Ealing Art Trail

This weekend and next sees the first Open Studios in my local area, BEAT – Borough of Ealing Art Trail. It is amazing that Ealing has never had an Open Studios art trail event before as most west London Boroughs and surrounding areas do, in fact last year I took part in the Richmond Open Studios. BEAT was bought together by a group of enthusiastic, dedicated and determined artists who felt it was about time Ealing had an event run by artists for artists in order to showcase the vast wealth of art and creativity that lives in the borough of Ealing. Have a look at the great video on their Home Page. Kitty, who I do my weekly workshop with, has been a key player and I am sure she and the rest of the team must be delighted with the outcome – 130 artists in 54 locations.

It also seems amazing that there is (at last) a local art event and I am not part of it! That is because next weekend I am doing a 10 mile night time walk in central London in order to raise money for Maggies Centres. It seemed unrealistic to have to hire a venue to show my work just for one weekend so I decided to wish my fellow artists good luck and become a visitor instead this year. So yesturday I set off with my friend Nita to see 3 local venues – 6 hours and 13 artists later we arrived home, thoroughly exhausted but exhilarated by the art we had seen and the artists we had met. If you have the chance, download  a brochure and visit Ealing to see some incredible art that is on show.

Seascape on Slate

Talking to all the artists made me really proud to be part of the local and wider art community – although I still feel like the new girl on the block. It was really lovely to meet a group of people who had that same passion and a need to express their creativity rather than doing so purely for commercial reasons. I am very well aware that my main ‘drivers’ are certainly not monetary but a desire to continually improve my work, receive peer recognition and reach a wider audience in order for people to see the wonderful possibilities the great art form of mosaic making offers.

Nature Inspired Wall Panels

To that end, I was delighted to see that a new Gallery has opened in Northumberland in the village we often stay in. The Tower House Gallery, which is an octagonal shape building and originally the Harbour Masters House, has now been bought privately and turned into a stunning display area. It will be a real boon for the village and the local artists. I have been given the opportunity to take some work in for consideration on my next visit – so fingers crossed.

I have decided to make some pieces especially that I feel would work well in the space. I am looking at making more ‘glass-on-glass’ and I will also take some of my long panels shown here.

So wish me luck, wish all the Ealing artists luck for BEAT and also wish my walking boots luck for my charity walk next weekend.

If you would like to donate to Maggies Centres please see my Just Giving Page.