FEATURE
Painting
the Island
Red!
T
he Island’s inspirational art event Open Studios bursts into a riot of colour
in July, opening its doors on the work of around 125 artists, from painters
and potters to ceramicists and jewellers, and offering high quality art at
affordable prices.
With its inspirational landscape and
heritage, the Isle of Wight is home to
a wealth of creative arts people, some
enjoying a national reputation, some who
exhibit widely internationally, and many
who run art courses at home and abroad.
This year there will be some new artists on
board, as well as returning and established
favourites.
The popular annual open event, which
started on a small scale around a decade
ago, has now become one of the highlights
of the summer calendar, attracting
visitors from the mainland as well as local
enthusiasts.
People particularly love having the chance
to enter the secret space of the artist’s
studio and see how and where the work is
produced.
Previously, Open Studios have been run
over two long weekends, one for East Wight
and one for the West – but this year sees a
big change, with the 11-day event running
Island-wide from July 15-25 but still
spanning two weekends.
Rob Hawker, organiser of Isle of Wight
Open Arts Studios, says: “We thought it
best to change from an east-west divide
24
www.visitilife.com
June/July 2016_MASTER .indd 24
14/06/2016 01:47