OPEN STUDIOS
T his year is a poignant one for Cambridge Open Studios, as it marks another milestone year but also reflects on the recent loss of its founder, Julia Ball. What a fitting tribute to her, though, as this much-loved free event goes from strength to strength! Since 1974, the July Open Studios exhibition has grown exponentially, now encompassing hundreds of artists that specialise in a wide range of disciplines, including painting, jewellery, printmaking, ceramics and pottery, glass art, digital art, drawing and illustration, woodwork and furniture, sculpture, textiles, photography, book art, lettering and calligraphy, mixed media and collage. It’s business as usual this year – but with some exciting developments and new participants across the Cambridgeshire area – as local creatives open up their studios and galleries for the public to immerse themselves in art over the four weekends in July. For the first time ever, there will also be a young artists’ showcase in the newly refurbished learning studio at the Fitzwilliam Museum, helping nurture the next generation of talent in the county. More than 350 artists are taking part in 2025, and here is a choice selection to whet your palette…!
1 Bea Lukowska A self-taught artist with a background in architecture and buildings conservation, Bea Lukowska specialises in landscapes, architectural pieces and urban scenes, with a particular passion for capturing historical buildings situated in picturesque countryside settings. She enjoys experimenting with various tones and techniques in the process of creating a 3D effect, using pencil, charcoal, coloured pencils, watercolour and ink on paper. “The creative process gives me a sense of freedom, autonomy and inner harmony, and it has a soothing influence on me,” she enthuses. New for this year’s Open Studios, Bea explores the city through the medium of watercolour, under the theme: Heritage of Majestic Cambridge. 70 Pym Court, Cromwell Road CB1 3FB bealukowska.co.uk @bealukowska 2 Maree and Paul Allitt (aka mapmap) Handmade in their Cambridge studio, Paul and Maree Allitt’s slab-built porcelain ceramics are decorated using stencils and coloured slips. In the final firing, some areas are glazed, creating a deliberate
interplay between matte and gloss surfaces and giving each piece a tactile richness. This year at their studio, visitors have a chance to purchase some of the ‘perfectly imperfect’ or experimental ceramics. “We hope that, when people take a piece home and put it on their mantelpiece, it will give them a little joy in passing,” they say. St Barnabas Press, 9 Belfast Yard, Coldhams Road CB1 3EW mapmap.co.uk 3 Susan Abbs Susan Abbs will present her latest series, Breaking Through , which marks a new stage of resilience, re-emergence and renewed energy following her recovery from cancer. Dramatic and monochromatic, the paintings are created in oil on metal – this interacts with light, shifting with the viewer’s movement to evoke change and transformation. While abstract, the work is rooted in a sense of place – not necessarily physical, but emotional and psychological. “These works are about moving forward – those moments when something opens up, clears or gives way to a new beginning,” says Susan. 36 Kinnaird Way, Cambridge CB1 8SN susanabbs.co.uk
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