2010 Rutland Open Studios

Rutland Artists Open Studios are delighted to announce the 4th annual event which will run throughout the county this June. Building upon the huge success of the last three years, 79 local artists will open their doors or shared spaces and invite the public to view their work, and in some cases see them in action.

Perhaps surprising to those not in the know, Rutland is a hot-bed of creative contemporary art; the wealth of genuine talent within the smallest county in England is truly breathtaking. Some big names such as internationally renowned landscape painter Alan Oliver and sculptor Tessa Pullan have kept Rutland on the map. Other notable names include painter Anne Goold, cartoonist Patrick Latham and Barnsdale Gardens' resident botanic artist Sandra Peck. Meanwhile newcomers to ROS bring fresh ideas; graphic artist Matthew Parford has boosted Stamford's art scene by setting up Artclub to encourage young people and youth groups to explore their creative sides, whilst modern-style animal portraitist Sarah Watson has quit a career in the music industry promoting artists such as Johnny Rotten and Bryan Ferry to become an artist herself. Indeed, many of the ROS artists have a story to tell where their art has brought about a new found freedom: Julie Wade, who now paints and recycles found objects destined for landfill into beautiful textile pieces, had to give up her job when she developed MS and describes her art as 'a soul saver!'.

Some ROS artists have discovered a passion for their particular medium as a reaction to a previous life, such as Deborah Carpenter who, after years earning a living with painstaking hand-drawn typesetting and calligraphy, now revels in painting “the beauty of the accidental, the blotch of ink, the flood of watercolour that I hadn't expected”. Jane Sanders, on the other hand, took her inspiration from the natural colours of 'art on a plate' as a professional chef, to painting directly onto ceramics. Jan Burridge claims its “all in the genes” as she marvels at the versatility of her chosen medium, clay, following in the footsteps of her late geologist father.
Rutland itself has of course also inspired many of the ROS artists, with elements of its beautiful landscape echoed, for example, in Gizella Warburton's abstract mixed media collages or its stunning wildlife in Victoria George's Art on Wood. One tiny village, Twyford, is home to a host of artists, three of which will be exhibiting at their studios this year: Frances Lowe (batik), Jean Baker (mixed media) and Gay Mayes (watercolour).

Rutland Open Studios was started in 2007 by husband and wife team, the painter Roy Holley and sculptor Mo Gardner who run Lodge Learning Arts Studios in Morcott. The event has now become a key fixture in the Rutland cultural calendar bringing together an impressive community of successful artists who are passionate about sharing their work with the public. Visiting any of the 37 exhibition venues across the county will be a memorable and unique experience for a family day out as much as for the art connoisseur.

To find out where all 79 artists are exhibiting, pick up a free brochure or go to www.rutlandopenstudios.co.uk
For further information on Rutland Open Studios 2010 please contact Sarah Watson on
01572 812 553 / 0774 811 0951 / sarah@wonkydogs.com