My Work Experience at West Studios

I’m Lewis and I have chosen to complete my work experience in West Studios as part of my first year at Chesterfield College, doing a level two business course. I have thoroughly enjoyed working here for almost a month.

I have been set with numerous tasks that have helped me manage my expectations of what a business environment is really like. Utilising the use of Microsoft Word and Excel documents has helped me see what it would be like in a real life situation, such as creating detailed timetables. The work experience has also helped me with handling money and reducing the cost of items inside the reception’s shop for the January sale. I have also developed customer service skills by taking a few requests from customers and showing people to the main college reception. The tasks have also helped me organise rooms for people at West Studios for room hire.

Overall the experience I have gained on the reception has been a great experience and couldn’t have found a better place to do my work experience. I would recommended other students to do their work experience at West Studios as it is very beneficial.

January Newsletter

It’s a new year and we have loads of interesting and exciting things going on at West Studios.

Duck and Peach, ‘Happy 2019’ Card, £2.50

Our Monthly Edit is up on the website. It’s a relaxed collection of items this month. I thought we all needed a bit of calm… As always with The Edit, and indeed anything we post on social media, drop us a line if you would like to reserve anything to pick up (You can do that here OR on Facebook and drop us a message on Messenger) A lot of the items we hold have a very limited stock or are totally unique. Also, as a little added incentive, we have 10% off everything in the shop during January…

10% off everything in the Gallery Shop during the whole of January!

Kicking off our 2019 exhibition calendar is a joint exhibit by Martin Davis and Susan Tracey exploring treescapes and water. It promises to be both tranquil and beautiful. We met with both Martin and Susan earlier this week to have a short chat about their work and what inspires them. To read the full interview click here.

Martin Davis and Susan Tracey’s Exhibition starts on Friday 11th January.

Do you fancy getting creative this year? Maybe it was a New Years Resolution to find a new hobby? We may have just the thing for you. During 2019, we have a variety of short, 6 week evening courses running in Chesterfield College. You can choose from Silversmithing, Ceramics, Photography, Printmaking and Photoshop. For information, including prices, follow this link.

During this year we have had many students on work experience at West Studios and with the tenants. They have helped in Reception, got involved with the more unexpected and ‘Behind The Scenes’ jobs of being a self-employed creative. From packaging hundreds of photographic prints to creating spreadsheets to help with the running of West Studios, there has not been a dull moment. If you or your business are interested in supporting Chesterfield College with their students on work experience please contact us here.

If you’re holding an event or having a meeting, we have all the spaces here at West Studios available to hire. We can offer hourly rates, half or full day prices, catering… give us a call and talk to us about how we can help your event or meeting be a success. Click here for more information.

Our Tenants have been busy and will continue to be into the New Year.

In December, ‘S40 Local’ launched a sister publication, ‘S41 Local’ that will be widely distributed in the S41 postcode area. With S40 running for close to ten years, there is a great buzz about the launch of S41 and hopes of it being just as successful. Their combined potential readership of 30,000 local people makes for a great advertising opportunity for local businesses. If you’d like to advertise with them, email bekah@s41local.com

Future Foundations will be advertising 106 different summer jobs this month on their website https://www.future-foundations.co.uk/join-our-team/ All roles are for Summer 2019 NCS programmes and they are looking for Team Leaders, Team Mentors and Wave Managers. Follow the link above for more information and to apply.

All at West Studios wish you a very happy New Year and we wish you all the best things.

Interview with Martin Davis and Susan Tracey

I recently met with both Martin Davis and Susan Tracey to have a chat about their upcoming exhibition, ‘Treescapes and Water’.

What are your backgrounds as artists?

Martin Davis: I am a retired firefighter. I left the service in Sheffield in 2007 and have been painting seriously for the last 10-11 years. Practising art was always in my blood and I am fulfilling a lifetime’s ambition by creating and exhibiting work.

Susan Tracey: I gained my B.A.Hons in Painting and Printmaking at Sheffield Hallam University and went on to exhibit widely in the South East before returning to Derbyshire. My work is in diverse places including NCR in London, Rotherham Hospital, offices in Leeds and in private collections. Martin and I are both founding members of the Derbyshire Artists Guild. I have exhibited at East Midlands airport and taken part in Art in the Gardens, Sheffield and Derbyshire Open Arts. I also give workshops in Sheffield schools and I’m currently exhibiting at Leabrooks Arts Complex Somercotes.

What materials have you used to create the work in the exhibition?

Martin Davis: I generally paint in oils on canvas, canvas board, mdf or wood panel – but I have been known to use acrylics. In fact one of the pieces on display in this exhibition is in acrylic, see if you can spot it in the exhibit.

Susan Tracey: Like Martin, I work mostly in oil on linen. Oil paint dries slowly and working in layers allows time for thought and reflection. My current work is inspired by my yoga practice, dawn light and the surface of water.

Speaking of inspiration, what else have you taken inspiration from to create this exhibition?

Martin Davis: Mother nature of course; who hasn’t! My own take on mother nature’s inspiration is to focus on one element or part of a form and try to represent it in such a way as to border on the abstract or surreal.

Susan Tracey: My work is drawn from my experience of landscape, walking and sketching directly from nature, spending a lot of time in observation and returning often to the same place before working in the studio. My work is meditative in character, the intention being the creation of a timeless space that distils the essence of a place and can allow a moment or two of calm in a busy day.

What made you chose West Studios when deciding where you should exhibit your work?

Martin Davis: Chesterfield is an area of the County I have yet to really break into. I have exhibited here before and I’m returning to exhibit again because I like the exhibition space and ambience and I have a good relationship with the staff. I also like the fact that it is also a part teaching and part workshop environment which takes its art seriously.

Susan Tracey: As far as I can see, West Studios has been building a solid reputation as a place to see and exhibit art in a relaxing social space. It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to exhibit here.

‘Treescapes and Water’ exhibition by Martin Davis and Susan Tracey will be open from 11th January 2019 until 1st February 2019.

Monthly Edit - January

Happy New Year, everyone!

Happy 2019 Card by Duck and Peach £2.50

I hope you’ve all had the Christmas you all hoped for, whether that be peaceful, exciting, busy or a bit ’merry’!

Our Gallery Shop is now open again with a lovely 10% off EVERYTHING for the whole of January as a thank you to you all for your support over the last year.

You could be super-organised for next year and get some of your Christmas cards or treat yourself to something that Santa forgot to bring you…

Happy 10% Off… I mean, Happy New Year!

Whatever you chose, you will be supporting local artists and crafters which can only be a good thing.

This month’s Edit is a slightly different format. I have not collected all the items together; I thought it would be nice for you to take a leisurely stroll through the shop and spot them all. I have chosen very calming items from the shop so we can relax after all the hectic weeks from the build up to Christmas.

First up we have a few colouring books by local artists:

Left to Right:

‘Stuff to Colour’ by Anna Hargraves, ‘The Big Toy Car Colouring Book’ by Octavia Inns, ‘Slime Farts’ by Jon Boam

There has been scientific research in New Zealand that suggests that the mindful act of colouring in can actually aid positive mental health even in as short a time as just 10 minutes per day - a perfect antidote to the craziness of December and New Year, then!

Treescape Print by Martin Davis £50

If you prefer someone else to do the art rather than yourself, we have some beautiful prints and original artwork in the Gallery Shop. This one above is by Martin Davis.

Starting on Friday 11th January we have an exhibition by Martin Davis and Susan Tracey. Come down and have a stroll around the Studio and Gallery Shop. It’d be lovely to see you.

A Big Festive Thank You!

Well, we had a fantastic time on Saturday at our first ever Christmas Craft Workshop!

Thank you so much to everyone who came down to make gifts, decorations, cards and animations. There was such an excited buzz in West Studios.

In our Studio, Annie French was making textile wreaths. Using a variety of fabric in varying colours, each person was able to make a unique wreath using a hand soldered copper ring.

With our workshops being suitable for both adults and children, we had everyone having a go.

In our Meeting Room, Dave Elsom of Sombrero Printmaking was guiding a lino-printing workshop. Dave was giving people the opportunity to make their own printed Christmas cards with the option to take home their lino cut so they can make as many as they wish to, at home!

Also in our Meeting Room was Jonathan Foster of Petit BooChe making felt Christmas decorations. With stitched decorations and also an alternative for little fingers using glue, this proved to be incredibly popular with both adults and children. We even had to extend our opening hours to let people finish!

In Sparky Ink, Jane had a jam-packed studio with gaming, animation and craziness. Below is a small animation by one of Jane’s participants…

… there was even an animated dancing biscuit at one point! Everyone had loads of fun.

Due to popular demand, we are also going to be running a Saturday morning Art Club with a different artist demonstrating and leading a different craft or technique every few weeks. If you are interested in attending this please drop us a line on hello@weststudios.co.uk so we can keep you up to date and you can be ahead of the crowd to book your place.

We look forward to seeing you!