Hundreds of Cornish creatives will throw open the doors of their studios and workshops to showcase their skills and share their stories through Open Studios Cornwall from next weekend.
Distinctive signs featuring an orange letter O denote these spaces, from Lamorna to Looe and Mullion to Menheniot, open from Saturday, May 25 to Sunday, June 2.
In Edwardian terraces, Georgian summerhouses and Victorian shops; potting sheds, fish cellars and milking barns, Open Studios Cornwall shines a spotlight on the creative talents and unique perspectives of painters, potters, printmakers, photographers, jewellers, woodturners and weavers.
Melanie Chadwick, drawing and illustration at St Martin (Image: Melanie Chadwick)
This year, several creative clusters have emerged – in Trew, Trewidden, St Agnes, Falmouth and the environs of the Helford River – energised by a spirit of community and collaboration.
Open Studios Cornwall also offers one of two annual opportunities to gain behind-the-scenes access to many of the artists’ studios at Krowji in Redruth, which are usually closed to the public.
From Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints and Korean tea bowls to 19th century wet plate collodion photography and heritage dyeing techniques, ancient cultures merge with modern ideas.
Flora Forshall, printmaking in Falmouth (Image: Flora Forshall)
Wool, flax and woad; clay, wax and honeycomb; stones, fossils and bones; sepia ink and egg tempura; vintage linen and antique lace; spray paint and copper wire; foraged foliage and raw pigments are layered, stitched, spun, glazed, fired, carved and cast.
Sources of inspiration for the artists include the soft lines of sea-worn boulders and tidal patterns on the shoreline; the elemental drama of the coast and the timeless enchantment of valleys and lanes.
Sue Harding, painting and illustration at Phillack, Hayle (Image: Sue Harding)
There is also folklore and fable, and the realms of the subconscious to be explored.
A programme of pre-bookable workshops will encourage visitors to develop their own expertise in botanical painting, seaweed pressing or crafting for wellness.
Anthea Bowan, ceramics and pottery at Breage (Image: Anthea Bowen)
Project director Bethany Lyne said: “From contemporary realism and intuitive abstracts to hand-stitched adornments, surrealist mezzotints, decorative homewares, and so much more, Open Studios Cornwall celebrates the extraordinary diversity of Cornish creativity.
“Whether inspired by the county’s rugged natural beauty or underpinned by broader environmental and social concerns, eclectic styles and traditional crafts combine in this annual appreciation of Cornwall’s community of creatives, which enables us to highlight their artistry, hear their voices and purchase their work.”
Hazel McNab, mixed media and printmaking at Heamoor, Penzance (Image: Hazel McNab)
For all the latest information, visit www.openstudioscornwall.co.uk
How to search for artists and craftspeople to visit
Select the ‘Participants’ section of the website and the area of Cornwall that you would like to explore. You can either plan to visit a particular location and look up participants who are exhibiting in that area or visit a particular creative and find out who else is in their neighbourhood.
When you have curated your visit, look out for those distinctive orange Os that will guide you to the studios and workshops you have chosen.
Jon Doran, painting in Penryn (Image: Jon Doran)
You can bookmark openstudioscornwall.co.uk on your mobile and navigate with the help of Google Maps.
You can also follow Open Studios Cornwall on instagram.com/openstudioscornwall and X (Twitter) @OpenStudiosCorn, and like facebook.com/openstudioscornwall
