Open Studios Tonight!

Hello!

I have returned from and amazing trip around a few of the islands that make up Indonesia. My visit included Bali, Lombok and Gili Trawangan, plus a brief stay in Jakarta which is on the island of Java. That's four islands out of nearly 2000 - I might have to go back to tackle some more. The weather was hot and the buildings and wildlife were beautiful and very inspiring.

When I finally got to my front door after 3 days of boats, taxi, plane and train travel, I couldn't wait to get drawing again. Firstly however I needed to begin the somewhat-bigger-than-anticipated task of preparing my living room for York Open Studios, which opens this evening.
Open Studio events are popping up all over the place, and for an artist they are a great opportunity to meet potential customers and have the chance to chat about our work directly, in a relaxed and casual setting. For the visitor it offers an exciting day of discovering working artist's studios, gaining insight into their working methods, and seeing artwork displayed in a more realistic home-like setting.

I have taken part in North Yorkshire Open Studios for the past two years, and have used the studios at ArtisOn, Masham where I teach workshops. So even though I have done open studios before, this will be the first time I have used my home, and been the only artist on site (previously I have shared with artists Ian Scott Massie, Charlotte Morrison and Josie Beszant) so I am very excited and a little nervous about how it will go. I have transformed the downstairs of the house into an exhibition space and will be demonstrating my work aswell. I also have the cake stand and teapots at the ready so my visitors can enjoy some refreshments while looking round (things always look better after a bit of cake, no?). I even have some brand new cards printed to add to the collection. Now all I need are customers!

 

If you are interested in visiting my studio, there is a preview this evening (April 4th) from 6pm - 9pm, then I will be open this and next weekend, Saturday 10am - 6pm and Sunday 11am - 5pm. For more information, including artists profiles and a handy map to plan your route, visit the York Open Studios website here.

I hope to see you over the next couple of weeks!
Rosie

Autumn news

Hello!

As my last blog explained, September was a very busy month for me,with the opening of my exhibition Down Hidden Tracks, which I had been working on for a large part of the year. The last few weeks before the show opened were a little chaotic, but once we had everything on the walls I couldn't have been happier. I'm very pleased to say the exhibition went brilliantly, for me and Charlotte Morrison, who created a completely new series of beautiful porcelain ceramics, displayed alongside my collection of folly work (see pictures below). We had loads of enthusiastic visitors and I said farewell to some of my favourite pieces, like this one of Fisher's Hall.

Through the Trees too Fisher's Hall

 

 

 

Also in September was the opening of the New Lights exhibition at The Mercer gallery in Harrogate. I was thrilled to have two pieces shortlisted for this prestigious prize, and although I didn't win, it's great to have my work on display in a public gallery. The exhibition will stay at The Mercer until November.

The Treasurer's House, York - on Display at The Mercer, Harrogate

So now on to October, and it's a quiet start for me. Long ago, in the early stages of planning for Down Hidden Tracks I decided that I'd take a little holiday once the exhibition was over, and now that time has finally arrived! I'm off to Barcelona, one of my favourite places, but I shall be back to work soon to start preparing for my next event, Crafted by Hand. This one day art fair is only in it's second year, but has already gained a fantastic reputation for it's high standard to unusual, contemporary art and craft. Last year I made a papercut installation for the event, which greeted visitors as they walked into Masham Town Hall. This time I've got my own stall, and will be amongst the likes of Vinegar and Brown Paper, Adele Taylor Jewellery, and my good friend Charlotte Morrison, who is also one of the organisers of the event. I can't wait! Crafted by Hand is on October 27th, and runs alongside the Masham Arts Festival. I will also have my work on display at St.Mary's Church in Masham, as part of the festival's week long art exhibition, so if you would like to see some of my latest work up close, you know where to go.

Polly Peachum's Tower

That's it from me, have a great October!
Rosie

Down Hidden Tracks 13th September - 26th September

Hello there!

This blog is devoted to my forthcoming exhibition at Fountains Abbey, which, to my amazement opens two weeks from today. Over a year ago myself and ceramicist Charlotte Morrison decided to contact the National Trust about organising a joint exhibition of our work in the beautiful Fountains Hall, on the grounds of the abbey. As two young artists only a couple of years into our careers, we both felt that a self-organised exhibition which would allow us to show our largest ever collections of work would be an excellent idea, and to use such a well known and much loved venue not only made sense but gave us plenty of inspiration for a theme. Both influenced by the landscape of Yorkshire and the dales, it didn't take us long to come up with ideas for new work. Charlotte has been exploring historical and hidden tracks and trails around the local area, and using classic map design as creative inspiration has made some beautiful new ceramic collections. I used the opportunity as an excuse to develop my work on follies, focusing on the wonderful places I had visited while growing up, like Hackfall and Studley Royal.



The Banqueting House, Studley Royal

A year later and I can't believe it's finally nearly time to install ourselves in the pretty Arkell Room of Fountains Hall. Over the year I have had the pleasure of visiting some lovely places and can't believe how my fascination with follies has grown (and how little I knew about them to begin with). I can't wait to get all the work on the walls, and to meet the (hopefully) many visitors during the two weeks of the exhibition. To try and tempt you along here are a few things you'll get to see there.

Map Cups, Charlotte Morrison

Through the woods to Fisher's Hall

Fountains to Brimham bowls, Charlotte Morrison

The Ionic Temple, Duncombe Park 

For more information on Charlotte Morrison's work visit her website. To see some more of my pictures, and to read more about me and my work, visit my site here.

Hopefully I will see you in September!

Hello!

This week I've spent the majority of my time preparing for my forthcoming exhibition at Fountain's Abbey called Down Hidden Tracks. It's a joint exhibition with ceramic artist Charlotte Morrison, with whom I have exhibited at North Yorkshire Open Studios for the past two years.
My side of the exhibition follows my work on follies and other unusual buildings around the north. I am now at the point where I'm working on my last few pieces for the exhibition. There are some subjects that I really wanted to include, so I am desperately trying to find time to work on them. One of them is Polly Peachum's Tower, which can  be seen on from the road between Leyburn and Aysgarth In Wensleydale. In fact, one of the best views is from the churchyard in the village of Wensley, where I took a few snaps a few weeks ago while helping my dad Ian Scott Massie hang his current exhibition in the church there. I used the view from the churchyard (complete with gravestones) to make this piece. The tower has it's own unusual little story, as do so many of the buildings I have been working on, read more about it here.

The exhibition will be a mixure of wall hung work (mine) and 3D ceramics (Charlotte's) and will be on display in the beautiful Fountain's Hall, a short walk from the Abbey itself, between the 13th and the 26th of September. Charlotte and I will be there everyday to welcome visitors, so please do drop by.

In other news, I shall be exhibiting next weekend at Art in the Pen in Skipton. This will be my second year, and I'm really looking forward to meeting lots of people, and checking out the other artist's pens. There are over 120 artists and makers exhibiting and selling their work, and it's only £2 to get in, so how can you resist? Art in the Pen opens with a special evening preview on Friday August 16th, and runs 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

One last exciting snippet before I go...I am very excited to tell you that my piece 'The Temple, Allerton Castle', has been shortlisted for the New Lights Art Prize. My work, along with 49 other artists from around the north, will be on display at The Mercer gallery, Harrogate from September 20th, and I am in with a chance of winning one of the amazing list of prizes. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.....

 

That's all for now, have good weekend!
Rosie x

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

Spring inspiration

Hello!

I have been neglecting the old blog for the last few weeks. Things have been fairly busy - firstly finishing my Cambridge collection, which was finally dropped off at Cambridge Contemporary Art at the end of March, then getting back to work on my forthcoming exhibition Paperworks at Masham Gallery. For this exhibition I've made a great little collection of new pinned pieces, and for the first time in nearly a year, a new giant map collage! This piece is inspired by spring, and the beautiful array of unusual buildings and stunning landscapes on the road between Leyburn and Aysgarth in Wensleydale. You'll have to come along to the exhibition, opening on May 18th, to see exactly which places I've included in the piece, but one thing you can clearly see here is that I've included one of my favourite features - a hot air balloon!

I'm also starting to prepare for the North Yorkshire Open Studios, which runs during to the middle two weekends of June this year. This will be my second open studios event, and again I will be exhibiting at ArtisOn along with Ian Scott Massie, Josie Beszant and Charlotte Morrison. I'm planning to have lots of new pieces (including some new linocuts hopefully) on display so you better come down and visit me. Visit the NYOS website to see all the other artists taking part and plan your route!

Well, better get cracking.

Have a good weekend!
Rosie x

Looking ahead

Hello!

This week I have made a start on my final piece for Cambridge Contemporary Art's exhibition 'Cambridge at it's Best', which opens on April 6th. I have spent the last few months putting together ideas and have ended up with 6 pieces, 5 of which are now complete and below.

The Fountain, Trinity College

King's College Gate

The Round Church

The Wimpole Folly

The Bridge of Sighs

I shall be delivering them to the gallery in just over a week, so this week I have started to look ahead to what's next. I have two 'big' exhibitions this year (shows that I have helped organise); The first is Paperworks at Masham Gallery in May, the other is Down Hidden Tracks, with Charlotte Morrison, at Fountain's Abbey in September. Time seems to have flown and everything is suddenly a lot closer than I imagined it to be - luckily I have tons of ideas and plenty of materials so now I just have to get on with it!

My obsession with follies is continuing, constantly giving me new possible subjects for work. I am so intrigued by these often bizarre buildings, and never realised how many are in this area. I have just finished a picture of one just outside Richmond called Culloden Tower - built on the parkland of Yorke House (now demolished) in 1746.It's a beautiful tower, and one of a number of follies in that area.I took a few shots of the pinning process, so you can see how the piece comes together.

My next few pieces will be over buildings at Fountain's Abbey - probably starting with St.Mary's Church, and another piece of somewhere in York!

Watch this space!