Norfolk is being transformed into a giant gallery of art as the annual Norfolk and Norwich Open Studios event starts today. Arts correspondent EMMA KNIGHTS reports
Potters, painters, printmakers and more are inviting everyone to take a trip to their studios and find out about their crafts.
Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios – the annual showcase of artists across the county – starts today, and throughout the next 16 days people can enjoy popping into individual studios or following one of 22 art trails.
More than 450 artists are taking part this year, with 255 artist studios and 16 schools opening their doors to the public.
William Galinsky, artistic director of Norfolk & Norwich Festival which oversees the running of NNOS in partnership with the artists, said: 'For over 20 years the Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios scheme has been demonstrating the diversity and talent of our visual arts community. It's a wonderful opportunity to see and meet sculptors and textile artists, painters and jewellery makers and many more, working in traditional studio spaces as well as garages, sheds and spare rooms.'
Among those taking part are the artists who have their studios at The Jade Tree, in Norwich's Elm Hill. Visitors will be able to see the work of photographer Lisa Stirling and painters Jacqui Fenn, Marie Pickett and Jean Cummings along with the fairtrade fashion and botanical drawings of Tamara Rampley and the traditional Scandinavian knitting of Anne-Mette Christensen.
'We will be working in our studios and people will be able to talk to us about our work and what we do, and just come and be nosy and have a look around,' said Ms Fenn.
'It's really good to raise the profile of artists in Norwich and helps to put us on the map.'
The Jade Tree – which is celebrating 18 years of being based at Elm Hill and also has a shop selling the work of about 60 local artists – is part of the NR3 Studio Trail.
The Artshoproject, part of the disability charity Nansa, is also putting on an exhibition. Its Earlham Road gallery features paintings, drawings and photographs from 29 amateur artists who are supported by the charity 'We have called the exhibition Expression because it is a celebration of the individual artistic expression of our artists,' said Irene Arundel, team leader at Artshoproject.
'We want to empower our artists to be able to show their work within the wider community and Open Studios is ideal for that. We are joined up with the Golden Triangle Art Trail so people can come and look at our artists' work as well as seeing other artists' studios.'
Stephen Parry, in Little Ryburgh, is among the artists in north Norfolk and he features in the Around Fakenham Trail. Mr Parry, who creates pots using stoneware and porcelain clays, said: 'Taking part in Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios over the past 10 years has made my studio and work more accessible to people living in Norfolk. It gives me a chance to talk with studio visitors about my work and the methods that I use.'
Great Massingham-based artist Su'en Miller will be taking part for the first time and features on the Great Massingham Art Trail.
She said: 'Moving to Norfolk four years ago was a turning point for me as an artist... I paint mainly in acrylics and oils and enjoy print-making, with recent projects including landscape paintings of the North Norfolk coast, lino prints and polystyrene prints of coastal birds.'
Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios – which is run in association with Wex Photographic – runs until Sunday, June 12. Studios are free to visit and all details, including studio opening days, directions, art trails and additional events and demonstrations, can be found online at www.nnopenstudios.org.uk and in the Open Studios brochure which can be picked up from participating artist studios, tourist information centres, libraries, cafes and art venues across the county.
Norfolk and Norwich Open Studios art trails:
Luscious Landscapes Trail in Raveningham, Ditchingham and Hedenham
The Foulsham Art Trail
Castle Acre Trail
North Elmham Art Trail
Around Fakenham
Wood & Yarns in Kirby Bedon and Surlingham
Broadland Art Adventure in Coltishall, Hoveton and Salhouse
Wells-next-the-Sea Art Trail
Great Massingham Trail
Thorpe, Postwick, Lingwood, Cantley and Strumpshaw Art Trail
Golden Triangle Art Trail in Norwich
Reepham Art Trail
The North East Art Trail around Bacton, Happisburgh, Ingham, Sea Palling, Hickling and Catfield
Rivers Thurne and Bure Art Trail
Hellesdon, Drayton and Felthorpe Art Trail
Smallburgh to Southrepps Art Trail
Buxton and Coltishall Trail
Cromer Art Trail
NR3 Studio Trail in Norwich
Two Rivers Trail in the Neatishead area
C.A.T Creative Arts Trail around Binham, Hindringham and Houghton St. Giles
Mattishall and Welborne Trail
For details of opening times and dates, visit www.nnopenstudios.org.uk
Schools taking part in Norfolk and Norwich Open Studios:
Chapel Break Infant School (work will be on show at Norwich Arts Centre)
Carleton Rode C of E V.A. Primary School
Mulbarton Junior School
Kinsale Infant School, Hellesdon
Hethersett Old Hall School
St Martha's Catholic Primary School, King's Lynn
City Academy Norwich
Bignold Primary School, Norwich
Northgate High School, Dereham
Neatherd High School, Dereham
Dereham Sixth Form College
North Walsham Junior and Infant School Federation
Heather Avenue Infant School, Hellesdon
Nelson Academy, Downham Market
Langley School, Loddon
Wayland Academy, Watton
For details of opening times and dates, visit www.nnopenstudios.org.uk
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