Open Studios North Fife

Various venues, May 5-7

This year’s Open Studios North Fife event will take place over the May Bank Holiday weekend with 74 artists, designer and makers throwing open their doors to the public.

The annual event, now in its 12th year, is run by a voluntary committee of participants and regularly attracts thousands of visitors to North Fife from the local area and beyond.

The artists, designers and makers work across the region in varied media. There are ceramicists, painters, jewellers and weavers as well as artists working in glass, metal, wood and photography. There is also a mixture of established and emerging artists.

Open Studios is an opportunity for visitors to speak to artists about their methods and sources of inspiration, and to buy or commission directly from them while exploring a picturesque part of Scotland. The event was set up to support the professional artists and designer-makers working in the area, raising people’s awareness of where they are based and what they can create.

The aim is to provide interesting and informative days out, with some participants taking the opportunity to run workshops and demonstrations at their studios during the event.

It gives visitors a chance to take a peek inside the artists’ studios and see their place of work as well as an insight into the processes involved in their creations. It may even inspire them to become involved in creative activities.

Equally, artists often feel inspired to explore new themes or methods with ideas generated in discussion with visitors. They also have the opportunity to hear feedback about their work directly – something that’s not so readily available if they are exhibiting in commercial galleries or public spaces.

The idea behind the event is simple, says Open Studios North Fife chairman and artist Leo Norris: “The event was set up to support and spread the word about professional artists and designer-makers working in the area.

“Visitors visit studios, meeting the makers of a wide variety of artwork and perhaps even buy or commission work from them. It gives a unique insight into the workspaces used by artists and an understanding of what goes into the production of the work, as well as exploring a lovely part of the country!”

Each year Open Studios North Fife awards a bursary to a new participant, and the recent winner was Hazel McLeod, a painter who is launching her artistic career 17 years after graduating from art school. Hazel, who is based in Freuchie, specialises in landscapes and wedding bouquet “portraits” – an increasingly popular way for brides to remember their wedding day flowers.

The event runs from 10am to 6pm each day.

The Open Studios North Fife events include 74 artists, makers and designers.