North Yorkshire Open Studios artwork moves online

Every June, North Yorkshire Open Studios (NYOS) invites the public into artists’ spaces across the county and this year is no different – despite the lockdown.

Sixty two of the artists have filmed their studios, artwork and techniques for a kaleidoscopic insight into their creative practices, edited by independent film-maker Josh Hallett, from Inside Story Video.

The arrival of coronavirus earlier this year posed a major challenge to the art trail but the organising committee has succeeded in moving the event online.

NYOS committee member and painter Debbie Loane said: “Many artists plan their calendar around this event and for some it represents a substantial proportion of their annual income, so to lose this event overnight would have been a huge blow to many of the participating artists.

“For these artists, who derive their living from their creative practice, it was important not to postpone until next year but to take action to secure their income straight away.

“Since lockdown, the appetite for buying art online has been strong and I am feeling very optimistic.

“Moreover, the event which was previously restricted to a largely county-based audience has now, through social media, the potential to reach a national and quite possibly international audience.

“This could well lead to new ideas and opportunities for our artists and the event next year.”

Six of the eight Whitby-based artists have donned on their directorial hats and shot their own videos on a motley collection of equipment during lockdown. The artist films .

From painting and printmaking to textiles and metalworking, the opportunity of this intimate invitation is truly unique.

The four-day schedule of films, are being broadcast on the North Yorkshire Open Studios facebook page on June 6 and 7 and June 13 and 14, offering an armchair tour of some of the region’s leading artists.

Click here for more information.