Sunny visits and new exhibitions

Hello there!

Now that I'm thoroughly settled into my studio I have started working on a number of new pieces in preparation for my forthcoming exhibition Down Hidden Tracks. Having done a fair few small pieces so far, I have got stuck in with some larger projects, one of which I got finished today. A few weeks ago we took a lovely trip to Duncombe Park in Helmsley, where I dropped off my picture 'The Terrace Temples' to Mr.Duncombe himself! It is lovely to know that the piece is going to be displayed in the very place it's based on, and a huge compliment that someone so familiar with the temples likes the work. After handing over the picture we took a walk around the grounds and visited the temples in question, and I felt immediately inspired to start another papercut. The Ionic temple looked lovely in the sun and there was cow parsley everywhere - here is a snap I took on the day and my finished picture.

 

Tomorrow I am heading over to Wensleydale to assist in the hanging of my dad's solo exhibition Tales of the Dales. The exhibition, which officially opens on Saturday, July 27th, is inspired by stories, myths and rumours from the dales and moors. The exhibition of paintings and prints will be on display at Wensley Church until August 11th. I shall be enjoying a glass of wine at the church tomorrow evening for the exhibition preview, where an accompanying book about the exhibition is also being launched.

Finally, I have now finished my piece on the Triangular Lodge at Rushton. I'm very pleased with the piece, but is has given me some ideas around using a darker colour in the background, to ensure that the detail doesn't get lost. What do you think?

Have a great weekend!

Rosie x

Finding follies

Hello!

It is shameful that I haven't written a blog for so long, but I am going to excuse myself just this once as we got the keys for our beautiful new house on July 5th, so before and after was a little hectic and my studio consisted of a pile of boxes. I'm incredibly pleased to say that I have been upgraded from working in our living/dining room to having use of the spare room now, which is just fantastic after nearly two years of having to pack my work away every evening! I now get to look out of the window at my little garden, swooping swallows and the backs of the houses on our quiet street by the river in south York.

The new studio

It's great getting back to papercutting too, after a little break. My exhibition 'Down Hidden Tracks' draws ever closer and I am miles away from covering all the subjects I want to cover, let alone getting on with publicity and working on the catalogue. I am getting a some help though -  having met some lovely people from the Folly Fellowship at North Yorkshire Open Studios in June, I was very excited to be contacted by them this week and told that they would like to do an article about me for their summer magazine. This will be my first ever magazine feature, and it's brilliant knowing that it's going to be read by folly lovers. I hope I'll get to meet more members at the exhibition in September.

Before diving head first into northern follies however, I have a few pieces left to finish for the Itch gallery in Oakham, Rutland. I got one completed earlier this week, of a striking structure in south Lincolnshire called Belmont Tower. The tower can be seen from Belton House down a 2 mile long tree-lined walkway, and I have wanted to work on it since I first started researching follies. I chose to make a flat collage of this one and loved the contrast of sharp lines and flowers/trees.

I have just today finished cutting one of my most difficult subjects to date - the Triangular Lodge at Rushton. This mind boggling building was built by Thomas Tresham, a devoted catholic, and the folly's design is excessively influenced by the number 3 (presumably in reference to the holy trinity). Three sides, each measuring 33 feet, three stories etc, right down to the tiny ornate details.  I have not found it easy to draw and cut this building and I strongly suspect I will be having another go in the future, but this is how it's looking so far.

Well, I think I will get back to work, more updates very soon.

Rosie

Further afield....

Hello there!

Well, North Yorkshire Open Studios is done for another year. It's amazing how much intense preparation leads to an event that just whizzes by. I had a great time though, we had a fantastic number of visitors through, many of whom bought my brand new cards, and who allowed me to persistently publicise my exhibition Down Hidden Tracks. I'm feeling very positive about the events ahead, the first being Art in the Pen in August.

This week I'm enjoying the nice feeling of having got a big event out of the way, and being able to focus on something else. And at the top of my list is a small collection of work for the lovely Itch Gallery in Oakham. I have had my work in the gallery for about a year, and I keep finding exciting subjects in the area to work on. I was very excited to discover that a folly tower I have long admired, Belmont Tower in south Lincolnshire, was actually fairly close by, thus giving me an excuse to start a new picture. I have decided to go back to my flat papercut collage format for this piece (though given the stunning views towards the tower from Belton House, I'm sure I'll be doing a pinned piece soon), and have reached the end of the cutting stage today, so I thought I'd give you a preview.

Belmont Tower, Lincolnshire

The tower can be seen from the hall at the end of two mile long tree-lined walkway. The brickwork is stunning, as are the windows (which do look at little like eyes). The tower apparently used to have an arch either side of the main archway originally, but these have been demolished, leaving this slightly bizarre structure, nicknamed 'Lord Brownlow's Trousers'.

I've also finished a couple of pieces destined for Fountains Hall this September in the last week. The first is based on the lovely pond-side view of the Mausoleum at Castle Howard, the second completes my Terrace Temples pair, based on the leafy walkway at Rievaulx Abbey.

The Mausoleum from the pond, Castle Howard

The Terrace Temples ii, Rievaulx Abbey

That's all from me this week, have a lovely weekend.

Rosie

Open studios this weekend!

Hello!

Just a quick blog to show you what you'll be missing if you don't come and visit us at North Yorkshire Open Studios this weekend! I had great time last weekend, exhibiting alongside Charlotte Morrison, Ian Scott Massie and Josie Beszant in  the ArtisOn studios. We had some lovely visitors, and ate lots of delicious cake (homemade by us of course). Here's how things are looking...

 

 

 

 

This weekend we'll be doing it all over again, and then that's it for another year, so if you fancy popping in, checking out a great mix of work and having a chat with some coffee and cake, come down this weekend and see us! While you're in the area you can also visit Hester Cox in her studio in Masham, and pop into the gallery to see my exhibition Paperworks, which I assure you is definitely worth a visit.

North Yorkshire Open Studios

Hello!

I have been trying to get round to doing some blogging all week, as this weekend is the start of North Yorkshire Open Studios so I wanted to tell you all about it. But for that very reason, I have been snowed under with framing, packing cards and other exciting preparation, so I'm only just getting round to it!

This will be my second year taking part in Open Studios, a county-wide event involving artists and makers working in all mediums. It gives visitors a chance to see artists at work, in their own studios and homes, or in my case, in the wonderful ArtisOn studios just outside Masham. The event is free, though you may need your car if your planning to visit a number of studios as some of us are out in the sticks, but you'll get a nice warm welcome and maybe a cup of tea wherever you choose to go.

I had a great time last year exhibiting along side Charlotte Morrison, Josie Beszant and Ian Scott Massie (who is, of course, my dad). We got loads of lovely visitors, who enjoyed learning about our work and the ArtisOn studios, as well as eating the lovely array of homemade cakes we provided (honestly, baking for open studios is one of my favourite bits of the event). We'll be doing it all again this year so please drop by if you can. The event runs over the 8th/9th and the 15th/16th of June.




Charlotte Morrison





Josie Beszant



Ian Scott Massie

I have managed to gather together the largest ever collection of work, including lots of new pieces (like these ones below), and I can't wait to get over there and hang them! I am also going to be selling cards for the first time, so there will be lots to see.

Banqueting House, Studley Royal

The Temple, Allerton Castle

For more information on the event and the artists involved visit the NYOS site here. You will find maps, a list of artists to visit and much more.

I hope to see you at the weekend!

On the trail

Hello!

I've just returned from a little trip out to the lovely village of Saltaire, so I thought right now might be a good time to do a spot of blogging. I visited the UNESCO world heritage village, which is situated near Bradford to drop of a selection of my prints and pinned work for the Saltaire Arts Trail this weekend. It's my first year taking part in the event, but I had heard lots about it long before I decided to apply. The arts trail takes place over the whole of the bank holiday weekend, and gives visitors the opportunity to see contemporary art and craft in the perfect setting - inside the homes of many Saltaire residents! A great number of generous people are turning their kitchens, hallways and living rooms into galleries for the trail, each house hosting the work of a handful of artists and makers. My work will be on display at 1 Myrtle Place, home of the Saltaire Book Shop (number 10 on the trail), along with work by painter Claire West, printmaker Janine Denby, glass maker Lydia Haines and paper sculptors Bonkers Clutterbucks.

While you are in Saltaire perusing the open houses you can also pop into the Victoria Hall, and check out the Maker's Fair, or have a visit to the stunning Salts Mill. Or simply wander the streets, green with envy at the beautiful houses, as I did this morning.

I shall be back in Saltaire myself on Sunday, hanging out at my trail spot as well as taking a look at some of the other open houses, so do pop in and say hello! My goods friend Charlotte Morrison and Janis Goodman are also taking part in the open houses, and checking out the website I can see many more intriguing artists on the list....

Rosie x

Opening Night...

Hello!

Last week I was enjoying a nice few days away in Norway, having a little bit of time off before a very busy week this week. The exhibition I have been organising at Masham Gallery is opening this evening, and I've spent the week hanging the show, arranging beautiful paper objects, printing prices and crossing my fingers for a successful preview evening! It was like Christmas in the gallery on Tuesday, unwrapping all the lovely deliveries from the Paperworks artists, and enjoying a cup of tea with Sarah Morpeth, who dropped this beautiful piece off.

Bee Book, Sarah Morpeth

I am really excited to be unveiling some new pieces of mine too, as over the last few months I've come up with a few pics that I'm particularly happy with. My personal favourite for this exhibition is this latest depiction of the banqueting house, Hackfall. I love this subject and have included it in pinned pieces, collages and prints before, but I think this piece is the best so far!

The opening of Paperworks is the first in a string of events over the next month - next week a small collection of my work will be on display in the lovely village of Saltaire for their Art Festival. I am taking part in their incredible Open Houses project, which allows visitors to take a tour around the homes of Saltaire residences as they display contemporary art and craft from a huge collection of artists and makers. The event runs over the whole bank holiday weekend, and I will be there on Sunday to chat to visitors. You can find me at 1 Myrtle Place!

The following weekend I'm tutoring Vintage Jewellery - From Drab to Fab with Josie Bezant at ArtisOn. We'll be covering so much that I can't possible detail it here, have a look at the ArtisOn site for more details. And finally.....for the middle two weekends in June I will be back at ArtisOn for North Yorkshire Open Studios! More on that soon.

So as you can see, a busy month is ahead. I better get to work. If you fancy a glass of wine and an exclusive first look at Paperworks, do drop by tonight to Masham Gallery at 7.30pm!

Have a great weekend
Rosie