Exotic travels and the return

Hello!

By the time this blog reaches you I will be on the beautiful island of Bali, Indonesia. By a stroke of amazing good fortune my partner Dave has had to go across the world for work, so we decided that it was the perfect opportunity to have our first proper holiday. The furthest I have ever travelled is Cyprus so I am looking forward to my first long-haul flight almost as much as the holiday itself! I shall be away for two weeks which means that as I write this (on the 13th of March) I am busily trying to get last minute holiday things sorted while also ensuring that I have everything ready for York Open Studios, which takes place only 4 days after I get home (4th/5th/6th and 12th/13th April)



The Octagon Tower, Studley Royal

In case you aren't familiar with the event York Open Studios runs over two consecutive weekends at the start of April, and gives visitors to the city the exclusive chance to see inside the workplaces of over 100 artists and makers in and around York. There is a complete guide to every artist taking part, and a map for you to plan your route with on the YOS website, and if you're in the area you'll probably have seen brochures and posters in shops and cafes everywhere. Every artist taking part will be selling their work as well as displaying it, so you may come away with a new piece of art when you visit.

The Gatehouse, Burton Agnes

I will be exhibiting a large collection of original papercuttings, along with cards and postcards, from my studio just outside the centre. There is ample parking nearby, and a number of other exhibitors a short walk from me, so I do hope you consider including me on your route. I shall be on hand every day to chat to visitors, demonstrate my working process and offer cups of tea and cake to everyone who comes to see me! I would also recommend popping in to see Pamela Knight who lives nearby me, along with the fascinating studios of Mark Hearld and Emily Sutton across town.

The Sledmere Monuments

The pieces I have included in this blog are all brand new and will be on display for the first time at my open studios. I will also have a large selection of work for 2013/2012, along with some new cards and postcards to sell.

Have a great few weeks, and I hope to see you in April!
Rosie

New Year

Happy New Year!

It's 2014, it's cold and it's about time I posted a new blog. Before Christmas I had a great time working on some interesting commissions (as you can see in my last post) and I am lucky to have a few more commissions to tide me over in the long quiet month of January. One of them is of Slenningford Park near West Tanfield, North Yorkshire. A handsome house not far from where I grew up, I have been driving past it for years but never stopped to look until now.

At this quiet time of year it's tempting to do very little, particularly when the weather is so dark and uninspiring. But I have to remind myself that although Spring feels like it's a long way off, it'll come around fast and with it my first big event of the year - York Open Studios. This is my first year doing YOS, and I can't wait to fill my living room with pictures and await visitors over the first two weekends of April. My stocks are low after a great few months of sales at the end of last year, so in between commissions I am getting on with finding new subjects and producing some new work. Following on from my exhibition Down Hidden Tracks in 2013, where I explored follies around North Yorkshire, I have begun by having a look at the stunning landscape of the Yorkshire Wolds, and some of the interesting buildings therein. At the moment I am particularly fascinated by the village of Sledmere, where you can't move for memorials, towers, sham-castles and temples. I am currently working on a large piece based on two of the memorials in Sledmere, including the amazing Waggoner's memorial (pictured), but I have a feeling this is the first of a number of pieces based on this lovely place.

A little further east of Sledmere, near to the sea, is the village of Carnaby, and tucked away up a narrow farm track is Carnaby Temple. I first came across the temple in a book of follies, and it instantly pricked my interest. There seem to be many stories surrounding it, apparently it was used as a sighting tower to aid smugglers coming in to Bridlington. I have also been told that the interior was decorated by paper cut outs, which seems appropriate for me! I love the way it sits amongst the endless flat fields catching the sun, and luckily when I came to visit it the weather was particularly beautiful (for January!).

I am also involved in North Yorkshire Open Studios and Art in the Pen this year, and more events will be confirmed soon, so keep reading!

Rosie x