Open Studios ( part 2)

Rachel, Nanette and I managed to paint on site whilst we were there and Nanette also managed some gardening. 

The workshops were all very well received. 

At the same time I managed to get out and about to visit others on the trail.

My framers in Brampton were part of the trail because upstairs is situated, the Gallery North West.

On my regular visit to leave some commissions to get framed I popped up to the gallery. Stopping at the Fountain Fallery in Wigton on the way. Whilst in the area I also visited Christine Kirkpatrick in Smithfield and the collection of artists in Castle Carrock. 

 On the second Sunday of the trail I went with my friend, Joyce to visit some of the artists in the Penrith region. First stop was The Wilder Clay Gallery. Situated in a lovely spot by St Andrew's Church it features the work of Simon Whalley and Gwen Bainbridge.

Martin Reid was looking after the EVAN Gallery. So we had a good browse of the exhibits and studios before walking up to Elizabeth Acland's, where we were initially mistaken for Jehovah's Witnesses. Well that's never happened before. 

There was a big collection of artists in the village Hall at Eamont Bridge.

One of the highlights was our trip to Tirril. Not only did we get to see Haydn Morris at work, we got a look around the garden and a welcome mug of tea. 

A quick stop at Rheged to see the new Herdy photographs and a cheeseburger and chicken salad and we finished our trip with a visit to Dorothy Ramsay. 

Always a joy to see Dorothy in her studio. I was told off for calling it a shed. Oil paintings, collages and prints of all sizes adorned the walls. It is hard to know where to look first. 

I managed to get to see Recreate and Make on the Wednesday as I was in Cockermouth. This display of Sarah Ames' work is very colourful as you enter the shop.

In total I've managed to get 13 signatures in my open studios booklet so I'm unlikely to win the £50 on offer to the person who has visited the most studios but I always like to be a part of both aspects of the event, as a participant and a visitor. 

Our work will be on show for a couple more weeks at Florence Arts Centre.