Open Studios - Artists
Our exhibiting artists come from a wide range of artistic backgrounds, amateur and professional, their profiles are listed alphabetically below.
The studios are organised into five 'Hubs' that are colour codes, red, green, blue, orange and turquoise. The number on each artist refers to the venue location studio where the artist is exhibiting. Each studio is depicted on the hub locations maps show here.
Artists profiles are listed alphabetically, for quick access click on the letter below to navigate further down the page.
The studios are organised into five 'Hubs' that are colour codes, red, green, blue, orange and turquoise. The number on each artist refers to the venue location studio where the artist is exhibiting. Each studio is depicted on the hub locations maps show here.
Artists profiles are listed alphabetically, for quick access click on the letter below to navigate further down the page.
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Reem Acason
Paint and mixed media My recent work explores my dual heritage, the process of migration, memory and physical dislocation. I work in a range of media from paint and print, to ceramics and installation. I enjoy mixing media, using a diverse range of materials and techniques to explore my preoccupations. I often weave literature into my work- both physically by creating artworks using pages from significant stories, but also through the use of text and quotes. I have recently been working on a series of paintings depicting migratory birds which travel to and from the Middle East. Click here to email. www.facebook.com/ReemAcason www.reemacason.co.uk Venue No 19 Hub E (Turquoise) |
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Caroline Astrop-Smith
Beautiful, unique, decorative jewellery Click here to email. www.thedecoratedwoman.com Venue No 12 Hub C (Blue) |
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Maggie Austin
Textiles, machine and hand embroidery I love colour and texture and use hand and machine embroidery to enhance my work. I hand paint the backgrounds to my work and dye fabric and thread to create subtle colour blends. Click here to email. Venue No 4 Hub A (Red) |
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Yolande Beer
Yolande Beer Ceramics Yolande creates lively brush decorated ceramics adorned with figures and trees. The pots are made in her studio at Almond Barn, Five Ashes. Her exhibiting venues include Charleston Farmhouse and The Ashdown gallery. She also sells at Brighton, Chiddingly and Crowborough Festivals. Click here to email. www.yolandebeer.co.uk Venue No 1 Hub A (Red) |
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Gail Bourcier
Paintings and textiles in a folk art style inspired by the farming and countryside environment. Gail works from her studio over looking the South Downs across 25 miles of farmland to the sea. Offering new classes and workshops in painting, textiles, rag rugs and mosaic starting in September. Click here to email. Venue No 16 Hub D (Orange) |
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Dave Brooker
Landscape and Travel Photography My main interests are landscape and travel photography. I enjoy creating and giving digital audio-visual presentations for local organisations. I especially enjoy the varied photographic opportunities available in and around the Ashdown Forest area and East Sussex. I have had a keen interest in photography for nearly 50 years having processed my own prints in monochrome and colour until my move into digital photography about twelve years ago. I currently use a Canon 500D digital SLR camera. Using Aperture and Photoshop software on the Macintosh platform for image adjustments, I print my photographs in monochrome and colour on an Epson P600 ink jet printer using light-fast inks and materials. Click here to email. www.mappingideas.co.uk Venue No 10 Hub C (Blue) |
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Angela Butler
Watercolours, pastels, greetings cards "I love painting with watercolours, especially colour mixing. I am fascinated particularly when unpredictable results follow as they frequently do, so no perfect images amongst my work!" Click here to email. Venue No 3 Hub A (Red) |
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Gillian Child
Nature in water colour or pen and inks and some combined Twelve years ago I decided to do an evening class for pleasure rather than study and decided to brush up on the painting and drawing that I had so much enjoyed in my school days. My favourite subjects are found in nature. I use watercolour for garden scenes but particularly like working with pen and ink looking for the shapes and texture in plants and trees. Click here to email. Venue No 3 Hub A (Red) |
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Susana Garcia
Pottery I make pottery, my work can be wheel thrown or hand-built mainly in stoneware. Occasionally I use porcelain. I'm inspired by my love for pattern, colour and nature. Click here to email. Venue No 9 Hub B (Green) |
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Frances Geesin
Electroplated natural forms and textiles. “Making things, the feeling that I want to know what I don’t and want to see what I cannot, makes my hands work.” (Yoshiko Takemura) Frances Geesin is an artist who experiments with textiles, materials and processes. She returned to the RCA in 1990 to research textiles potential. She discovered fabrics and fibres that have conductive qualities and used ‘electroforming’ to metalize them, applying this technique regularly together with thermoplastic fabrics and fibres for ideas and expression. In 2015 she was invited to create new work in response to the earthquake, in Japan. To meet the challenge she used techniques that were unfamiliar to her such as needle punching and rope making. The aim was to express hope and celebrate the people’s positive attitude to progressing with their lives. Her work embraces the electroplating of natural forms and thermoplastic materials to create a unique range of objects and jewellery. Click here to email. www.francesgeesin.com Venue No 4 Hub A (Red) |
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Sally Grafton
Colourful, Functional Ceramic & Prints Bright and beautiful colourful Ceramics. I am inspired by colour, beauty & the natural world. I originally trained and worked as a Designer Jeweller. This led to teaching Jewellery and Fine Art at a successful art department in a local school. I then became fascinated with clay and the magic of throwing beautiful shapes on the wheel. I combine my love of painting with making pots. I now work as a potter, painter and teacher making joyful pots with colourful decoration. Click here to email. www.sallygrafton.uk Venue No 15 Hub D (Orange) |
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Jane Gray
Water, Acrylic and pen Started to take painting seriously about 12 years ago, having taken O level Art at school. Work, and marriage leaving no time to paint. I like to work in watercolour, acrylics and pen. My subjects are very varied, landscapes, the forest, flora and fauna. Being a scuba diver as well, I am now trying seascapes, corals and fish. Click here to email. Venue No 3 Hub A (Red) |
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Carne Griffiths
Paint and mixed media Carne Griffiths specialises in mixed media painting, printing making and drawing. Ramsden first met Carne Griffiths in 1993 at Kent Institute of Art and Design in Maidstone. Immediately they were drawn to each other’s work with a shared influence of the Brothers Quay and Jan Svankmajer animations. Griffiths experimented with stop frame animation through the use of wooden containers that symbolised the subconscious. His sketch book drawings and prints used mark making through the subconscious selves where the creations are twisted and contorted figures. Carne is now an international exhibiting artist whose work in the last 5 years encapsulates enchanting portraits through intricate mark making with the use alcohol based Indian inks. The sophistication of Griffiths mark making is effortlessly complex interplayed with personal motifs that have time travelled through from his earliest works.n, colour and technique. Click here to email. www.carnegriffiths.com Venue No 19 Hub E (Turquoise) |
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Sue Groves
Watercolour Painting Over the past 6 years I have enjoyed using water colours to paint with. I like to run the colours with bright colourful paints and finish off the painting with pen and ink. Click here to email. Venue No 6 Hub B (Green) |
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Wes Groves
Ceramics and Glass After retiring 5 years ago I started attending Adult Education classes for Pottery and Glass Fusing. I have been continually developing my skills to create the type of quirky items I like. I specialise in Glass casting and for Ceramics I use the technique of Raku firing and have been exploring the crossover between Ceramics and Glass to enable me to create the same item in both mediums. Click here to email. Venue No 6 Hub B (Green) |
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Mary Harris
Woodcut Prints Watercolours and Drawings Every day is an art adventure !! I just love turning what I see around me into paint…or woodcut. Both Crowborough Arts and Tunbridge Wells Art Society have given me good opportunities to exhibit and to work with other artists. The regular Life and Portrait classes provide exercises to continually improve the ‘artist’s eye’. Painting outdoors - ‘en plein air’ another joy, inspired by light, shade and colour, first hand. Studying Woodcutting Techniques with Merlyn Chesterman has had a huge influence on my work and opened up new challenges. Click here to email. Venue No 7 Hub B (Green) |
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Elizabeth Hunt
Landscapes/gardens/flowers I find my inspiration in the natural world, I enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons and the constant variety. Click here to email. Venue No 10 Hub C (Blue) |
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Keith Jolley
Acrylic paintings and mixed media collages I have been painting and producing artistic works for most of my life, both for fun and professionally. Over the years I have designed and built window displays, shop interiors, furniture and carried out interior design. Recently I have been able to concentrate on my own work, revisiting a theme I began 10 years ago; variations on Light ‘n Shade. I have also begun to create collages using driftwood, shells and other items mainly recycled from the beach. I am now producing a selection of original paintings, collages, prints and cards. Click here to email. www.Keithjolleyartist.co.uk Venue No 8 Hub B (Green) |
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Meikie Knappert
Original Hand Painted Silks Intricate and Intriguing pieces drawing on the colour and patterns of natures majesty. Click here to email. www.meikiedesigns.com Venue No 2 Hub A (Red) |
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Pippa Long
Paintings, drawings, cakes & cards After a foundation course in Art and Design at Brighton I worked for many years in graphic design. While bringing up my family I returned to painting and drawing and developed my style using differenet media to create intricately detailed watercolours and drawings of pets, wildlife, gardens, houses and more. Commissions undertaken, any challenges welcomed, prices to suit all. Special occasion cakes made to order. All cakes are individual to your own requirements or I can come up with a design from your ideas. During open studios we will be serving tea and cakes for you to taste and you are welcome look through photos of my baked commissions. Handmade cards on sale; both printed and papercraft creations. Click here to email. www.facebook.com/Cakes-by-Pippa-481264498635665 Venue No 11 Hub C (Blue) |
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LPJ Glass Designs
Stained and Fused Glass Designs We are 3 ladies who met while learning about glass and now meet regularly and create and design all sorts of things using fused or stained glass. We make things for our homes and gardens, our family and friends and sometimes just for fun. Glass is a lovely medium to work with - its colours and textures inspire us to be creative. Click here to email. Venue No 15 Hub D (Orange) |
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Stella Mance
Paintings and cards Stella studied Fine Art at Reigate School of Art. She now belongs to several art groups, and is a member of ShedArt. In her recent work Stella uses mixed media, putting collage on paper or canvas, and adding washes of transparent inks. Creating layers of texture and vibrant colour. Flowers are a frequent source of inspiration because she finds their colours and shapes are endless. She always adds a contemporary twist to her paintings. Click here to email. www.stellamance.co.uk Venue No 12 Hub C (Blue) |
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Bridget Marchi
Glass artist. Fused glass items for display and practical use. Some other handicrafts Bridget Marchi is a glass artist. She is currently working on a series of work that features a multi layered multi faceted approach. The results are a variety of art pieces and practical items both small and large. Bridget also presents a few items from her sewing machine and huge quantity of fabric that has accumulated over the years! So come and grab something to take your shopping home with as well as something to present on when you get it there. Despite the worldwide shortage of green and blue glass it is also hoped that she will presenting a selection of glass christmas decorations and some silver enamelled jewellery. Click here to email. Venue No 14 Hub C (Blue) |
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Ron May
Watercolours I am a local artist painting mainly en plein air combining my enthusiasm for bird watching and fondness of the countryside. I try to express this in my paintings. Venue No 13 Hub C (Blue) |
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Susan May
Acrylics I am an amateur artist who paints mainly from my own photographs. My preferred medium is acrylics. Favourite subjects are trees & animals. Venue No 13 Hub C (Blue) |
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Brian Mead
Wildlife graphite pencil drawings Being a keen photographer of wildlife, and birdlife in particular, both in UK and on travels abroad, I have gained a lot of satisfaction from depicting many of these images in graphite pencil; a medium that allows me to work to my own strengths in capturing the detail that many of these images lend themselves to. Click here to email. Venue No 10 Hub C (Blue) |
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Barbara Murray
Oils and mixed media. I use mixed media and oils in a range of work which is often inspired by local scenes and landscapes. Click here to email. www.instagram.com/barbswordfish1 Venue No 10 Hub C (Blue) |
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Sue Petszaft
Quirky necklaces/Mixed Media Art My 'quirky necklaces' made from up-cycled materials are a constant joy to make, and I am pleased that others seem to like them too. I will also be doing more collage and will wait to see how this develops during the year. Click here to email. Venue No 1 Hub A (Red) |
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Nicholas Ramsden
Contemporary Art/ Assemblage Nicholas Ramsden creations are a journey into the psychology of curiosity. The work of 2017 is an experimentation with the ‘self-concept’ idea. The artist uses, scientific found glass forms as a visualisation of who we are and incorporates Japanese white ink, mirror and mixed media assemblage. These journeys in thought are encapsulated in art boxes. Ramsden also drawing and mark making and college work, usually as the initial designs for larger pieces . Drawings use pencil, Japanese white ink, emulsion on brown paper and rustic found object. As a person who suffers from dyslexia; ideas and thoughts best translated by the use of white writing and a brown back ground. This medium and the floating form motifs bind the art boxes and drawing together. The forms represent the perfect image of ourselves that only we see. This dictates our ‘emotions’, which thus controls our behaviour. This ‘Self Concept’ idea interplays with the fun of objects de Curiosity. Click here to email. www.nicholasramsden.co.uk Venue No 18 Hub E (Turquoise) |
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Mandy Robinson
Pottery, Printmaking, Numo Felt I really enjoy Printmaking, and the endless possibilities this medium offers to explore colour, and texture of scenes and ideas that inspire. Numo felt is a technique of wet felt making that results in very lightweight, colourful and textured pieces that can be worn as a scarf, used as table centrepieces, displayed on the wall, or sewn into cushion covers. Click here to email. Venue No 9 Hub B (Green) |
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Susie Rotberg
Oils/mixed media/monoprints My inspiration may come from anywhere usually the natural world and the people I observe there. I often use my own photographs as a starting point for drawings and these may become paintings. My work is always an expressive response to the subject and for me, it's all about the paint and the forms and marks it creates. The excitement of each new project is never knowing where an idea will take me and what the paint will reveal. Click here to email. Venue No 17 Hub D (Orange) |
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The Round Robin Quilters
Round Robin group of Patchwork and Quilters Round Robin Quilters are a small group, six women, who first met in 2008 when we all signed up for a City and Guilds course in Patch, Quilting and Design. You must be slightly mad to be a quilter, taking large pieces of fabric, cutting it up into smaller pieces and then sewing it back together again. We meet once a month at each other’s houses for a day of sewing, laughter, mutual support and of course food is involved . Between us we create a wide variety of pieces from the traditional to modern, practical to decorative, large to small and employ a wide range of techniques. We regularly set ourselves group projects either in support of a charity or to extend our skills or just for fun. Click here to email. Venue No 15 Hub D (Orange) |
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Kevin Scott
Mainly Landscape Photography I provide framed or mounted Photos of many sizes and Greeting Cards of Areas of Natural Outstanding Beauty in the Great Weald and beyond. Browsers and questions are more than welcome. Click here to email. Venue No 2 Hub A (Red) |
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Madelaine Quarrinton Snook
Watercolours I started art classes about 2 years ago never thinking I could actually produce something recognisable I am still learning but wanted to share the pleasure it gives me and say try it with encouragement from friends you could be surprised at the results ! Click here to email. Venue No 3 Hub A (Red) |
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Angela Steger
Watercolour, mainly flowers and still life My paintings have been influenced by the wonderful light and life in the South of France. Click here to email. Venue No 5 Hub A (Red) |
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Carolyn Tester
Photography, cards and prints I love to photograph wildlife from the birds that visit my garden, the deer that roam the fields to foxes that come for dinner each night. With my farming photos I try to create the nostalgia of days gone by with the heavy horses and vintage tractors. Click here to email. Venue No 2 Hub A (Red) |
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Barbara Todd
Paintings and Multimedia 3D Primarily I am a painter with a background in Fine Art. The seductive character of Oil paint will always be my favourite medium, however, I do experiment with other media and currently I am working on a series of “boxes”, inhabited secret spaces where the amalgam of disparate objects create a cohesive whole. Small, and jewel like, they have the same richness of colour found in my paintings. Click here to email. Venue No 1 Hub A (Red) |
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Justin Todd
Oil paintings, humorous, decorative Justin’s life time preoccupation with illustration has influenced his very personal style; his paintings are beautifully designed and executed and full of humour showing an insight into human behaviour, ranging from the erotic to the poetic. Click here to email. Venue No 1 Hub A (Red) |
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Maggie Tuite
Embroidered textiles I am a cloth doll artist and love to live my dreams and imagination through my" one of a kind dollies". All my work is unique and I never make 2 dollies the same. Materials are sourced form all over the world, places that I have lived in plus a few flea markets. I have been inspired from my extensive travels and from places that I have lived in. Some of my dolls are cute, sweet and many have attitude and style. I live in a country that is full of color and I love to use it whilst creating that very special doll. Please also visit my Facebook page where you will see many more of my creations. I hope I can make you smile and that you like and appreciate my work. If I manage to bring a little warmth and happiness into your life through my dollies, then I have accomplished my mission Click here to email. https://www.facebook.com/Dolliedaydreams Venue No 15 Hub D (Orange) |
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Angela Vernon Bates
Translucent screens & fabulous jackets I trained in Fine Arts at Birmingham College of Arts and Crafts, and have had a varied artistic career, from scene painter, costume designer and art teacher. I changed career and became a professional opera singer but latterly re trained as an antiques restorer and gilder and ran my own business using my painting skills to restore damaged painted surfaces and re-gild frames. I now enjoy working with found materials which I enjoy turning into something beautiful and useful, like my jackets. I also make and decorate lightweight translucent screens with designs inspired by figures or gardens. Click here to email. Venue No 7 Hub B (Green) |
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Molly Williams
Textiles Molly Williams is a professional textile artist and designer specialising in Ottoman pattern design, jackets, kaftans and decorative throws. She is a member of the Society of Designer Craftsmen and exhibits regularly with them and Prism Textile Art group. Molly works from her garden studio and also teaches felt making classes at Kent Adult Education. Click here to email. www.mollywilliams.co.uk Venue No 1 Hub A (Red) |
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Carmel Yearwood
Paintings, photography, cards My work in painting and photography covers a variety of interests and media. New paintings in oils, acrylics and mixed media. My subject matter explores Mull and the Outer Hebrides, the Dingle Peninsular and closer to home - Cuckmere Haven. Photography this year has been exciting, as with my new camera I have been playing with multiple exposure techniques and combining two or more photographs. Greeting cards cover a selection of my work. Click here to email. www.carmelyearwood.com Venue No 4 Hub A (Red) |
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