Culture

Hampshire Open Studios

Hampshire Open Studios is an annual art trail where the visiting public can meet artists in their homes, studios and galleries free of charge - 21st to 30th August 2021

With over 250 venues open, in the ten days leading up to bank holiday Monday 30th August, visitors can get the opportunity to meet the makers direct and learn more about the work.

Our colour catalogue has more details or view online – if you are not sure where to start some mini-trails have been suggested for each area around the county. Visitors can also enter a prize draw to win £100 towards artwork from your favourite Hampshire Open Studios artist.

There are a wide variety of venues to see along with every type of art and craft on offer in the region, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, glass, furniture, jewellery and many more. Entry is free and to find your nearest venue check the website or look out for the pink direction arrows that will guide you to the artists’ doors.

Some highlights across the Meon Valley region

In Swanmore you can visit the studio of Margaret Ferrone who will be showing contemporary landscape paintings inspired by coast and countryside.

Margaret says ‘Drawing directly from life is fundamental and underlies my artwork. Inspiration derives from a diverse range that attracts my attention, maybe the light, colour, contrast or complexity. Historical changes to our surroundings often create mood and atmosphere that I hope to convey with pattern, line, colour, texture and light as well as the relation of one shape to another.’ This year Margaret is also joined by local artists Sue Halloway, Don Richards and Simmi Whish and is open daily 10am – 5pm throughout Hampshire Open Studios.

A short drive away is Mountwood Pottery at Shedfield. They will be exhibiting an extensive range of stoneware pottery, domestic tableware, garden fountains, pots for Bonsai, orchids, succulents and tillandsia. Also various other craftwork including jewellery, wool, willow and wood.

In Bishops Waltham you can explore the studio of Lara Duncan working in contemporary fused glass inspired by the love of the Hampshire countryside. A unique range of quality gifts including jewellery; Memorial Ashes jewellery; homewares; splashbacks; landscape and flower art.

In Hambledon you can visit David Corbin who enjoys making wearable jewellery in an organic form working primarily in silver with gold detailing for commissions or one off pieces or David and Michele Griffiths showing woven cushions and mats, in bright subtle colour combinations alongside calm contemporary abstract paintings. Nearby in Denmead are studios of Tony McNally portrait artist and Scott Alexander who shows collection of colourful impressionist oil paintings depicting nature.

Go to the Hampshire Open Studios website www. hampshireopenstudios.org.uk to find all the maps, access information and opening times for each venue in your area. Artists are very much looking forward to inviting you once again to their studios and galleries. They will be making every effort for your visit to be enjoyable, creative and safe. Visiting guidance will be on the website so please do check that to help you make the most of your days out!

Painting by Margaret Ferrone

Mountwood Pottery, Shedfield

Winchester Heritage Open Days

10th-19th September 2021

The sixth year of Heritage Open Days is nearly here, and they are fun, fabulous and FREE! Building on the success of the ‘pandemic’ festival in 2020, which attracted a global audience, the programme for 2021 is a hybrid of in-person and digital events. Now run by Hampshire History Trust, a new, exciting Charitable Incorporated Organisation established to celebrate the rich and diverse history and heritage of the county of Hampshire, plans are to expand Heritage Open Days into a wider ‘festival’, to introduce community projects such as a Blue Plaque scheme and further develop the brilliant Hampshire HistBites podcasts. For more information visit their website at www.hampshirehistorytrust.com

For this year’s Open Days, the national team have set a challenge for event organisers across the country to encompass the theme of Edible England. And Hampshire has accepted the challenge!

The festival will share the broadest possible spectrum of events and stories, from revealing culinary tastes of the past to going behind-thescenes of modern production methods – and everything in-between. All this in addition to many more events that will draw people’s interest into Winchester and its surrounds!

Digital events will include pre-recorded walks and talks, live streaming of lectures and performances, and specially commissioned films and audio available on Winchester Heritage Open Days’ very own YouTube and podcast channels. There will also be a wide range of great in-person events to enjoy. With performances, exhibitions, activities, talks and tours, you are bound to find something to appeal to you and your family. Why not invite friends who are not lucky enough to live in Hampshire to come and join in the fun – virtually or in-person?

Not surprisingly, tickets are in high demand for special one-off events and the much-coveted behind-the scenes tours of buildings not normally open to the public. Do visit the website and book early to avoid disappointment. The festival is organised and run entirely by a small group of enthusiastic volunteers who all give up their time for free. We are grateful to them and to the many businesses, organisations and individuals for their goodwill and generosity, particularly our lead sponsor, Winchester College for its ongoing support and for opening its doors to so many wonderful events.

We look forward to welcoming you to Winchester Heritage Open Days.

Here are just some of this year’s highlights...

• Winchester College Guided Tours • ‘Unlocking the secrets of Abbey Gardens and Mill’ Tour • 2Time Theatre’s performance of ‘Pies & Prejudice’ at

Abbey House • Moon Roast Coffee Heritage & Roastery Tour • ‘Canon Street 100 years ago’ walking tour with

John Pilkington • Sir Harold Hillier Gardens ‘Founders Favourites’ Tour • Hyde900 medieval tile-making workshop • Whitchurch Silk Mill Food Festival • Longstock Water Gardens Tour at Leckford Estate • ‘Discover England’s Lost Spices’ at Proudfoot & Co • Winchester High Street Edible England Trail • ‘Creating with Costumes and Resurrecting Recipes’ • Westgate and City Museum Open Days • Hospital of St Cross Open Day • Romsey Signal Box • Winchester Muse Poetry at St Lawrence Church • Gilbert White’s Brewhouse • The Great Hall ‘Feast and Famine’ Historical Tour • In Jane Austen’s Footsteps: Chawton Village

Guided Walk

Our online box office is now open for bookings. Please visit the website for more information - www.winchesterheritageopendays.org/the-2021-festival

10th-19th September 2021

Still fun, fabulous and free

Join us again as we journey behind closed doors and share tales of the past through walks, talks, exhibitions, performances, workshops and tours.

Building on the success of 2020, which had a global audience, this year’s Heritage Open Days offers a hybrid of in-person and digital events. Many of them you will be able to just turn up to on the day, but others will need to be booked in advance through our online box office.

Sign up to our newsletter and look out for activities and great resources being shared on our website, social media accounts and podcast channel.