Artists Open Their Studios

We’ve got a lot going for us here in Perthshire. We’ve got spectacular natural beauty, a city steeped in history, some elite athletes and a fantastic community spirit throughout the region. On top of all that, we’ve got some magnificent artists who are as passionate and creative as you’ll find anywhere else.

For artists, getting their pieces out there is key and tomorrow marks the start of a week on appreciation of some of our local artists stunning work in the Perthshire Open Studios event. Over 200 artists will showcase their work across 143 venues in Perth and Kinross between Saturday 2^nd and Sunday 8^th September.

The event is an opportunity for people to meet the maker in person and explore their individual workspaces at their leisure, all the while enjoying the beautiful Perthshire scenery when out and about. Open Studios is an event that brings a lot of people into Perthshire and it’s exciting to be a part of it. There are seven different routes which takes you on an artistic journey throughout the region, from the red route in Highland Perthshire to the turquoise route in the Kinross-shire area to the south.

The 2017 event has a number of sponsors who have helped to make it all possible including Frames Gallery, who will be sponsoring the blue route through the city centre. Frames owner, Hugh Goring, is looking forward to the event and hopes to see faces both new and old getting involved and popping along to see some of our local artists’ finest work.

“Open Studios is an event that brings a lot of people into Perthshire and it’s exciting to be a part of something big like this. The gallery will be sponsoring the blue route this year and although we’re not a studio as such, we’re a professional gallery and the public can be sure of seeing some great work.

“We also have our own exhibition by a Scottish artist, James Fraser, so we’re hoping that people who are on the tour will take in our gallery too.”

Perthshire Open Studios is now celebrating its tenth year having first launched in 2008 and more and more people are getting involved each year. 2016 saw record participation numbers in both artists and visitors, and 2017 will likely see record numbers once again.

GALLERY

The event attracts both locals and tourists, and Hugh thinks that getting to speak to the artist in person and find out what inspired each piece is one of the main draws of the event.

“Open Studios are a comparatively recent development in the art world but they are very popular. The public like the idea of visiting an artist in their studio where they can talk to them and get a sense of how they work.

“The guide that’s available is a really useful tool for getting to see such a big variety of work. Plus, it’s a great chance to tour around the very lovely Perthshire landscape.”

You don’t have to wait until tomorrow to start your Perthshire Open Studios journey either. A showcase exhibition was opened on 25^th August by Provost Dennis Melloy at The Bield at Blackruthven, which displays a sample selection of the art of many of the artists involved in the Open Studios event. The public like the idea of visiting an artist in their studio. There’s a second showcase exhibition which will open tomorrow at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, which runs until the end of the month.

As if you needed an excuse to travel around Perthshire taking in our region’s stunning scenery, Open Studios gives you the chance to do just that all while soaking up some culture by visiting the workspaces of some local artists. It’s a unique opportunity to see how they work, and who knows it could inspire you to try to create something of your own.

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For more information on the event and its seven different coloured routes, visit the Perthshire Open Studios website or Facebook page.

Perthshire Open Studios is supported by nine prestigious Perthshire businesses; Frames Gallery, Culture Perth and Kinross, Persie Gin Distillery, The Strathearn Gallery, The Wee House of Glenshee, Murray and Murray Kitchen Design, Art Craft Finder, Strathearn Stone and Timber, and The Design House.