This month and next, more than 100 artists in and around Abingdon are preparing for Oxfordshire Artweeks later this spring. Artweeks – the UK’s oldest and biggest open studios and pop-up exhibition event - always seems to be the event that signals the arrival of summer sunshine, and as the festival begins colour suddenly runs riot across the county, so we were keen to find out what we’ve got to look forward to locally.
In Abingdon
Abbey Group (Artweeks venue 464)
Exciting and innovative mixed media, painting, and glass in historic surroundings.
St Nicolas Church, 6 Market Place OX14 3HG
10am-5pm, 20-27 May
Oxon Artmakers (Artweeks venue 465)
Painting: a group of artists expressing their feelings on paper and canvas to make inspiring art.
The Abbey Cinema, Abbey Close OX14 3LD
11am-9pm, 18-27 May
The Abingdon Artist Collaboration (Artweeks venue 468)
Five artists and their creative threads in the very heart of Abingdon shopping centre – with milkshake and cake! Could you ask for more?
The Digby Room @ Willow's Shake Shop
18 Bury Street OX14 3QT
10.30am-5pm, 18-24 May
Makespace Oxford (Artweeks venue 469)
Explore the studios and enjoy a variety of artwork from The Charter Studios artists and South Abingdon community groups.
The Charter Studios, Broad Street OX14 3LZ
11am-4pm, 18-24 May
Caroline Harben and Sandra Hoeft (Artweeks venues 466 and 467)
A landscape artist seeking to capture ‘Spirit of Place’ and a mixed media artist exploring line, shape, and colour in the landscape.
St Ethelwold's House, 30 East St Helen's Street OX14 5EB
Fri/Mon 11am-4pm; Sat/Sun 11am-5pm, 24-27 May
Oxfordshire Chinese Brush Painting Group (Artweeks venue 470)
An incredible selection of Chinese brush painting in its many styles, on paper and on silk.
35 Ock Street OX14 5AG
10.30am-2pm (Sat 10.30am-12.30pm), 18 20-25 May
Fi Cooper (Artweeks venue 471)
Ceramics inspired by landscape and natural forms.
5 Cameron Avenue, OX14 3SR
Wed-Thu 2pm-6pm: Fri-Sat 11am-6pm, Mon 11am-5pm, 22-27 May
‘13 The Chestnuts’ (Artweeks venues 472, 473 and 522)
Visit Iain Shield to see stoneware ceramics from the heart: ancient glazes, reduction fired, slip textures; Nikki Shield’s abstract landscape paintings and letterpress and linocut designs; and Judith Godsland sketchbooks and other book structures, handmade cards, bookmarks and more.
13 The Chestnuts OX14 3YN
10am-6pm (Wed-Fri 4pm-7pm)
18-19 22-26 May
Peach Croft Barn Artists (Artweeks venues 474-476)
Lively new art from sixteen artists and makers, both regular exhibitors including Paul Minter and the ‘Six Great Jewellers’, and new faces. Paintings including those of landscapes, gardens and historic houses, ceramics, sculpture and jewellery in a beautiful old barn. Daily demos at 2pm.
Peach Croft Farm, Twelve Acre Drive OX14 2HP
10am-5pm
18-27 May
In Radley and Kennington
Zelga Miller (Artweeks venue 477)
‘Drawing Thoughts’ explores the consequences of mental health challenges to the body and the journey to recovery.
Sewell Centre Gallery, Radley College OX14 2HR
1pm-5pm on Tues-Thurs, runs 19 April-17 May.
Lizzie and Susan Wheeler (Artweeks venues 478 and 479)
A colourful exhibition of linocuts, monoprints, collagraphs and cards by printmakers Lizzie and Sue Wheeler in their studio near the Thames footpath.
115 Lower Radley OX14 3BA
11am-6pm 18-27 May
Ros Murphy (Artweeks venue 480)
Vibrant oil paintings, pretty garden setting, and indoor studio/refreshments.
3 Park End Barns, Kennington Road, Radley OX14 2JW
11am-6pm, 18-27 May
Mags Cuttle (Artweeks venue 481)
Beautiful, functional and decorative pottery. Mugs, jugs, plates, bowls, vases and bottles.
141 Upper Road, Kennington OX1 5LR
11am-6pm (Thu/Fri 1pm-8pm, Sun 10am-4pm), 18-19 22-27 May
Other villages around Abingdon
Sunningwell School of Art (Artweeks venue 482)
Adventures in painting, pottery, drawing and sculpture from over 400 students!
The Old School, Sunningwell Road, Sunningwell OX13 6RD
12pm-6pm, 25-27 May
Dry Sandford: Elaine Newson (Artweeks venue 483)
Vibrant textiles, glass, jewellery, paintings, printmaking, mixed media, cards and more. Wonderful colourful variety and a warm welcome. Parking and teas.
Sanctuary, 32 The Field, Dry Sandford OX13 6ED
11am-6pm, 18-27 May
Cumnor: Hannah Vickery (Artweeks venue 484)
Abstract mixed media paintings inspired by the landscape and literature.
2B Hurst Lane, Cumnor OX2 9PR
11am-5pm (Thu 5pm-8pm), 18-19 22 25 May
Appleton Artweeks (Artweeks venue 485)
A large group of artists and makers showing quality paintings, ceramics, jewellery and other media in a bright airy village hall with refreshments.
Appleton Village Hall, Oaksmere, Appleton OX13 5JS
10.30am-5pm, 18-19 May
Frilford: Abingdon Preparatory School (Artweeks venue 486)
Art and design work celebrating creativity, made by students from reception to year 8.
Josca's House, Kingston Road, Frilford OX13 5NX
4pm-6pm, 21 May
Charlotte Storrs (Artweeks venue 463)
Functional stoneware ceramics, all wheel-thrown. Pottery in a beautiful secret garden close to the Thames.
8 The Green, Culham, OX14 4LZ
12pm-5pm, 18-27 May
Emma Cavell (Artweeks venue 462)
Innovative mixed media mosaics 'Peace by Piece' re-creating beauty through brokenness.
110 High Street, Sutton Courtenay OX14 4AX
1pm-6pm, 18-19 22 25-27 May
For more details on these and other venues or to browse an online art showcase visit artweeks.org
