York Open Studios newcomer Sinead Corkery in her studio in Monkton Road, York. She paints on recycled and reclaimed wood
IN the largest event of its 24 years, York Open Studios will feature 163 artists at 116 venues on April 5 & 6 and April 12 & 13, preceded by a preview evening tomorrow (4/4/2025).
Artists and makers within a ten-mile radius of York will be showcasing their work and inspirations, inviting visitors to “see where the magic happens” in this not-for-profit annual event run by volunteers.
Full details of participants and an interactive map can be found at yorkopenstudios.co.uk and a free directory with a tear-out map of all the locations is available from libraries, shops, galleries and artist locations throughout the city centre and the wider city region to enable visitors to “plan your route to maximise the range of artists”.
Scott Dunwoodie: Architectural aspects, nature and still life are common themes of his photography, on show at The Homestead, Moor Lane, Bishopthorpe
As ever, the diverse range of arts and crafts will take in painting, printmaking, illustration, collage, digital art, mixed media, photography, ceramics, glass sculpture, jewellery, textiles and furniture.
Many artists open their doors to invite the public into their workspaces; some artists share venues or exhibit their work in other spaces.
No fewer than 38 artists and makers will be making their Open Studios debut, including painters Dave Cooper, Marcus Callum, Ala Jazayeri, Julie Mitchell, Mo Nisbet, Mark Kesteven, Denise Duncan, Peter Monkman, Leon F Dumont, Dabble Doodle, Emily Littler, Sinead Corkery and Julia Leonard and ceramicists Wait And See Ceramics, Rock Garden Ceramics, Jackie Maidment and Schiewe Ceramics.
Paper artist Margaret Beech: Making her York Open Studios debut in Oaken Grove, Haxby
So too will be illustrators Alice Elizabeth Wilson and Rachel Merriman; printmakers Kate Hardy, Nic Fife, Drawne Up and Kai West; mixed-media artist Daisy Age Art; photographers Mark Pollitt, Alasdair McIntosh, Laurence Tilley and Jake Straker; drawing exponent Suzanne Young; paper artist Margaret Beech; furniture makers George Younge and Dominic Brown and York St John University students Emma Parker (paper) and Angela Stott (drawing).
York Open Studios chair Christine Storrs has been an enthusiastic visitor to the event since moving to York in 2003, joining the committee from 2012 to 2018 before taking a break and rejoining in 2022.
“We open the applications in the summer, starting in June, open to anyone within a ten-mile radius of York, and every year we get many new applicants,” says Christine.
“Selection takes place in September, and it’s made by an independent panel who assess applications based on images and artist statements submitted. They come from outside York, which was a deliberate decision taken some years ago, because it means they don’t know the artists, so they’re unbiased.
Zak and Lydia of Rock Garden Ceramics, Sutton Road, Hot Box Stoves, York
“They work independently of each other, and we ask them to say Yes or No on the set of criteria we give them. They also don’t know if an artist is a new applicant or a regular participant, so the decision is based entirely on the merits of the work.”
Christine continues: “The selection is also about the quality of the work. It’s not an open event in terms of just applying and taking part. We want selectors to judge whose work they think is of the right quality to take part. No-one has a guarantee of getting on to the list of participants. That’s why we need independent selectors.”
The names of the 2025 selection panel is not made public until they have made their selections, but you will now find their names in the directory: Helmsley Arts Centre artistic director Natasha Jones, jewellery designer Mari Thomas and former Leeds Beckett University research director Simon Morris.
“We never have the same selectors from year to year,” says Christine. “They can each do it for no more than two years in a row, but not three, so there’s always a change.”
Drawing exponent Mark Druery, who will open his studio in St Paul’s Terrace, Holgate
Reflecting on 24 years of York Open Studios, she says: “The event has evolved over the years. Several years ago, there was a renewed emphasis on it being held in studios, rather than groups of artists exhibiting together, because people enjoy seeing how artists work, where they work and what tools they use. That’s why we get so many visitors going from studio to studio, rather than it just being a series of exhibitions.”
Committee member and jewellery designer Charmian Ottaway, who will open her studio in Penleys Grove Street, adds: “York Open Studios is for anyone with a discerning eye for quality, an interest in art and those keen to find out more about the inspirations and techniques used to create the work.
“It’s also a lovely opportunity for artists to meet potential buyers and welcome those who just want to enjoy a day out in our lovely city. There’s certainly a sense of anticipation, and I can’t quite believe April is here at last!”
York Open Studios: public preview, tomorrow, 6pm to 9pm (check individual listings at yorkopenstudios.co.uk to see who is participating); April 5 and 6, April 12 and 13, 10am to 5pm. Look out for the yellow balloons to indicate studio locations.
I would just like to add that I turned to art for solace after a pandemic bereavement and after a decade of appalling treatment at the hands of the state, which included four harrowing costly court proceedings – three to get my child back home and to get public law orders discharged, which had only seemed to make things worse – and were leaving a legacy of despair. Thankfully, the crisis of modern adoption finally became the subject of a Parliamentary Debate on 3/4/25 – see Hansard Volume 765 – Adoption Breakdown.
With the York Open Studios committee, I found once again, when I tried to speak about problems I was seeing, I was confronted with a shut door, silenced and disregarded. This was about much more than me not accepting a deadline for the taster but there was nowhere to go with it.
“Over the past two weeks you have sent a multitude of emails to the committee and posted numerous times in the artists’ Facebook group about this issue. The tone of your emails, and your continued refusal to accept that it was your responsibility to read emails and respond to deadlines, have become harassment.”
I removed all comments in the closed artist Facebook group because I felt I couldn’t properly explain my distress, and the reasons for it, without talking about private family matters, which I didn’t want to do on social media – and the committee had become a shut door – a group of people telling me I was upsetting them and making me feel I was being a nuisance.
All I had wanted to do was to make things better, talk about how to do this and try to help.
There are differing views about Open Studios – some feel it is important for it to be a selective event whilst others feel this selection goes against the very spirit of the Open Studios movement as its early founders envisaged and intended. Does it need to be selective? Many other towns and cities have a self selected event that doesn’t lead to disappointment and financial losses for artists, who after all, make a huge financial, personal and emotional investment in the production and creation of their art – and the opening of their homes to the public.
How many artists are not selected each year in York?
How many don’t apply because of past difficulties?
I think Open Studios is different to not being selected for an exhibition or gallery, where there is limited space – when we are opening our homes and giving our time to meet people and talk about our work. Also, with a multi artist venue/studio, when artists are not selected and are not even allowed to use their studio – which they are still paying rent on – over the Open Studio weekends – and must cover their work with sheets or remove it – this has made me feel very uncomfortable as a visitor in the past, long before I took part as an artist.
There is always room for improvement as things change and evolve and its important to be able to talk about how to make things better in future – and for artists to feel they have a voice and are cared about – and not just the artists who are selected and able to take part that year.
I have been having some interesting conversations about all this over the weekend at the Wolf at the Door – an independent Artists Open House. Thank goodness for Jill Tattersall coming to my rescue after I was deselected on 3/3/25 (venue 92), or I would have had a very sad Open Studios this year with much work made and nowhere to show it.
I would like to have been able to talk about my views with the committee and chair before my deselection – and still would.