Cause UK specialise in supporting ethical businesses, good causes, festivals and the arts with award winning public relations services.
Each summer, the artists’ collective North Yorkshire Open Studios (NYOS), hosts the region’s biggest open studio event. This year, over 140 artists will open their doors to the public in…
Each summer, the artists’ collective North Yorkshire Open Studios (NYOS), hosts the region’s biggest open studio event.
This year, over 140 artists will open their doors to the public in June. And, for the first time, NYOS has teamed up with the North York Moors National Park to host a three-month long preview exhibition of the summer’s open studio event at the Inspired by… gallery at Danby Lodge National Park Centre, near Whitby.
The exhibition will showcase some of the artists who will be opening their studios and takes place from 11 February to 21 May 2023, along with special artist talks and demonstrations.
By Malcolm Barker
During the exhibition, visitors will be able to vote for their favourite two-dimensional and three-dimensional artists as part of an Audience Choice Award, sponsored by the Inspired by… gallery. The two winners will receive £200 towards furthering their art practice.
Sally Ann Smith, curator of the Inspired by… gallery at the Danby Lodge National Park Centre, said: “We are delighted to be involved for the first time and to have the opportunity to exhibit some of the most talented painters, printmakers, sculptors and designers in our region. This is such a fantastic opportunity for artists to showcase their work to new audiences, and for visitors to the Inspired by… gallery to immerse themselves in all the creativity and originality that North Yorkshire has to offer.”
The preview hopes to inspire more visitors to travel across the region to discover emerging and established artists.
The open studio event takes place across the first two weekends of June: 3-4 and 10-11 June, 2023. It stretches from the coast to the moors, dales, and beyond, as North Yorkshire’s artistic community invites the public to take a peek inside their studios.
It’s organised by the artist-run collective, North Yorkshire Open Studios (NYOS), a not-for-profit community that works to support the hundreds of painters, sculptors, print-makers, jewellers, ceramicists, photographers and creatives who live and work in North Yorkshire.
Garth Bayley, Project Manager for NYOS, said: “The open studio event is a chance to go ‘through the keyhole’ of an artist’s studio, appreciate the creative process, and meet and get to know the artist too.”
This year, NYOS aims to attract visitors from across the north including Manchester, Newcastle and Leeds.
An art trail map will be available for visitors to plan their trip.
Garth said: “With the trend for slow travel and staycations, the art studio trail covers coastal spots in Scarborough, through to scenic National Parks including the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales, and the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, alongside picturesque villages and vibrant market towns. It’s a wonderful opportunity to go on an artistic and cultural magical tour, visit the well-known attractions or explore lesser-known areas and experience this beautiful and diverse region with new eyes.” Garth added: “Artists taking part will highlight attractions near their studios, such as castles, abbeys, beauty spots and visitor attractions to help visitors create itineraries for a full day, or even a weekend getaway break, perfect for culture vultures.”
All works in the open studio event are for sale.
The scheme is supported by the NYOS Patron, the Duchess of Devonshire.
The Duchess of Devonshire, said: “I’m delighted to support this inspiring and supportive platform, which is now in its 16th year. North Yorkshire is home to some of the UK’s most beautiful scenery, and the source of inspiration for generations of artists, including Hockney, Hepworth and Turner.
The Duchess added: “This is an exciting opportunity to discover some incredible talent, as well as champion North Yorkshire as a vibrant place for art. It offers interactive, adventurous experiences as well as the chance to get your hands on some unique artworks.”
Visit the website for up-to-date art trail map and artist details: nyos.org.uk
More Information
Project Manager, NYOS, Garth Bayley is available for media interviews.
For media enquiries contact clair@causeuk.com, 0753 194 8014.
Featured image is Full Fathom Five 2021 by Steffi Callaghan.
North Yorkshire Open Studios 2023
Over 140 artists are taking part in the North Yorkshire Open Studios this year on 3, 4, 10, 11 June 2023.
Artist Case Studies
Andrea Mosey
I discovered painting whilst I was furloughed in lockdown 2020, I had never painted before in my life until that point. After a growing interest on social media for my paintings, I decided to try and sell some and was successful. I was made redundant from my job in December 2020 and decided to take some time to concentrate on my art. Since then my art career has blossomed and I am represented by six galleries and have my own website. In February 2022 I moved into my lovely large art studio at Newby Hall. I am now working full time as an artist and I have recently been selected as a finalist in the British Contemporary Art Award for 2023 and am currently sat at number 1 in the public vote (vote ends at the end of January).
Malcolm Barker
I am a farmer and artist living near Bedale in North Yorkshire and I have a market stall at Northallerton Auction Mart (Wednesdays and Saturdays) and at Leyburn Auction Mart (Fridays) during the winter months. The stall was initially for me to sell the potatoes that I grow but in 2017 I started to paint whilst awaiting customers at my stall. You can see a selection of my paintings at my Facebook page, Malcolm Barker Paintings and also at my website, malcolmbarker.com I have taken part, as a wildcard artist on Sky TV`s Landscape artist of the year and I might be shown this coming Wednesday and Thursday on the programme which was filmed in Northern Ireland last summer. I was also filmed a few weeks ago for a short film which was shown at the opening ceremony of Leeds 2023 which took place on 7th January at Headingly Stadium in Leeds.
The subjects which I paint are usually Local landscapes , my farm animals or my family.
Ian Burke
I am new to Yorkshire Open Studios and I have recently retired from teaching art at Eton College as the Drawing Master. I am a painter and printmaker but I am trying to increase my profile in my North Yorkshire home. My wife and I took over the running of Staithes Gallery last year. I have exhibited widely both in Yorkshire and widely across the country including London. In the last ten years I have regularly exhibited in the Royal Academy Summer Shows.
I will be featuring in the upcoming series called ‘Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes’ on Tuesday and I am putting the finishing touches to a new website which I hope will be up and running by then. The domain name is ianburkepainterprintmaker.com.
Sue Willington
Apart from being a printmaker and painter and taking part in NYOS I am a costume designer. I have being designing for over 40 years and started my career at English National Opera as a shopper for fabrics. My career moved fast to Scottish Opera then the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in London at the Aldwych and then the opening of the Barbican theatre. As a freelancer I have worked in Theatre, Opera and Musicals including the original Phantom of the Opera. I have designed at many major opera houses in the world. for more information go to www.suewillmington.co.uk
Hayley Mills-Styles
I’m a neuro-diverse textile artist living in Scarborough. I use embroidery as a way of coping with my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, often creating work inspired by the Yorkshire Coast. I’m also a socially engaged artist working on community projects across Yorkshire. My current project is a series of workshops with women seeking asylum, older women and women’s community groups. Hayley Mills-Styles Textile Artist Website: hayleymillsstyles.com Social Media: @hmillsstyles
Frank Gordon
Frank is a landscape painter who lives in Giggleswick. He has a major solo exhibition at Brantwood on Coniston in the Lake District this September. Brantwood was once the home of John Ruskin, England’s greatest art critic, thinker and social reformer. Filled with many fine paintings, beautiful furniture and Ruskin’s personal treasures, the house retains much of the character of its most famous resident to this day. Famous as a writer, artist and social reformer, many great thinkers have been influenced by Ruskin’s ideas, Mahatma Gandhi and William Morris amongst them. He championed many of the tenets of the National Health Service, the formation of Public Libraries, the National Trust and many other cornerstones of civil society. Ruskin has been an influence on Frank since his art school days – Frank turns 80 in September during the exhibition. He said: “For me to have my work hanging in Ruskin’s home is an undreamed of privilege and one I am looking forward to immensely.” You can see more about Frank on his website: www.frankgordon.co.uk
Iona Stock
Iona Stock is a ceramic artist and teacher based in her shed studio in Nawton. She uses slips to decorate functional porcelain vessels with plein air paintily illustrative designs of her rural setting as well as super colourful textured vessels, vases and jars. The grand opening of this new Gallery Shed will be over a whole weekend. There will be a tour of the studio shed with throwing demonstrations, light refreshments as well as some superb bargains. Opening 11th and 12th March 10am to 5pm everyone welcome, IMS Ceramics Nawton (200metres outside of Nawton towards Kirkbymoorside on the right hand side) www.imsceramics.com for examples of works”
Iona is hosting workshops in Dalby Forest.
“Functionality is the focus of a totally unique workshop with Dalby Forest, at the beginning of sophisticated civilization we needed pots to use for cooking, storing, eating and drinking. The grouping of people for meals and drinks within the wider community or even in family groups is a very important thing for mental health and socialising. Bringing people together over a creative activity which makes functional items which can then be used in the future when having friends or families over for drinks. This workshop takes its inspiration from local history, taking particular note of the Roman Settlement in Malton and the Benedictine Monks of Ampleforth. Using both coiling methods and throwing methods participants are invited to create a jug type vessel for the storage or serving of their favourite tipple and a thrown drinking vessel. These will be decorated with foraged items creating textures from items found within the grounds of Dalby Forest or with Roman motifs, this is where your creativity can flourish. If this is something you might be interested in head over to the Dalby Forest Website for more information and to book or go to www.imsceramics.com
Steffi Callaghan
I am an abstract mixed-media artist, drawing inspiration from inaccessible, mysterious and/or overlooked spaces of our world. Working mainly with acrylic, ink and paint collage, my practice is rooted in a fascination with historical and modern maps and how they shape our knowledge of our world. I graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2021 (MA in Art and Science – distinction) where my research project focused on our scientific and cultural appreciation of the deep sea. Following my MA I moved to Harrogate, where I now live and have my studio.
My MA work and subsequent paintings have focused on the deep sea, inspired by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. My interest in the deep sea started when I discovered that we have mapped more of the surface of the moon than we have of the sea floor and how Seabed 2030 is seeking to use new mapping techniques to readdress this balance, with the hope that by 2030 all of the ocean floor will have been surveyed. I am intrigued by how we can sensitively engage with this mysterious and dark deep sea space and whether it can make us see our terrestrial spaces in a new light. Also, with the increasing demand for rare earth metals (many of which will be sourced from the deep sea) I am interested in how survey techniques and mapping could reveal new ‘riches’ whilst potentially damaging creatures and ecosystems that we do not even know exist. Whilst remaining an abstract painter many of the sea creatures from the deep sea have inspired mark making in my paintings and surveying and mapping symbols and shapes also frequently find their way into my compositions. My work has been shown at many London galleries including Tate Exchange, Bargehouse, Safehouse, Asylum Chapel, Arts Depot, The Other Art Fair and the Lethaby Gallery. I have also exhibited at the Fronteer Gallery in Sheffield, the D31 Gallery in Doncaster and the Mercer Gallery in Harrogate. My MA work was shortlisted for the Global Design Graduate Show 2021 and two of my MA paintings were included in the London Grads Now exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery. On graduation, I was awarded the Other Art Fair Graduate Art Prize. www.stefficallaghan.com
Mermaids in the Basement by Steffi Callaghan
Cause UK has been supporting North Yorkshire Open Studios for three years, providing public relations services. We are proud to support the careers of regional and national artists.