AS WORCESTERSHIRE’S biggest celebration of creativity looks set to return in a few weeks, organisers are putting artists in the spotlight to showcase the value of art.
Ahead of the return of Worcestershire Open Studios (August 16 to 25) where 167 artists and makers will open up their spaces to the public completely free, our coverage will highlight some running themes of the 10th anniversary event.
Organisers have showcased a few of the artists taking part who are championing the idea that it’s never too late to take up art as a hobby or otherwise.
First up on the theme of ‘it’s never too late to take up art’ is Heather Farmer (venue number – 34) from Great Witley. She started painting when she was close to retirement from a job supporting students with disabilities at the University of Worcester, most of whom were studying degrees in art subjects. Despite having a love for crafting, cake decorating and sewing she never thought she could paint.
Eventually, she took up oil painting after a one-to-one lesson in 2018, after being inspired the students she was supporting in her career. Heather says you are never too old to start and truly believes there is an artist in everyone.
Next up is Kirstie Trobe (venue number – 89) from Worcester. Kirstie failed Art A Level and was told she was probably on the wrong course at the end of Art College but went onto work as a graphic designer until she had a family in her late 20s.
Twenty years, as a mother of six (three of whom were her birth children) she joined a watercolour class to, as she puts it ‘escape the drudgery’. She has never looked back and now exhibits her paintings nationally and locally and even runs popular art classes.
A couple of other artists touching on this theme are Anna Cumming (venue number – 14) from Malvern and Erin Conel (venue number – 35), an American. Anna has a Scots Law Degree and is a lapsed chartered accountant. She came to art having done an access course at Malvern Hills Art College and is now a professional oil painter and current co-organiser of the Worcestershire Open Studios event.
Erin came to art late from a background in computers and mathematics. She has an interest in figurative painting and uses family photographs, film, advertising and her own photography which she combines, composes and crops to achieve open narratives.
All of these artists, alongside over 160 more, will be opening their creative spaces to visitors to see behind the curtain of Worcestershire’s greatest creative minds.
Visit www.worcestershireopenstudios.org/artists-and-makers/ and search for the artists to learn more and see their work.
