DOZENS of artists from across Oxfordshire throw open their doors this month for the UK’s oldest and biggest open studios event.
Oxfordshire Artweeks runs until May 29, allowing visitors to speak directly to hundreds of artists, makers and designers across the county in venues ranging from their own studios to pop-up galleries in local pubs, farms and churches.
The three-week long celebration of creative talent starts in south Oxfordshire and then moves north and west in mid-May before culminating in a week of events around the city of Oxford.
Those taking part range from painters and sculptors to artists specialising in ceramics, photography, textiles and sculpture, along with craftspeople working in wood, glass, mosaics and jewellery.
The annual event offers a chance to talk to artists about their work, watch demonstrations and even have a go yourself. Many items are for sale, ranging from postcards and prints for a few pounds to large-scale original works costing thousands.
The full programme includes 174 artists across South Oxfordshire whose work is on show until May 14.
Some towns, like Watlington, boast dozens of individual artists showing off their works, with some collaborating in shared spaces like those at Turville Studios or at Greenfield Farm at Christmas Common, which even boasts a pop-up cafe.
The focus moves to north and west Oxfordshire from May 13-21, when another 171 artists have their works on show.
The last week of the event runs from May 20-29 with another 100+ exhibitors in and around the city of Oxford.
You can browse full details of artists and locations, flick through a festival e-guide or dowload the full 2023 festival guide as a pdf.
Some artists on display include those who have featured on The Beyonder’s Local Landscapes page in the past, like Jane Duff and Christine Bass.
Others include Beyonder members like Joanne Lillywhite, another artist who frequently draws inspiration from local landscapes and woodlands.
All venues are drop-in and free to visit. Opening hours are generally 11am-6pm: they vary however, so confirm the times for individual venues before travelling.
