WELCOME to day two of York Open Studios 2022 on its opening weekend.
More than 150 artists and makers are showing and selling their work within their homes and workspaces, giving visitors an opportunity to view and buy “bespoke pieces to suit every budget”, from 10am to 5pm today and next weekend too.
As ever, the range of artists’ work encompasses painting and print, illustration, drawing and mixed media, ceramics, glass and sculpture, jewellery, textiles, photography and installation art. Check out the artists’ directory listings at yorkopenstudios.co.uk to find out who is participating.
CharlesHutchPress is highlighting the 30 newcomers in a showcase all this week, in map order, concluding today with Lucinda Grange; Janine Lees; Emma Frost; Shirley Davis Dew; Laura Thompson and The Island.
Lucinda Grange, photography, The Black House, 14 Heslington Lane, York
ADVENTURE photographer Lucinda documents urban extremes; the spaces above and below the public footpaths in our cities. Her approach to photography utilises underground spaces as well as high points within a landscape.
Award-winning Lucinda, who splits her time between New York City, Zurich and North East England, has travelled the world, scaling some of the tallest and most iconic structures and buildings, such as the Great Pyramid, Firth of Forth Rail Bridge and the Chrysler Building.
“I use photography as a means of self-expression, to identify with the more obvious and hidden aspects of my character,” says Lucinda, who has exhibited at the Museum of London and the National Football Museum, Manchester.
“I believe that a person is defined by their actions and choices, and is therefore defined by the environments they choose to put themselves in. This explains why I record my own surroundings, photographing the people and places I choose to have around me.”
Lucinda records social documentary in an unusual manner, sometimes alienating herself to do so, resulting in angst and solipsism. Beauty, fragility and fear are all present and tangible within the work.
This approach to documentary photography utilises high points within the landscape, resulting in her images “challenging the viewer to reconsider the environment they find themselves in”.
Janine Lees, painting, Birch House, 130 Main Street, Fulford, York
TAKING inspiration from the natural world, Janine creates works that evoke feelings of warmth and affection by painting intimate animal portraits in a realistic and colourful style.
Having previously worked as a graphic designer, Janine is now a full-time professional artist working from her home studio., where she divides her time between pet portrait commissions and creating artwork for sale.
Janine’s artwork has been selected to represent various coloured pencil and art publications both online and in exhibitions such as the UK Coloured Pencil Society, The Artist magazine (UK) and Color Magazine (USA).
Emma Frost, painting, North Studio, Arnup Studios, Panman Lane, Holtby, York
LANDSCAPE artist Emma has a particular interest in man-made structures such as pylons, wind turbines and telegraph poles, set against dramatic skylines and beautiful surroundings.
Growing up in rural Northamptonshire before moving to York via Leeds, Germany and Amsterdam, Emma enjoys painting scenes depicting both rural and urban life.
She typically depicts views from her day-to-day surroundings, including school runs, supermarket car parks and drive-thru takeaways. “Ensuring these scenes also include beautiful sunsets or large, expansive skies enables my work to highlight the beauty found in our everyday lives,” she says.
Shirley Davis Dew, paintings, Rocking House Studio, Main Street, Fangfoss, York
A PASSION to capture movement, light and her love of colour permeates Shirley’s vibrant paintings in watercolour or acrylics paintings, applied with brushes, knives and fingers.
You can watch her in action in demonstrations from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 4pm each day of York Open Studios 2022.
During many years in business management, Shirley painted for pleasure. Her exhibitions led to her being asked to run classes and so began a 20-year second career as a tutor and demonstrator.
“A love of Yorkshire inspires my paintings of the big skies, woodlands, rolling hills and coast,” she says.
Laura Thompson, illustration, Rocking House Studio, Main Street, Fangfoss, York
LAURA’S website promotes her as both a freelance illustrator and textiles and surface pattern designer. “I’m transitioning into illustration, from a background in textiles and graphic design; experimenting with ways of working, subject matters and observational work to discover a style that feels natural,” she explains.
Her York Open Studios debut focuses on botanical, still life and landscape illustrations, created using watercolour, gouache and colour pencils. Motifs are often manipulated digitally into designs for greetings cards and repeat patterns for textiles giftware.
“The outdoor world provides a constant source of inspiration, and now, people, places and possessions are explored from a personal perspective to encapsulate the themes of memory and sense of self,” she says. “Ideas translate into uplifting or nostalgic imagery, aiming to bring a joyful aesthetic.”
The Island, photography, Beverley House, 17 Shipton Road, York
YORK charity The Island supports some of the most vulnerable and isolated young people in the city to realise their potential through positive mentoring relationships and activities.
Collaborating with York photographer Makiko since early summer 2021, The Island introduced photography activities to the children – who range in age from mid-primary ages to late-teens – by providing them with disposable film cameras to shoot their everyday life.
The Island’s main purpose is to try to improve the mental health of vulnerable children in the York community, who are facing challenges in the post- Brexit, Covid-19 world, by adding these simple activities to their on-going art sessions, backed by Art Council England funding.
