5:50 AM 5th May 2025
North Yorkshire Open Studios Spring Exhibition
Many hundreds of visitors to this year's Spring Exhibition have been casting votes for their favourite piece of artwork which will soon be declared as the ‘People’s Choice’.Organisers, North Yorkshire Open Studios (NYOS) in collaboration with Craven Arts, threw open the doors of the gallery from Thursday to Sunday every week since the opening in March.
Hundreds of entries have already been received for the People’s Choice competition and visitors have until 10 May to enter with their selection from a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, jewellery and more.
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Peter Wilkin, Whitby Abbey in Early Morning Mist
Lyn Bailey
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Karen Winship, Still Waters at Macaret
More than 600 people have flocked to the Skipton centre from around the UK
including Herefordshire, Durham, Leeds, Whitby and given great feedback:
One visitor said: “Fabulous exhibition and space to showcase so many talented artists. A very warm and friendly welcome from volunteers.”
Another, from Herefordshire, said: “Lovely venue with a great variety of work and good natural light.”
During the Easter break young people aged 9 and upwards, were invited to view the NYOS Spring Exhibition at Craven Arts House as an inspirational springboard for their own ideas.
They spent time looking at and discussing the artworks on display and collected visual and written information before developing their own creative ideas based on the exhibition.
Selina McGonagle, Executive Lead at Craven Arts said: “The energy in the gallery was palpable—conversations were lively, curiosity was abundant, and creativity flourished. Seeing young people so engrossed and inspired by art reminds us of its powerful role in shaping perspectives and nurturing imagination. The exhibition wasn't merely an event; it was a celebration of possibility and the untapped potential within young individuals. These moments reaffirm the importance of providing accessible opportunities for engagement with the arts, fostering a future generation of thinkers, dreamers, and creators.”
This exciting exhibition, which runs until 10 May 2025, offers a unique opportunity to explore a diverse range of art from some of the region’s most creative minds, ahead of one of the UK’s largest open studios events in June.
It provides an insight into the extraordinary artistic talent thriving in North Yorkshire, giving visitors a preview of what to expect during NYOS’ upcoming Spring Open Studios weekends (7-8 and 14-15 June), when more than 200 artists will welcome the public into their creative spaces. Brochures for Spring Open Studios, which include details of all venues and a map, can be bought online for £5 at nyos.org.uk/brochure.
The featured artists include 14 Craven Arts members, three of which have studios in Craven Arts House.
The exhibition is curated by Carolyn Hird-Rogers, NYOS Dales Area Co-ordinator and Trustee of Craven Arts, which delivers workshops, courses and free events for children, adults and professionals, designed to spark imagination and nurture talent.
She said: “I am so excited that Craven Arts House has the opportunity to showcase the work of over 200 North Yorkshire artists, designers and makers, and I am delighted to be part of the team curating and putting this show together.
“The old Victorian school hall, corridors and classrooms will be a delight to explore and discover the art work produced by the NYOS artists. Most pieces are available for sale and this exhibition also gives our visitors a taster of what is offered by each artist when their studios are open to the public in June.”
Selina McGonagle, Executive Lead at Craven Arts, said: “Craven Arts are delighted to be hosting this year’s North Yorkshire Open Studios Spring Exhibition. This is the biggest exhibition that Craven Arts House has been able to host and an exciting opportunity for us to showcase the talent of so many artists working across North Yorkshire.
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“We are proud of all our members who are taking part, and we are looking forward to welcoming new visitors and artists to Craven Arts House.”
Garth Bayley, Project Manager at NYOS, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the public to engage with art and experience the breadth of creativity that North Yorkshire has to offer.
“The exhibition also serves as the perfect preview for our Spring Open Studios event in June, where art enthusiasts can immerse themselves in even more local talent.”
Painting and drawing
Based in a recently-renovated Victorian pigsty and stable, Graham Jones’ professional career as a business copywriter included writing speeches for the Chair of Marks & Spencer.
He conveys the movement and energy in a landscape by combining rough brushstrokes with the textures and “happy accidents” that result from painting with a palette knife.
Mixed media
When one of her three-year-old twin daughters became seriously ill with a brain tumour, art helped Emma James to process her emotions and find her way back to calm and wellness. She paints wild dramatic places for those who love the ever changing Yorkshire landscape and dream to escape there.
Mixed media
A retired mental health nurse, Peter Wilkin uses digital painting, iPhone photography and cyanotypes to create art inspired by everything from the ballet Swan Lake to the songs of Kate Bush. His work has been displayed at galleries throughout Europe.