October Edit

Trick or Treat? I'll choose 'Treat', please!

As always, our Gallery Shop is fit to burst with gifts, prints, greetings cards and art.

The October Edit

In keeping with the season, I've brought together some of our more spooky items. My particular favourite is the Skull Platter by Drawn and Fired. Sgraffito designs are continued into the two brooches; a fly and anatomical heart. Jerry Daniel's striking photographic art greetings card, 'B&Q', is being used as background. 

Drawn and Fired, Anatomical Heart Brooch with Jerry Daniel's 'B&Q' image on a greetings card being used as a background.

If you prefer your Halloween to be more cute than scary, Meliferra's little ghost embroidery should be right up your street. Look at his happy little face - he's loving the afterlife!

Meliferra's Ghost Embroidery

Fiona Gypsy Bunting's handmade jewellery has such a magical energy to it. Crystals, semi-precious stones, sari silk and hand-wrapped wire pieces combine to make unique and beautiful pieces of wearable art.

Fiona Gypsy Bunting, Yellow Jasper Necklace.

Shadow Crafts' Long Leather Necklaces add a splash of colour to your outfits. We have many differing colourways in the shop - come and have a look...

Shadow Crafts' Long Leather Necklaces.

October Edit Detail.

All the items in the edit are currently available in the Gallery Shop:

From Left to Right:

• Yellow Jasper Necklace, Fiona Gypsy Bunting £25
• Black Cat Purse, Shadow Crafts £15
• Lil' Bat Badge, Sophie Heywood £4.50
• Skull Platter, Drawn & Fired £40
• 'Berry Bright' Greetings Card, Arwyn Quick £2
• Lavendar Worry Cat, Fiona Gypsy Bunting £10
• Little Ghost Embroidery Hoop, Meliferra £10
• Anatomical Heart & Fly Brooch, Drawn & Fired £10 & £12
• 'B&Q' Art Print Card, Jerry Daniel £3
• Art Printed Cushion, Inuro/Sue Wharton, currently reduced to £20
• Long Leather Necklaces, Shadow Crafts £15 each.

Come down to West Studios and have a browse, a coffee and a Tunnock's Teacake... Mmmm!

West Studios 3rd Open Exhibition

After a successful Private View on Thursday 31st August with all of the artists, our 3rd Open Exhibition is open to the public.

This year we have beautiful work from a range of different artists who have not exhibited with West Studios before. We have been blown away with the quality and ranges of larger pieces submitted this year and have been proudly promoting the work within Chesterfield. Sheffield based artist Phil Lockwood prefers to work from imagination and memory when creating his townscapes, his intricate detail as you track the journey of the couple with Elopement by Moonlight is truly enchanting and involves the viewer within their story. Dramatic pieces by Karen Davies make a bold statement as visitors first enter the gallery. Her darker pallet and large canvas are difficult not to admire.

A couple of the artists, including John McDonald and Lor King, have come from our new connection with Derby based creative studios, Banks Mill. Both producing very different work, Lor offers us an abstract and contemporary set of work within her Matlock series. Whereas John’s large scale pieces of personal muse Frieda Kahlo are powerful within the studio.        

The exhibition is not just limited to fine art. The exhibition, offers a beautiful selection of ceramics and textiles entries. West Studios tenants Rosie Perrett and Bethany Cartwright joined the studios last year as part of a Student Progression Programme, enabling Chesterfield College students to start their business with the support of the college. This year, both artists are confidently producing beautiful and popular ceramic pieces to sell in West Studios and other galleries to exhibit their work.

Following on from her successful solo exhibition in August, Annie French submitted some of her textile works into the Open. Her monochrome series is based on her research into the archives of Rudolf Laban, the unsung hero of dance. 

Open Exhibition: 1st – 23rd September
Opening Times: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm
                          Sat 10am-1pm
Entry: Free
 

Getting Children Creative

Over the summer West Studios tenant, April Spence, has started up running Saturday morning creative workshops for children to get their hands dirty and minds working.

Since starting, children have walked out with their own tie dyed socks, t-shirts and tote bags. As well as paintings made with leaves and painted plant pots. These affordable workshops are a simple way to spend a Saturday morning and suitable for children aged 4+.

A full list of workshops running until December can be found below:

9th September: 10:30-11am – Leaf People Pictures (£5)
                            11:15-12:15 – Wind Chimes (£10)
                                           (or £12 for both)

23rd September: 10:30-11:15am – Name Plaque (£5)
                             11:30-12:15 – Cuddle Buddy (£7)
                                  (or £10 for both)

14th October: 10:30-11:15am – Tin Lanterns (£7)
                          11:45-12:15 – Pom Pom Pumpkins (£7)
                          (or £12 for both)

28th October: 10:30-11:15am – Hanging Bats (£7)
                        11:30-12:15 – Slime (£7)
                        (or £12 for both)

4th November: 10:30 - 11am – Firework Painting (£5)
                          11:15-12:15 – Salt Dough (£7)
                             (or £10 for both)

18th November: 10:30-11am – Tie Dye Socks (£7)
                           11:15-12:15 – Magical Salt Dough (£7)
                                 (or £12 for both)

18th December: 10:30-11:15am – Tree Decorations (£7)
                            11:30-12:15 – Sock Snowmen (£7)
                            (or £12 for both)

20th December: 10:30-11:15am – Wrapping Paper (£7)
                              11:30-12:15 – Pine Cone Christmas Trees (£7)
                                (or £12 for both)

Our Half Term Special

Local textiles artist, Karen Herrick, has come aboard and organised a number of creative workshops perfect for the family to get involved in. Karen is hosting a couple of workshops during October Half Term to help keep boredom and mischief away from a fab week.

What's Happening:

Tuesday 24th: 10am-12 Printmaking & Stencilling: A Family Workshop with Karen Herrick from Harlequin Arts (suitable for accompanied children yrs2+)
Learn how to use simple printmaking techniques to make stunning autumn leaf designs.
We will use fabric paint & stencils to create a fabric design and Quickprint with printing inks on paper.
Cost: £10 per accompanied child. Extra £3 if adult makes as well!

Wednesday 25th: 10-11:30am Fantasy Felt Birds: A Family Workshop with Karen Herrick from Harlequin Arts (suitable for accompanied children yrs2+)
Design and create your own fantastical bird using craft felt, feathers, beads, buttons and chenille sticks.
Cost: £10 per accompanied child. Extra £3 if adult makes as well!

To book your place on any of these, please give us get in touch at our Contact Us page or give us a call on 01246 500799!

September Edit

It's official, it's autumn! 

The nights are drawing in quickly, the weather is shifting, the new academic years is starting... we can start getting comfy, ready for a little hibernate after the summer.

In our Gallery Shop we have everything to make it a little easier. New art for your walls, a new notebook for work or college, a purse for your bus fare - a watch to make sure you don't miss that bus! Teapots and beakers to curl up with a cuppa. 

In our September Edit we have some beautifully handcrafted items for you:

From left to right:

• Chesterfield Fox (£150) - Frances Daunt. This is an original painting on a vintage map of the area from the 1940's. Frances also does commissions in this style which would make such a beautiful gift.
• Red metallic leather watch (£15) - Shadow Crafts. See what time it is when it gets dark!
• Teapot (£70) and Beakers (£14 each) - Peter Swailes, one of our West Studios tenants.
• Copper and Enamel Necklace (£34) - Gwin Kerry. We have a lovely selection of coordinating jewellery in our shop too.
• Small Fabric Notebook (£8) and Large Fabric Notebook (£12) - Marcia Wilson. These covers can be used on other notebooks after you've filled this one with all your ideas for world domination.
• 'Rest' Notebook (£21.75) - Harlequin Arts. These covers are all totally unique; hand stitched with prayers for the recipient. How sweet is that?
• Leather Fox purse (£15) - Shadow Crafts. Keep your pennies safe.

Also, the phenomenal piece in the background is one of the pieces in our Open Exhibition which is on until 23rd September. It is called 'This Ancient Place' by Karen Davies. 

Save The Date...Saturday 12th August

With just over a week to go until this years Summer Market, West Studios is a buzz of activity.

Between stocking up the shop, sending out flyers and even cleaning the windows, we have all our ducks in a row to bring you a brilliant line up of artists and local creative businesses. Come down to meet:

-Collection 47, silver jewellery design
-Rollerdog Designs
-Neil Carribine Original
-The Illustrated Wisp
-John McDonald, artist
-Kate Singleton Silver
-Ashoka Sen artist
-Sue McNair Ceramics
-Stevie Davies, contemporary fused glass
-Angela Wright
-Melita Carty
-Polkadots Crafts
-Bethany Cartwright Ceramics
-Sarah Pasley Silversmith
-Blue Oxen
-Rosie Perret Ceramics
-Sue Warton Wildlife Artist
-Peter Swailes Ceramics
As well as the rest of our tenants opening their studios up for you to come round and meet them!

Children’s activities are being run by:
-Junction Arts
-Sparky Ink Studios Gaming Competitions and Arcades
-April Spence Bubble Paper Workshops
-Bethany Cartwright Animal Tribe Workshops

Tea, coffee and cold drinks availbale all day, as well as cakes for sale from Monkey Park!

Find us down Sheffield Road, 10am-4pm on Saturday 12th August! It is set to be a great day!!