Open Weekend Christmas 2021

The Project Workshops residents are gearing up for another Open Studios Weekend on 20^th and 21^st November, an ideal opportunity to purchase beautiful gifts in time for Christmas.

Artists and makers include Sally Newton, a recent addition to the creative community here. She has been very busy making stunning and varied work as part of her residency at the local Cholderton Estate. View her elegant ink renderings, and mono prints, paintings and etchings. She really has explored a wide range of media, and delicately and distinctively portrays the ever evolving cycles of life, taking place on the farm.

Another relatively recent member of Project Workshops is textile artist Katy Rundle. Her love of wildlife is so originally and gorgeously represented through colour and texture with her distinctive fabric renderings. Her workshop is a feast for the senses.

Matt Duke, an experienced member of the Talos Art Foundry, and also talented sculptor, won the best sculpture of the year award at the Cotswold Sculpture Park with his elegant Owl, ‘Spirit’. He will have many of his beautiful bronzes on show.

Soraya French, a world-renowned painter is starting to run her popular workshops again, and has recently had another beautifully illustrated book published: ‘Contemporary Flowers in Mixed Media’.

Award winning sculptor Amy Goodman has had three public works unveiled this year: the Arborfield Horses near Reading, the poignant Gurkha Memorial, and the iconic Florence Nightingale. The Gurkha Memorial, highlighting the special relationship between the Gurkhas and British for over 200 years, depicts first Gurkha Victoria Cross recipient, Kulbir Thapa rescuing a British Tommy in 1915. The elegant bust of Florence Nightingale, pioneer of modern nursing, is ever more poignant after these difficult times we have been living through due to Covid 19. A great thanks must go out to so many health care professionals. Amy will have a range of art on display as well as fast-selling little ‘Noah’ the donkey, and a 17th stainless steel Irish thoroughbred nearing completion.

Elaine Peto will have a wonderful array of her splendid and characterful ceramic animal sculptures. She has recently added pelicans to her extensive repertoire.

Also the evocative and beautiful works of Hannah Willow includes her very latest Diary, with her gorgeous illustrations enhanced with beautifully written text by her partner in work and life, Phil Tree. This year focuses on trees, our ancient guardians.

Talos Art Foundry will have its doors open ready for you to view the exciting and ancient processes of lost wax bronze casting. Talos Art Gallery will also set up a magnificent display of bronze sculptures in the foundry’s main atrium.

Glassblowers Mark Taylor and David Hill will have their workshop open, displaying their exquisite hand-blown reproductions of glass from the Roman period to the 18^th century.

Reginald Thompson will also have some of his glassware and jewellery on show – search for his lovely little workshop across the Courtyard garden next to Jeremy Smith.

Jeremy Smith‘s stunningly crafted furniture, ornate boxes, kitchen and charcuterie boards will make ideal gifts. He will be running a range of woodworking courses, starting early in the New Year, aimed at both beginners and those with more experience. You will be able to reserve a place on one of these courses.