Open studio event showcases north-east artistic talent
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The region's biggest showcase of creative talent – North East Open Studios (NEOS) – has had to adapt to ensure it will go ahead this year.
This year's event, which will run from Saturday, September 12 to Sunday, September 20 will take on a blended form – with some venues going online, some hosting sessions by appointment and other studios will open as normally as they can with social distancing measures in place.
NEOS provides an informal contact network for artists, makers and gallery owners and helps the public access creative studios across the north-east of Scotland.
A difficult year has seen a positive for the group as it was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which was presented by Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire Sandy Manson to NEOS chairwoman Fiona Duckett.
Commenting on this year's event she said: "As an organisation, we have taken one step at a time and will continue to do so.
"I’ve been in NEOS since it started and in many ways this year has felt very like the first year – full of hope and expectation but with no idea what the outcome will be.
"What we do know is that there are still some amazing creatives working away all over the north-east and we really do want to shine a spotlight on that creativity."
The event covers the whole of the north-east taking in Aberdeenshire, Moray and Aberdeen City.
With each venue following a different format, whether it be in person or online, it is recommended to check with studios before visiting to see how they will be presenting and what measures will be in place.
Examples in the Turriff area of studios that are listed as taking part include heritage crafts in Flydresser at The Willows, Crown Street.
Delgatie Castle will feature images from 169 Photography and paintings from artist Vera Mckendrick.
Watts that knits and corchet is at Ardlaithe, Ardmiddle, where wrist warmers, scarves, snoods and blankets are created by Susan Watts and she will share the venue with photographer Edith Taylor.
In Fyvie at Beechrow Cottage on Beech Row, Bramar Glass will showcase works in glass, wood and metal inspired by the forms seen in nature and the historical artefacts of the region.
Also at the studio will be Erica Brammer's paintings focus on the countryside and coastline.
Over in Ellon the studios include Douglas Miller at 14 Udny Place, Castlepark, who works with a range of medias to create geometric pieces and figure drawings.
Cookston Crafts was established in 2015 by Claire Bentley where she teaches crochet, knitting and sewing classes from her workshop space on the outskirts of the town and creates hand dyed yarn inspired by the Scottish landscape.
At the Barra Farm Shop, Barra Castle, Oldmeldrum, painter Jenni Prentice's work features water, mountains and the dramatic skies of the Scottish landscape.
Fellow painter Fiona Sinclair is also at the studio and her contemporary work features the land, sea, wildlife and changing seasons.
The Inverurie area has a large number of artists and makers in the event which includes painter Rosemary Feilden at the town's St Mary’s Church Hall.
Judith Glennie will feature at the Garioch Heritage Centre and she works with glass, ceramics and paint.
Also showing at the centre is Susan MacInnes, who specialises in ceramics capturing the love of nature.
At Grampian Opportunities, 54 West High Street, Natalie Naylor's latest collection of ceramics is about attracting wildlife in to the garden. Birdhouses will sit beside work inspired by her love of alternative firing processes, Raku and pit-fired plant pots and bowls.
At Kemnay, printmaker Roderick Scott creates work on the themes of Brexit, a zombie nation, space, equity and social media at Gowanbank
Jewellery maker Irene Hunter is also at the venue at 7 Victoria Terrace with her work inspired by minimal Scandinavian design as well as the Scottish landscape.
In the Huntly area studios taking part include Magdalene Forde at Norwood Cottage, Tillyminate, Gartly, who specialises in paintings of landscapes, seascapes and wildlife.
Bennachie Crafts creates a number of objects with wood and other materials at Cragganmore, Wardhouse, Insch. The venue will also have Bennachie Stained Glass producing designs inspired by the landscape of north-east Scotland.
For the full list and details of studios taking part in the local area and the wider north-east the virtual catalogue can be viewed at www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk
