Local artists are able to safely come together once again to open their studios for 2021, with more than 385 participants combined taking part in both the Peterborough Artists’ Open Studios (PAOS) and Cambridge Open Studios (COS) events. After cancellations in 2020, artists all across the county are eager and excited to be able to welcome visitors to view their works and workspaces this July!

From Market Deeping just north of Peterborough down to Little Sampford near Saffron Walden and from Fordham in the East across to Yelling in the West, residents of and visitors to the region will be able to find an open studios not far around the corner with outdoor and indoor showcases planned in accordance with latest COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Open Studios are a really great example of social collaboration, bringing together the creative community through organised events and providing an opportunity for the wider community to meet the artists face-to-face, buy directly from the creator and even catch a demonstration or two in working studios. Whether you plan a self-guided tour or just drop by on spontaneous visits – make sure to keep an eye out for the distinctive red and yellow flags when you are out and about!

What takes your fancy? Be it woodwork, pottery, jewellery, photography, sculpture, embroidery, painting, glasswork, printmaking, sketching, fibre art, mixed media, digital art or textiles – there’s an abundance of creativity to be discovered.

PETERBOROUGH ARTISTS’ OPEN STUDIOS

PAOS 2021 kicked off this last weekend and is also running across the weekends of 3-4 and 10-11 July. The organisation is celebrating its 21st anniversary year, with 85 out of their 127 members participating at a range of venues across the PE postcode area and lots of artists taking part for the first time.

Jackie Hall, PAOS Chair, has said: “It’s great to be back as many people missed their Peterborough Artists’ Open Studios visits last year, meeting and chatting to the very talented makers and creators based around the Greater Peterborough area.”

It is advised that you do plan your visits ahead of time, as some of the artists are not open every weekend, and check each artist’s webpage before travelling in case they have had to change their plans last minute due to the current situation. Find out opening times, see examples of works and search the artists here.

Download the programmes for Peterborough Artists’ Open Studios and Cambridge Open Studios here:

CAMBRIDGE OPEN STUDIOS 2021

COS 2021 is a popular month-long event running across the weekends of 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25 July. The organisation has announced that over 300 artists are participating this year at a selection of locations in the city and surrounding areas with 40 new members taking part.

In addition to home studios, there are nine art galleries hosting resident artists and some members have opted for window displays similar to last year’s Cambridge Open Windows. COS have also partnered with The Pitt Building (Trumpington Street, Cambridge) where a wide range of artists will be exhibiting.

The iOS digital app is available to download here and is an easy way to access information with options to search by medium, location, weekend and artist name. Studios are free to visit, open from 11-6PM and visitors are guaranteed a warm and friendly welcome with absolutely no pressure whatsoever to buy. If you do not have access to the app, you can find everything you need here.

Please note that for both events some artists will be opening by appointment only.

PARTICIPATING MEMBERS

There are 21 #WeAreCambsCreatives members taking part this year – find all the details below.

PAOS 2021:

Stacey-Ann Cole

Figurative and abstract paintings; 3-4 & 10-11 July at Norman Cross Gallery, Peterborough PE7 3TB

Margaret Mallows

Printmaking; 3-4 & 10-11 July at 12 Front Road, Wisbech PE13 4HU

COS 2021:

Maree Allitt

Handcrafted ceramics; 3-4 & 10-11 July at St Barnabas Press, Cambridge CB1 3EW

Cheryl Bird & Linda Bartlett

Handcrafted jewellery; 10-11 & 17-18 July at The Garden Studio, Milton CB24 6AW

Birgitte Bruun

Silver and gold jewellery; 3-4 & 10-11 July at 28 Radegund Road, Cambridge CB1 3RS

Bex Burston & Ruth Fairhead

Fused glass and ceramics; 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18 July at 1 Mustills Lane, Over CB24 5PW

Laura Chaplin

Fine-art printmaking; 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 & 24-25 July at The Orchard, Caxton CB23 3PQ

Naomi Davies

Pen and watercolour paintings; 3-4 & 10-11 July at 151 Hobart Road, Cambridge CB1 3PS

Clive Dawson

Acrylic paintings; 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18 July at 7 Narrow Close, Histon CB24 9XX

Richard Heeps

Photography; 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 & 24-25 July at 2 Springfield Road, Cambridge CB4 1AD

Alison Hullyer

Illustration and printmaking; 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18 July at Smallstone, Milton CB24 6AQ

Cheryl Liston

Oil paintings; 3-4 & 10-11 July at The Pitt Building, Cambridge CB2 1RP

Maureen Mace

Painting and urban sketching; 24-25 July at 309 Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XQ

Emma Malfroy

Collage and paintings; 3-4 & 17-18 July at 11A Oakington Road, Cottenham CB24 8TW

Sara Rawlinson

Photography; 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 & 24-25 July at 58 Beche Road, Cambridge CB5 8HU

Caroline Forward

Oil and cold wax medium paintings; 17-18 & 24-25 July at Riverside Arts, Little Ouse CB7 4TG

Sarah McGonigle & Hannah McGonigle

Paintings and fine-line drawing; 10-11 & 17-18 July at TRIA, Oakington CB24 3DQ

Susan Widlake

Millinery and textiles; 3-4 & 10-11 July at Grantchester Village Hall, Grantchester CB3 9NG

Do head on over to #PAOS2021 and #COSArt2021 on Instagram to see more posts from the participating artists – we have really enjoyed following along with the build up to both events during recent weeks. As we noted last year too, if you are unable to get out at the moment then this is also a great way of accessing the events virtually and getting to know your local artists online!

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Keep up-to-date with what is happening across Cambridgeshire’s creative scene by subscribing to receive our latest news posts via email – and follow our #CambsCreativeScene tag on Instagram.

If you enjoy content from The Trove Cambridge then please consider supporting what we do by buying us a “coffee” at: ko-fi.com/thetrovecambridge

Across all four weekends in July, members of Cambridge Open Studios are taking part in the #OpenWindows2020 initiative founded by Denise Harrison, a fine-art painter based in Brighton. This fantastic project encourages artists, some of whom would normally show their work through open studio events, to display their artwork in their windows to brighten up people’s daily walk.

The popular annual Cambridge Open Studios event had to be cancelled this year due to COVID-19 but it has been great to see our local artists pulling together to find an alternative way to showcase their work. There has been a real sense of excitement building over the last few weeks within the local creative community ahead of the Cambridge Open Windows trails which start today, Saturday 4th July.

Cambridge Open Windows offers members of the public here in Cambridgeshire the opportunity to enjoy art and embrace community spirit at a time when things are still very uncertain.

Cambridge Open Studios have put together a map of the artists taking part in Cambridge, another for out-of-town artists and two further trails for Histon and Ely – you can download and print the maps here and start planning your artwork treasure hunt!

The idea for Cambridge Open Windows came from Kate Green Art, a member of Cambridge Open Studios and #WeAreCambsCreatives, who says: “COS is sadly one of the many many things to have been cancelled this year for artists due to coronavirus. Being the biggest event in my calendar income wise, this is really disappointing – but it’s not just about money, it’s also a deadline to work towards creatively/professionally, and an opportunity to increase ones audience and connections.”

When Kate heard about other artists getting involved with alternative events across the country she approached the organisation with her ideas for open windows. She has since helped to organise the event and says it is important “to invest in our communities at this challenging time, bringing colour to our streets and cheering people up.”

Throughout lockdown we have been inspired by the connections formed within communities through creative activities – rainbow window installations and rock snakes to name just two! You do not need to be a member to get involved in Cambridge Open Windows and Kate says, “the more the merrier”.

Head over to #COSArt2020 on Instagram to see more posts from the artists themselves – we will definitely be following along and are looking forward to heading out to discover the trails ourselves! If you are unable to get out at the moment then this is also a great way of accessing the event virtually and getting to know your local artists online.

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Keep up-to-date with what is happening across Cambridgeshire’s creative scene by subscribing to receive our latest news posts via email – and follow our #CambsCreativeScene tag on Instagram.

If you enjoy content from The Trove Cambridge then please consider supporting what we do by buying us a “coffee” at: ko-fi.com/thetrovecambridge