More than 100 artists in and around Witney are part of a group of 1000 artists and designer-makers preparing to turn the whole county into a giant art gallery for the Oxfordshire Artweeks 40th anniversary in May (7-29). With 30 venues in a six-mile radius open over a ten-day period there’s ever so much to see.
You are invited to visit artists’ open studios and pop-up exhibitions – all for free – in interesting and welcoming venues where you’ll find paintings and photos, sculpture, pottery, wood-carving, jewellery and more. Not only that, but you’ll also have the chance to talk to the makers about their methods, materials, and inspiration. Just drop in; no appointment necessary.
The Early Birds…
Derwent House
(Artweeks venue 365) 3 Bridge Street, OX28 1BY
Showcasing handcrafted furniture, textiles, ceramics, glass, and homewares by more than 25 top-notch British designer-makers and local artists.
7-28 (closed Sundays and Mondays), 9.30am-5.30pm
SOTA Gallery
(Artweeks venue 367) SOTA Gallery, Langdale Court
A local, independent, and unique art gallery wide-ranging art and craft by many talented artists in the heart of town. Ceramics, glass, jewellery, painting, pottery, printmaking, sculpture, wood, and framing too. artweeks.org/v/sota-gallery
7-28 (closed Sundays), 9am-5pm
Kencot Art Group
(Artweeks venue 368) Congregational Church Witney, 4 Welch Way
Working with Witney Inner Wheel, Kencot Art Gorup are hosting an exhibition of drawings and painting which is open for one day only.
Friday 20 May, 10am-4pm
Then ARTWEEKS in Witney
Andrew Forkner | Kerry Forkner
(Artweeks venue 364) 149 Manor Road OX28 3UF
See stunning wildlife paintings and drawings; hand-dyed, quilted and embroidered textiles and jewellery.
21-29 May, 11am-6pm
Alex Long
(Artweeks venue 366) 42 Dark Lane, OX28 6LX
A talented emerging artist, new to Artweeks, is showing plein air/studio landscape and townscape oil paintings of the local area and beyond.
23-29 May, 11am-6pm (by appt only)
Visit two studios at Crawley Mill
Jessica Parker
(Artweeks venue 369) Kingfisher Studios, Unit 30 Crawley Mill Industrial Estate Dry Lane, Crawley OX29 9TJ
See landscapes in mixed media using acrylic paint in bold worked up in layers give Jessica’s art depth, texture and terrific atmosphere.
Meg Harris of May I Design
(Artweeks venue 370) May I Design Studio, Unit 18C, Crawley Mill Industrial Estate, Dry Lane, Crawley OX29 9TJ
Freehand machine embroidery originals and contemporary stitched designs printed onto homeware and stationery products.
21-29 May, 10am-4pm
Head to Minster Lovell to see
Chantal Krugel WOA
(Artweeks venue 371) 11 St Kenelms Close, Minster Lovell OX29 0SN
Chantal invites you into her home studio and gallery space where she creates figurative expressionist paintings and sculptures.
21-29 May, 11am-6pm (by appointment only)
LOOK NORTH
Julia Ogborne
(Artweeks venue 354) Hawthorn Cottage, Witney Road, Finstock OX7 3DE
Vibrant and joyful, abstract landscapempaintings, exhibited in a delightful Cotswold home.
21-22 & 26-29 May, 11am-5pm
Wilcote Art
(Artweeks venue 355) Hunts Copse, Wilcote Riding, Wilcote OX73DX
Explore the work of 15 artists work at Wilcote Art, in a beautiful rural setting. Visit the exhibition space and the individual studios to see ceramics, drawing, jewellery, painting, pottery, sculpture, wood and conceptual art in this large set of artist studios tucked away deep in the countryside.
21-22 & 27-29 May, 11am-5pm
Four venues in Stonesfield
Claire Fyfe-Jackson
(Artweeks venue 350) Sarts Cottage, The Ridings, Stonesfield OX29 8EA
Showing new work: designer jewellery, recycled metal sculptures & paintings. Guaranteed to be an interesting visit!
21-22 & 27-29 May, 11am-6pm
Grey Cat Studio
(Artweeks venue 351) Malton Croft, Woodlands Rise, Stonesfield OX29 8PL
See jewellery, painting, printmaking and more by artists Rachael Sherlaw-Johnson, Rebecca Sherlaw-Johnson, Jenny Lines & Kerry Burniston.
21-22 & 28-29 May, 11am-5pm
Hannelore Meinhold-Morgan
(Artweeks venue 352) Boot Barn Pottery, Boot Street, Stonesfield OX29 8PX
Ceramics: one-off sculptural, hand-built and wheel-thrown ceramic pieces in the open studio of an acclaimed potter.
28-29 May, 1pm-6pm
Lisa Lee of Cotswold Glass Creations
(Artweeks venue 353) Tryfan House, 3 Pickett Piece, Stonesfield OX29 8FH
New to Artweeks with stunning and colourful kiln-formed glass.
22, 25, 27 & 29 May (Suns, Wed & Fri) 11am-6pm
Maureen Gillespie
(Artweeks venue 348 and 349) Elm Wood, 174 Main Road, Long Hanborough OX29 8JZ
A selection of oil paintings, Giclee prints and silk scarves by Maureen Gillespie and sculpture by established sculptor Marie Shepherd exploring the sensitivity and humour in animals and the flowing shape of fruits
21-22 24 27-29 May 1pm-5pm
LOOK EAST
Jane and Paul Tomlinson
(Artweeks venue 356) 7 Pigeon House Lane, Freeland OX29 8AG
Perennially popular with Artweeks visitors. Nature and local buildings in two different styles - drawing & painting, observation & imagination, colour & calm, light & shade. Oh and wonderful quirky maps too.
21-22 & 28-29 May, 12pm-5.30pm
Two venues in Cassington:
Godfrey Phillips | Amanda Bonfiglioli | David Brown
(Artweeks venue 357) Garden Cottage Studio, Bell Lane, Cassington OX29 4DS
Three artists get together through collaboration and conversation. A range of recent works in ceramic, painting & sculpture shown in a personal gallery & studio space.
21-29 May, 11am-6pm
Kevin Hinton
(Artweeks venue 358) Mill Lane House, Mill Lane, Cassington OX29 4DL
Drawing, Painting everyday things in pen, ink or coloured pencil, with other works in oils. Limited edition giclée prints & some original pieces for sale.
21-22 & 26-29 May, 11am-6pm
An Eynsham village trail:
Eric White
(Artweeks venue 359) 28 Mill Street, Eynsham OX29 4JS
Delectably delicious local landscapes with a modern twist in sumptuous pastel and acrylics.
21-22 & 26-29 May, 11am-6pm (Sun 12-6pm)
Alison Holmans
(Artweeks venue 360) The New House, Tanners Lane, Eynsham OX29 4HJ
of Chicken Run Studio shows wheel thrown & handbuilt, stoneware & Raku ceramics inspired by nature & her NZ heritage. Sometimes quirky.
21-23 26-28 May 11am-6pm
Peter Shrimpton
(Artweeks venue 361) Tanner’s Lane
sculpture assembled out of recycled & reclaimed metals
Alice Walker | Anne Gingell
(Artweeks venue 362) The New Barn, Oxford Road, Swinford nr Eynsham OX29 4BP
Drawing, painting, printmaking & sculpture: playful compositions of colour to illuminate the heart and joyfully celebrate nature.
21-22 & 28-29 May, 11am-5pm
Alison Berrett
(Artweeks venue 363) at 2 Newfield Cottages, Eynsham OX29 4BG
Discover bold, colourful, energetic paintings and drawings inspired by the natural world with
21-22 & 26-29 May, 11am-5pm
HEAD SOUTH
Blooming Bampton
West Ox Arts Gallery in the centre of the village is a lovely airy art space that’s always a pleasure to visit – if you’ve never been, you should! For Artweeks (from 7th May) it is hosting ten artists – some Artweeks favourites and some new faces – with art ranging from contemporary figurative oils, still-lifes & en-plein air landscapes of the Cotswolds to joyful florals and seascapes.
Nik Stanbridge
(Artweeks venue 382) Lane End, Cheyne Lane, Bampton OX18 2HB
Nik is showing minimalist monochrome photographic studies of the landscape, all shot on analogue film.
21-29 May, 11am-6pm
Tuula Nicholson
(Artweeks venue 383) Wisteria, Church View, Bampton OX18 2NE
In a stunning spot in the heart of the village, browse contemporary stylish handmade wood, slate & stone sculptures and unique home and garden products. There’s an iconic simplicity about Stik Designs and they’re stunning in this large gallery-style setting, open only for Artweeks.
21-29 May, 11am-5pm
Neville Crowson WOA
(Artweeks venue 375) Blomfield House, Cote nr Bampton OX18 2EG
Traditional plein-air landscapes, seascapes, garden scenes, still life and church interiors are on view in Neville’s house and lovely garden. Expect colour and warmth!
21-29 May, 11am-6pm
LOOK WEST
Nic Vickery | Chris Townsend | Guen Palmer
(Artweeks venue 375, 374, 372) The Old Forge, Asthall Barrow Farm OX18 4HJ
animal artist with a quirky caravan-studio is setting up for Artweeks at sculptor Chris Townsend’s metalworking barn and ourtyard. Here too see contemporary jewellery designed & handmade by Guen Palmer using precious materials with unusual gemstones & pearls
21-29 May, 11am-5pm
Got2b
(Artweeks venue 389) The Allendale, 8 Burford Road, Carterton OX18 3AA
In Carterton, community group Got2b is exhibiting handmade goods and artwork produced by young people who attend their local clubs and workshops
26-28 May, 10am-5pm
And last but not least- Burford
Piotr Gargas and Martin Cash
(Artweeks venue 390) Shilton Road, Burford OX18 4PA
Begin perhaps at The Gallery at Burford Garden Company where alongside an established gallery, there’s now new sculpture garden with pieces by Witney sculptor Piotr Gargas and his colleague Martin Cash who will be demonstrating stone carving for Artweeks.
9am-6pm (Sundays 11am-5pm)
There’s then plenty more to see in Upton, Fulbrook and several great venues in Shipton-under-Wychwood. So much to see!
For more details on these venues and more visit www.artweeks.org or to browse an on-line art showcase.
