration for her.  The farm animals she paints have a unique personality and beauty that she captures perfectly in her animal portraits.  She uses watercolour to enable a subtle approach to build up gradually.

Her picture 'Nosey Cow' featured in the Open Studios brochure has attracted many positive comments.  If you visit her studio you’ll see a whole farmyard of these paintings! She also has other projects on the go, started during her recent M.A. course in Fine Art Drawing.  

Studio: 12 Churchway, Blunsdon, Swindon SN26 7DG

www.lorrainegreenartist.com

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