Surrey Artists Open Studios 2008

Welcome to the ninth successful open studio event which has attracted a record number of 290 participating artists and craftspeople. Studios of all designs will be open across Surrey for two weeks in June and for the first time ALL the studios will be open during the middle weekend (14th & 15th June). This is a fantastic opportunity to visit artists and explore the huge variety of work on offer, including wood carving, printmaking pottery, jewellery, painting, sculpture, textiles and ceramics.

Members of the public will be able to chat to the practitioners, see live demonstrations, discuss work in progress, buy finished artworks, and participate in a programme of open public workshops. There will be an opportunity to enter our free prize draw worth £150, and in the brochure will be editorials by some of our participating artists and an Arts Businesses & Organisations listing section.

Simon KeeleySurrey Art in Action: The Mill Studio, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford on Thursday 29th, Friday 30th and Saturday 31st May 2008, opening hours 12 – 5pm. 7 artists (stonecarving, silk painting, ceramics, textiles & knitting, painting, mixed media, printmaking) offering demonstrations and three workshops everyday (fee £4 each), you can book in advance or on the day by calling Surrey Arts on 01483 757258 or contact Caroline Jackman at caroline.jackman@surreycc,gov.uk.

This will give the public a chance to see a variety of talented artists and designer makers creating their craft. Whether a potter, stonecarver or painter, these artists will be on hand to explain how they create their work. bus tourEach artist will deliver 3 workshops a day, the workshops are short, only half an hour, the emphasis is allowing people to have a go using brushes with different papers, building vessels in clay, silk painting, stone carving, exploring mixed media materials and exploring printmaking. The emphasis is having a go yourself and being able to have fun!

Public bus tour: a popular option for those of you who wish to be guided round several studios on Sunday 15th June in the Guildford Area, for more information or to book a space please call Surrey Arts on 01483 757 258 or email Caroline Jackman.

Taster exhibitions: these allow the viewer to see a collective of work by some of our open studio artists:

Open Studios Art on The High Street: 5 artists will be creating innovative, sympathetic displays in the Guildford area (High Street & North Street, town centre), bringing art to the High Street, from end of May till 22nd June.
Venues: Waterstones, Boots, Guildford Library, Nicklins Opticians
Art installations include work by: Elmrbidge artist Jane Ponsford, Guildford artists Angela Thames and Lisa Pettibone, Mole Valley artist Martyn Perrymen and Woking artist Faye Campbell.

Sunbury Art Trail: 6 venues in Sunbury on Thames, open 13 – 16 June (see brochure or click here for more details)

Prize Draw worth £150: visit studios and collect four or more vouchers from two or more boroughs and have the chance to enter a free prize draw to win £150 to send at your favourite studio. 2007 winner Catherine Cornwall chose an artwork by Sally Trask.

If you want to make sure you get a copy of the SAOS 2008 brochure hot off the press please email Sandie Sharp.

Whether you are a visitor or a participating artist, I hope you enjoy the forthcoming Surrey Artists Open Studios.

Caroline Jackman

Open Studios coordinator

Surrey Arts

Surrey County Council