As many as 50 artists in and around Faringdon are part of a group of 1,000 artists and designer-makers who are preparing to turn the whole county into a giant art gallery for the Oxfordshire Artweeks 40th anniversary, between 7-29 May.
With twenty venues in a six-mile radius over a two-week period, there’s ever so much to see. You are invited to visit artists’ open studios and pop-up exhibitions – all for free – in interesting and welcoming venues where you’ll find paintings and photos, sculpture, pottery, wood-carving, jewellery and more. And not only that, but you’ll also have the chance to talk to the makers about their methods, their materials, and their inspiration. Just drop in; no appointment necessary.
Faringdon Town Centre
(Artweeks Venue 202) Faringdon Town Hall
A celebration of the town of Faringdon with varied art by local artists.
14-22 May, 11am-2pm every day
Great Coxwell Artists
(Artweeks Venue 203) Start at Holloway House, Great Coxwell, SN7 7LZ
Ceramics, drawing, jewellery, painting, pastels, quilts, sculpture, wirework, woodwork throughout the village. Take a stroll and enjoy coffees, lunch, tea, and cake too.
14-15 and 21-22 May, 11am-5pm weekends only
Three artists in Littleworth:
Yvonne Robinson OAS | Marjut Roberts | Seija Wentworth
(Artweeks Venue 201) The Reading Room, Littleworth, SN7 8ED
A unique collection of unusual and striking ceramics, paintings, mixed media, and printmaking in an attractive village setting.
14-22 May, 11am-6pm every day
A trail of small sculpture gardens in Watchfield & Longcot:
Sharon Rich at Henleaze Farm Bungalow
(Artweeks venue 209) On the B4508 next to Farmer Gow’s, between Fernham and Longcot, SN7 7PR
A garden display of hand-carved stone and glorious stained glass inspired by nature, myth, and magic.
14-15 and 20-22 May, 11am-6pm
RBA sculptor Pat Elmore and painter Seija Wentworth
(Artweeks venue 208) Nutford Lodge, next to The King and Queen pub, Longcot, SN7 7TW
RBA sculptor Pat Elmore and painter Seija Wentworth welcome you to a sculpture garden and gallery.
14-22 May, 11am-6pm every day
Sculptor Emma Ablitt
(Artweeks venue 207) 3 Oxford Square, Watchfield, SN6 8TB
Sculptor Emma Ablitt shows her latest stone carvings in a peaceful cottage garden.
14-22 May, 2pm-6pm every day
Head to Fernham, to meet ceramicist
Nigel Edwards
(Artweeks venue 210) The Spinney, 2 Bakers Square, The Green, Fernham
Unique handcrafted ceramics with sculptural language celebrating local geography and history. Look out for the Uffington White Horse, oh, and unusual sea-inspired lamps too.
14-15 and 21-22 May, 11am-6pm weekends only
Four places to explore in Stanford-in-the-Vale (all on the 67 bus route)
Here you can explore the work of two talented groups of artists in two popular venues and meet two more artists in their own homes/studios.
Studio 10, A Garden Studio
(Artweeks venue 213) 10 Spencers Close, Stanford in the Vale, SN7 8NG
Enjoy a charming selection of beautiful stained-glass art, stunning jewellery designs, contemporary ceramics, and bespoke concrete creations.
14-22 May, 11am-4.30pm, every day
The Garden Studio
(Artweeks venue 214) 53 High Street SN7 8NQ
The Garden Studio is just a moment’s walk away with a warm welcome, great variety of work in ceramics, wood and more.
14-22 May, 11am-6pm, every day
Anne Mills
(Artweeks venue 211) 22 Bow Road, Stanford in the Vale, SN7 8JB
Showing both wood – in the form of beautifully crafted bellows – and a quirky mix of digital art from
local legends to Spitfires and sports.
14-15 and 19-22 May, 11am-5pm (or by appt)
Lawrence Ward OAS
(Artweeks venue 212) 25 Chapel Road, Stanford in the Vale SN7 8LE
A wide selection of new landscapes and other work in a traditional style by an established local artist.
14-27 May, 11am-6pm
Over Radcot Bridge
Four great places to visit in Clanfield:
Silvi Schaumloeffel’s stunning studio
(Artweeks venue 386) The Calf Pens, Friars Court, Clanfield, OX18 2SU
Silvi will be painting her contemporary expressive oil paintings inspired by the local flora and views under old beams in a beautiful farm setting. Her exhibition promises to be bold, bright, and captivating
21-29 May, 11am-5pm, every day
Ben and Susan Drew, and the Drew School of Ceramics in Clanfield
(Artweeks venues 387 and 388)
If you have ever thought of having a go at pottery, then this one’s for you. An amazing showcase of ceramics and an inspiring variety from small sculptures by students at the school – and it’s amazing what they can do – to delicate pieces, domestic stoneware, and large high-fired garden ceramics.
21-29 May, open every day, 11am-5pm at the weekends, Mon/Thu 1-4.30pm, Tue-Wed/Fri 1-4.30pm
New to Artweeks this year Charlotte and Nina Sweeney
(Artweeks venue 385) Elder Barn, Bushey Drive, Clanfield, OX18 2TS
A mother/daughter team. We’re loving the look of Charlotte's stylish and colourful functional ceramics and Nina's vibrant eye-catching contemporary prints – lots of colour and lots of funky women.
21-22 and 25-28 May, 12pm-5pm
Michele Wallington
(Artweeks venue 384)
Michele Wallington is right next door to Blake’s Kitchen, Clanfield’s tasty café. She’s a versatile artist exhibiting a variety of paintings with affordable prints & greetings cards available too.
19-21 and 26-29 May, 10am-5pm
Blooming Bampton
West Ox Arts Gallery in the centre of the village is a lovely airy art space that’s always a pleasure to visit. For Artweeks, it is hosting ten artists – some Artweeks favourites and some new faces – with art ranging from contemporary figurative oils, still-lifes and en-Plein air landscapes of the Cotswolds to joyful florals and seascapes.
Marjolein Trewavas
Town Hall, Market Square, Bampton, OX18 2JH
Here too Marjolein Trewavas re-uses antique fabrics, silverware and dolls and transforms them into quirky creatively upcycled items and Debbie Page’s smoke-fired moon jars are inspired by Korean vessels and the moon itself.
7-29 May, every day except Sundays, 11.30-4.30pm
Photographer Nik Stanbridge
(Artweeks venue 382) Lane End, Cheyne Lane, Bampton, OX18 2HB
Just a few hundred metres away, Nik is showing minimalist monochrome photographic studies of the landscape, all shot on analogue film.
21-29 May, 11am-6pm
Tuula Nicholson
(Artweeks venue 383) Wisteria, Church View, Bampton, OX18 2NE
In a stunning spot in the heart of the village, browse contemporary stylish handmade wood, slate and stone sculptures and unique home and garden products. There’s an iconic simplicity about Stik Designs and they’re stunning in this large gallery-style setting, open only for Artweeks.
21-29 May, 11am-5pm
Neville Crowson WOA
(Artweeks venue 375) Blomfield House, Cote nr Bampton, OX18 2EG
Traditional Plein-air landscapes, seascapes, garden scenes, still life, and church interiors are on view in Neville’s house and lovely garden. Expect colour and warmth.
21-29 May, 11am-6pm
For more details on these venues and dozens more towards Swindon, in Wantage, Witney and a wonderful ‘wild-card’ in Fyfield just off the A420 halfway between here and Oxford (venue 200), visit artweeks.org.
