CITY CREATIVES

York Open Studios returns from 15–16 April and 21–22 April, and here are some of the highlights to keep an eye out for

The two York Open Studios weekends in April are fast approaching. More than 150 artists and makers within the city and a 10 mile radius of York will open their doors to visitors to enjoy a diverse range of mediums including painting and print, illustration, drawing and mixed media, ceramics, glass and sculpture, jewellery, textiles, photography and installation art. It’s a unique opportunity to view and buy art and an insight into their inspirations, processes and skills. New to York Open Studios 2023, as well as much-collected regular artists, include Emma Yeoman who works on intricate displays of flora and fauna, varying from sculpture to canvas that will be exhibited within the grounds of York St John University; Anna Vialle, who’s delicately stippled pen and watercolour drawings of birds, insects and landscapes are inspired by the style, colours and composition of both Victorian natural history prints and Japanese woodblock prints; Michelle Hughes, whose linocut prints of British landscapes and wildlife feature the Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire Coast, North York Moors and Lake District, as well as the wildlife that inhabits them; Amy Stubbs, whose beautiful textiles include surface pattern designs influenced by nostalgia and family heritage, and who develops her designs using both manual and digital printmaking techniques, later applying them to home furnishings and fine art prints; and Philip Magson's mostly white glazed stoneware hand-thrown pots will be o ered alongside his homeware as well as individual vessels, often composites of thrown shapes decorated with abstract pattern.

York Open Studios continues to champion emerging artists, and this year three bursary artists showcase their work over the weekends: Peter Baker, site specific installation at Fishergate Postern Tower; Jade Blood, community textiles; and Sam Edward, who hides tiny sculptures around the city for people to find during the weekends. Throughout York City Centre, Sam has scattered small concrete sculptures, 'Monuments', resembling obelisks, monoliths and memorials but scaled down, to memorialise moments from York. Sam has snatched overheard conversations and appropriated text to commemorate the time we are living in. In the studio you will find the production behind 'Miniature Monuments' and see the process live as an ongoing work.

York Open Studios not only continues to set the bar in 2023 for diversity and inspiration, it also provides a lovely way to enjoy the city of York and its environs.

For more information, visit yorkopenstudios.co.uk