From 1st – 9th September, artists all over the Highlands will throw open their doors and invite you in to get a look behind the scenes of a busy artist’s studio. Painters, printmakers, makers of woollen, wooden, stone, clay, delicate and dramatic objects will welcome in the public to see them at work. It’s a rare opportunity to enjoy a visit and gain an insight into the workings of a Highland Artist.

Artists’ studios are as different and varied as the artists themselves. From clean and pristine, orderly and methodical spaces to organised and sometimes even what looks like disorganised chaos – all the colours of the rainbow with a different character behind every door. The term ‘studio’ is used euphemistically as studios can be anything from professional commercial galleries, and studios to kitchen tables, attics, garden sheds, even marquees!

A visit to an individual artist in the intimacy of their own workplace is a hugely enjoyable and even an inspirational experience where the artist is happy to explain ideas and demonstrate their own particular methods.

The Highlands Open Studios 2007 group is an exciting organisation of 99 artists, craft-makers and galleries, living and working across the Highlands from Ballachuilish in the south to John O’Groats in the north and from Tomintoul in the east right across to Dunvegan in Skye. Artists are working together to promote and showcase the best of art currently available across the Highland region.

Artists and makers include both professional and semi- professional artists resident in the Highlands and working in a diverse range of media. Many artists are well known regionally, already having work in The Highland Council’s public collections, as well as being acclaimed nationally and internationally eg. Peter Bell, Gwen Black, Clare Blois, David Body, Michael Stuart Green, James Hawkins, Christine O’ Keefe, and Ingeborg Smith.

Craft-makers comprise book-artists, ceramicists, a cartographer, glassblowers, stained-glass artists, wood-turners, furniture makers, jewellery-makers, textile workers, tapestry artists, weavers eg. Joan Baxter, Ruth Black, Half- a -Moon, Kirstie Thornber, Glasstorm, Daniel Kavanagh and Carron Pottery to name but a few.

Prestigious galleries such as The Castle Gallery, Scottish Flair and the Riverside Gallery all in Inverness, the Lime Tree Gallery in Fort William, Tore Art Gallery, Beauly Gallery and the brand new Inchmore Gallery have enthusiastically shown support for individual artists by also becoming members.

HOS 2007 publish a brochure which provides a map and directions to each studio and since many studios are quite near to each other, it’s possible to plan your own studio trail visiting several venues throughout the Highlands. You can buy straight from the artist and commissions are most welcome.
Why not check out the brochure or the website (http://www.highlandsopenstudios.co.uk) which details all the studios with contact numbers and opening times.

It will be also be possible to see some of the artists work at the autumn Members’ Exhibition open to the public from Sunday 7 October to Wednesday 14 November, 2007 at the prestigious Lime Tree Gallery in Fort William.

For more information on any aspect of Highlands Open Studios 2007 or if you’re interested in becoming a member and making our numbers up to 100, please contact:

Secretary:
Caroline Hewat 01349 877434 caroline.hewat@virgin.net  
Website: http://www.highlandsopenstudios.co.uk