Chichester Open Studios Art Trail turns 25 this year, and I can hardly believe I've been part of it almost from the beginning. It remains one of the highlights of my year.
What the Trail is
The Trail is a chance for the public to meet local artists in person, in our own creative worlds. This year, 164 artists are opening up across 116 venues, divided into six distinct trails to help you plan your visits. The range of work on show is extraordinary — from metalwork to digital, ceramics to found objects, and everything in between.
Crucially, the Trail isn't just for established artists like me. It's a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talents and meet a wider audience. So please do support our local creative talent.
A doorway into a creative life
The educational side of the Trail is something I feel strongly about. Art in schools is too often prescriptive, taught as if there's a right answer and a wrong one. There isn't. Creative making is bound up with creative thinking, and creative thinking belongs in every subject, not just the art room.
When young people walk into a working studio, they see what's possible when you take away the rules. They see the floor covered in paint. They see the materials, the processes, the mess. For some, it's the first time they've understood that art is about exploration, not getting it right. The Trail can be a genuine kickstart — the confidence to show your work, to talk about it, to think about pursuing it further. There are wonderful pathways nearby too, like West Dean College of Arts, Design, Craft and Conservation, which offers everything from foundation diplomas through to a Master of Fine Art. You're literally opening the door to a creative world, and sometimes to a new career in the arts.
Come and find me at Studio 96
I'll be at Studio 96 on the Peninsular Trail, showing oils and mixed media works inspired by the coastlines of West Sussex and the West Coast of Scotland.
My open days:
Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 May
Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 May (I won't be opening on Bank Holiday Monday 25 May)
The days I'm open are some of my favourites of the year. Working alone in the studio can be isolating, and there's something wonderful about the conversations that happen when people step inside and ask how it's all done.
For full details of all 164 participating artists and the six trails, visit chichesteropenstudios.org.
I'd love to see you.