Devon Open Studios 2017 - Art at its Origin

Discover hidden artistic talent in Devon’s dazzling landscape, with Devon Open Studios this September 9th-24th. From the two dramatic coasts across lush fields to the high moorlands, the county has an abundance of stunning scenery, strewn with beautiful farms, hamlets, villages, and towns in which artists are opening their studios. During this annual event hundreds of artists exhibit their work for free, connecting the public to the cultural wealth of Devon and giving an intimate view into the creative process.

Devon Open Studios is an event organised by Devon Artist Network (DAN), which promotes, celebrates and champions the arts in Devon. Artist members, resident or working in Devon, are provided with a home page to showcase their work on the DAN website, receive regular arts newsletters and the opportunity to join events, workshops and exhibitions.

You can expect to find a rich seam of art behind the studio doors this Devon Open Studios, from paintings, prints, furniture, sculpture and photography to handmade jewellery, cutting-edge fashion, crafted ceramics and one-of-a-kind accessories – just by following your whim and the little yellow studio arrows dotted around the winding lanes. People of every age can enjoy these self guided tours with the flexibility of visiting as many artists as you wish, guide in hand, for just a couple of hours or for an indulgent day of meandering.

Devon Open Studios gives artists the unique chance to connect with a broad range of visitors from local buyers and tourists to curators, institutions and international art scouts. Meanwhile tourists and locals alike receive the unexpected bonus of finding free public art exhibitions wherever they go.

This year, a bumper crop of 250 artists will be opening their doors to the public and exhibiting their work in more than 160 locations across Devon.  The popularity of the event has soared with over 37,000 visitors in 2016 and over £233,500 spent in reported sales of nearly 6000 items, 16% up from the year before.

Once again this year, the sponsor of Devon Open Studios is Helpful Holidays, one of the UK’s leading holiday home specialists, letting around 700 holiday cottages in 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.

More information about Devon Artist Network’s Open Studios can be found on the website: www.devonartistnetwork.co.uk  A free guide to the event with colour coded maps and every artist illustrated, is available from tourist information centres, libraries, hotels and galleries in late July. Please check the brochure to confirm dates, times, and find out helpful directions.

Devon Open Studios began as a pilot project in 1999 and now 18 years later, the FREE annual event which spans 16 days including 3 weekends in September, is one of the largest in the country.

Come and discover new artists in their studios, and buy directly from them – it’s a county-wide art celebration.