The poster for York River Art Market 2026. Illustration: Elliot Harrison (@York360)
CAROLINE Turner is delighted by how well her takeover of York River Art Market is going.
The first of three weekends of 30 artists and designers per day setting up stalls by the Ouse riverside on Dame Judi Dench Walk was greeted by sunshine and a steady footfall last Saturday and Sunday.
Professional potter and Clay Space pottery teacher Caroline took over York’s answer to Paris’s Left Bank when founder, organiser, artist and tutor Charlotte Dawson stepped down after a decade to focus on her teaching role as award leader for York College’s BA (Hons) 3D creative practice course.
“It was really busy, and I was so relieved because it’s big boots to fill after Charlotte, when you feel a lot of responsibility to all the artists,” says Caroline. “First of all, they all turned up, the sun came out, and they were making sales at one minute past ten, so that was great.
“City Cruises York put us on their tour list of things to do, saying where we were, and I kept seeing swathes of people coming straight towards as they disembarked on what were really busy days for the cruises.”
One innovation by Caroline for 2026 sees stalls being set up on both sides of the pathway for the first time. “I was initially nervous about doing it, as Charlotte didn’t, but because there were so many applicants, I thought, ‘let’s open it up’,” she says. “We even had one artist hanging items on the mesh around a tree, and there are three more places where that could happen.
“I’m pleased I took the plunge with that decision and I’ll definitely be doing the same again next year.”
Some artists and makers have booked stalls for all six days (August 1 & 2, August 8 & 9 and August 15 &16). “Quite a few do that, but we also have plenty of newbies, maybe as many as 50 per cent of the artists, who haven’t done it before, to keep up the variety each day, as I want it to be varied for regular visitors and it’s important to give new artists a chance to take part, ” says Caroline.
“We had some newcomers who were nervous about how to set up their stall, but what’s lovely is that experienced stall holders showed them what to do. Everyone was helping each other out.”
At the invitation of SPARK: York, she held a launch event there last Thursday featuring artworks by participating artists. “It was very last minute, but it was great opportunity to publicise the event,” says a grateful Caroline, who gained a surge of confidence and momentum for the markets ahead.
“I’d taken on a big challenge, thinking ‘OK, I can do this’, but the launch event meant I was now seeing real people, and I felt really lifted after spending all those hours at home preparing for it. It made all that admin worthwhile,” says Caroline, who makes pottery under the name Happy Pot Mama, by the way.
Now, the weather is set fair for weekend two of York River Art Market 2026, where visitors can buy directly from the makers of ceramics, jewellery, paintings, prints, photographs, clothing, candles, soaps, cards and more besides.
York River Art Market continues on August 8 & 9 , then August 15 & 16, on Dame Judi Dench Walk, by Lendal Bridge, York, 10am to 5.30pm. Admission is free.