Have you ever looked at a piece of art and thought how? How did this come into being? How did the artist accomplish this work? How were they inspired in the first place?The Tywi Valley Open Studios gives you the opportunity to actually voice these questions to the artists behind the art. It is a chance to see the artists’ workshops, make unique purchases and even have a go yourself.
What is The Tywi Valley Open Studios?
The Tywi Valley Open Studios were established to enable artists to share their working practices with the general public. That’s why all admissions are free of charge.
In a 15 mile radius of Llandeilo, there are 28 artists to visit throughout the Arts Trail who work in a variety of media; from book binding to wood, textiles to sculpture, metal to painting.
It’s surprising that in such a rural area you can find a condensed population of artists. But when you think about the Tywi Valley itself, it makes sense that its natural beauty should inspire locals to pick up their tools of choice and express their creativity. And to those who weren’t lucky enough to be born and raised here, of course the landscape will attract makers to the region.
Our top picks
Carol Spackman – Ceramics
Closest to the Charcoal Hut is Carol’s pottery workshop that is nestled amongst her glorious garden. She makes impressionist tableware, bringing the colours of Welsh wild flower meadows are brought into your home where beauty meets functionality. Carol also creates small and medium sized sculptures exploring ‘sense of place’. A number of her frost-proof Hare and Bird sculptures can be spotted as you wonder around her garden.
Carol also offers Workshops of Handbuilt pottery for £12 / hour where you can make flowers, birds, bowls, dishes, mugs, hares, owls, dogs, vases, name plaques and greenman.
Advanced booking is a requirement.
Crincae, Llanddeusant, SA19 9UP.
Elaine Jones – Mixed media
A Llandovery girl born and bred, Elaine is the self-taught artist who has taken the mixed media title and run with it. We’re talking crafts, jewellery, needle felting, decoupage and image transfer, pyrography and pressed flower art as well as up-cycling furniture. But the jewel in the crown for me has to be her painting. Elaine is inspired by the changes of nature and has produced some exquisite works of local landscapes. You can absolutely tell that the places that she recreates in acrylic, oil and watercolour are close to her heart from the love and care that she puts into her pieces.
If you fancy having a go at Decoupage, Elaine is running workshops for £10 per person.
The Carriage Studio, LlettyHaflaeth, Llandovery, SA20 0US.
10am-5pm everyday of the open studios.
Angela Farquharson and Martin Duffy – Sculpture
A husband and wife artistic team who turn their home and garden into a gallery every year for the Tywi Valley Open Studios. The garden is particularly wonderful, seeing the sculptures amongst the elements and how they become entwined with nature over time is spectacular to see.
Angela uses ceramic, bronze, resin and steel for her sculptures of both indoor and outdoor.
Talking about the variety of materials that she uses she says: ‘I love the differing challenges that working with the different clay bodies provide, using hand building and press moulding techniques.’
She describes qualities of purity and translucency that porcelain accentuates in elegant designs in contrast to the stronger personality that natural black basalt clay brings to the sculpture. Angela’s works are largely focused on the exploration of femininity. When you encounter her large scale sculptures it is a truly overwhelming experience as the beauty and humanity of the subject pours out of the otherwise cold and hard materials.
By contrast, the subject matter of Martin’s work varies from animal, human and motorsport, creating both public art and for private collectors from across the globe. Martin’s interests lie in movement and character of his pieces and he particularly enjoys playing with scale.
Martin will be offering a workshop on 29th July for a maximum of 5 students on how to create a sculpture – from making the armature, different materials and how to use them.
It will run from 9:30-5:30 for £85 per person, this includes tea, coffee and cake plus all of the materials. Booking and payment in advance is required.
The Old Post Office, Ffarmers, Llanwrda, SA19 8LQ.
Artistic offerings
The Tywi Valley Open Studios is a free exhibition by local artists of world-class talent. It is just another event in the area that is totally unique that you just know that if it was located in Cardiff or London it would be jam-packed. Luckily for us, the serenity and slowed pace of rural life is wrapped up in the fabric of this hidden gem.
If you are planning a trip to the area, you will not want to miss this!
- Studios are not open all of the time so please check the website and the pages of the individual artists to plan your visit. *