OPEN STUDIOS STIRLINGSHIRE 2025
Artists & makers at venues across rural Stirlingshire will be holding a programme of Open Studios this summer from Saturday 7th - Sunday 15th June 2025, when they invite you to come and see what they do, watch demonstrations, and buy work directly from artists.
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The artists taking part in 2024 included: Alison Borthwick, Alistair Dickson, Amanda Buchanan Hutchison, Andrew Walters , Athena McLellan, Art4You, Charlotte Strawbridge, Cindy Mcloughlin, Creative in Callander, Frances Douglas, Gillie Welstead, Graham Tristram, Iona Buchannan, Jane Buchannan, Jane Campbell, Jessica Langford, Jill Sives, Judy Shaw Stewart, Kate Sankey, Katherine Cowtan, Kerry Lindsell, Libby Yule, Lorna Mackay, Mark Drury , Mary Mackay, Mauire Jessett, Max Johnson, Michael Prince, Robin Chapman Campbell, Sarah Hill, Sheila Patrick, and Yani Homfray.
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Open Studios events have a long history, and there are many of them Nationwide (even Internationally). Each is run locally, and for the past 12 years the Open Studios event for Central Scotland was ‘Forth Valley Art Beat’. When the event wasn’t scheduled for 2024, some of the artists in Stirlingshire decided to create their own smaller and more local event instead. With very little time and only a few artist volunteers to plan and organise it, the focus was on the rural artists (which is what inspired the event’s name!)
Thanks to help from Scene Stirling, an Open Studios Stirlingshire event took place from Saturday 15th – Sunday 23rd June 2024, with a second year now announced.
Open Studios Stirlingshire showcases some of the many talented artists and makers of the area, giving an exciting taste of the working lives of the creative people in rural Stirlingshire, the spaces where they make their work, and an insight into how living in the country and the local landscapes have often inspired their work.
During the event visitors are invited to visit Artists and Makers, often in their working studios. It is an opportunity to see what they do, discuss their ideas, techniques and materials, be inspired or even ‘have a go’, try a new skill, join a workshop, and buy work directly from the artists.
We hope you will enjoy exploring the Stirlingshire countryside while travelling to the event venues. Many of the artists live in very beautiful rural locations, and there is fabulous scenery to see along the way!
Come and see paintings, pottery, photography, weaving, basket making, animation and lots more!
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Getting involved in 2025?
Thank you for so much interest in us running Open Studios Stirlingshire again this year. The dates for this year's event will be Saturday 7th - Sunday 15th June 2025.
We have created a new email address, for us to use for all Open Studios admin. If possible please use this one when contacting us in the future: open.studios.stirlingshire@gmail.com
It was agreed at the meeting of artists in February that we would continue to focus on the same rural area and route as last year, and priority will be given to last year's participants. See last year's map of venues below. If you are an artist, maker or creator in this area, we would now like to invite anyone wishing to take part to email us to register / confirm your interest (even if you may have already done so). If you aren't in our area and would like to join a group, or would like help finding a venue, please also get in touch.
With your reply please attach an image that represents your work, which we can use for publicity. Ideally this should be a JPEG between 1 - 4 MB in size. If it is not already square, it should be suitable for cropping to square. It must be clear, in focus and with good lighting please! If you are replying for a group you can attach a single image, or images from any number of the artists in your group.
The deadline for doing this is the end of March, for us to get a clear idea of the numbers and print costs. Then we will assess all the applications and interest, and make decisions that are in the best interests of the event.
Please use this directory to search for artists and information about their work, and use the map for locating venues. Directions are given in the individual profiles. Look out for signs near venues during the event
NB Where artists are sharing a venue, or are close, their dots merge on the map, so zoom in!
Click on the map image above for a PDF version of our map from 2024.
Printed maps have been distributed locally and may be available at the venues. Look out for arrow signs near venues during the event.
