New artists join Devon Open Studios

Devon is known for its exceptionally lovely landscape as well as its vibrant artistic community, one of the largest of any county in Britain.

For 16 days in September many of those artists will be opening their studios to the public.  

Devon’s varied natural beauty, fine pubs, cafes, farm shops and seaside attractions make Devon Open Studios’ free full colour event guide a handbook for a blissful day out venturing down hidden lanes to bucolic villages, across moorland to stop in stannary towns or over cliffs to find artists by the sea.

Only at Devon Open Studios can you experience artists at work, surrounded by examples of their art, at its origin.

Expect to find abstract, figurative and conceptual art, prints, sculpture, ceramics, sculpture, glass-blowing, photography, drawing, jewellery and more. Each space will surprise you with something different whether you find a glass sculptor in a vineyard or an artists’ collective in an ancient longbarn.

This year we have just over 60% new artists to discover outside of the traditional gallery. Cafés, garden sheds, parish halls all have their part to play too, transformed into galleries and artists’ spaces.

We help you to venture out on self-guided art tours using our colour coded area maps in our brochure or just by spontaneously following the yellow arrows dotted about the countryside. Come and discover the artist’s studio - a fascinating space which can be a place of inspiration, production, experimentation, demonstration or simply a creative sanctuary from the busy world outside. Take this rare opportunity to buy art directly from artist, get inspired, and find a treasure to take home.

Artists will be opening their studios, (and often their homes) for 16 days in September, when, in some, you’ll also come across music, talks, and refreshments.

Please check the brochure to confirm dates, times, and find out helpful directions.

Devon Open Studios allows an exceptional chance for the public to enjoy art at its origin. It is a premier event of Devon Artist Network (DAN), a membership organisation of over 800 members, committed to raising awareness of visual arts.

Once again this year, Devon Open Studios’ key commercial sponsor is Helpful Holidays, one of the leading West Country holiday cottage specialists that markets and lets over 600 holiday homes throughout Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset. Established in 1982 and based in the heart of the West Country, it is a family-run business with a reputation for excellent customer service.

Feefo, the independent customer feedback platform, has awarded Helpful Holidays its Gold Trusted Merchant accreditation for consistently outstanding reviews. Also rated highly by Which? Travel, the agency continues to welcome new holiday cottages to its portfolio, and books over 17,500 holidays each year.

More information can be found on the website: www.devonartistnetwork.co.uk

A free guide to the event is available from tourist information centres, libraries, hotels and galleries in late July.