June has become one of the most popular months of the year for open studio events with new trails happening in the Highlands and Ayrshire at the same time as the popular Sutherland event.

The Highlands Open Studios event started on 3 June and continues until Sunday 11 June 2006.  There is a huge variety of artists and work to see with textiles by Ruth Black, Sandra Kelsey, Kirstie Thornber, Joan Baxter and Sallie Tyszko,  ceramics by Veronica Newman, Barbel Dister and the Nethybridge Pottery, glass by Tony Hinde, silver by Alan Baillie and wood by John Murphy and Peter Tyler. 

In addition there are galleries across the region including Kilmorack gallery by Beauly, Just Art gallery in Fochabers, Carrbridge artists studio gallery, Carron pottery and gallery, John O'Groats pottery and gallery, Castle Gallery in Inverness, Brown's gallery in Tain, Arrina gallery in Strathcarron and Tore art gallery in Muir of Ord.  View the map to find out the studio locatations and see examples of work by the artists on their website. 

The first Ayrshire Open Studios event takes place on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 June 2006.  The region has been divided into four different craft trails which are listed in a brochure available from Develop Craft Ayrshire on 01563 554341 or e-mail craft.development@east-ayrshire.gov.uk  The range of work includes jewellery by Colette Mullen and Susan Montgomerie, stained glass by Sue C Wilkinson, Craigdhu and the Richard Price studio, textiles by Gina Lilycrop, Tessa Smith and Susan Hamilton, baskets by Lise Bech and Julie Gurr, furniture by Brian Baird and Brad Askew.

There are also several galleries to visit including the Wave gallery in Girvan, Pinmore Ceramics gallery in Girvan, Overt gallery in Newmilns, Burnside gallery on the Isle of Arran, Heartfelt studios in Ochiltree with textiles by Liz Brown and beadwork by Sandy Mitchell, Yungi Textiles and gallery in Irvine and Elements Studio in Kilmarnock with work by jewellers Alison Macleod and Gilly Langton.

Two venues offer several studios to visit.  The WASPS studios in Irvine is showing jewellery by Suilven Plazalska and Jane Elliott with ceramics by Hanne Mannheimer, and at West Kilbride Craft Town Scotland there is headwear by Donna Morrow, wood and glass by Sandy and Liz Campbell, and silver by Marion E Kane.

At Rozelle House galleries in Ayr there is work and demonstrations by a selection of makers in Maclaurin Gallery One, and the two ‘Elements of Change Three’ exhibitions at the Vennel gallery in Irvine and the Dick Institute in Kilmarnock are still on.   Find out more about these exhibitions in our news story.

The third open studio trail in June is Visual Arts Sutherland which features a mixed exhibition of work at the Timespan gallery in Helmsdale from 4 June to 4 July 2006 and open studios from 4 June until 30 June 2006.   The exhibition includes laminated blades with bone, antler or wood handles by Steve Clark, ceramics by Penny Woodley, Lotte Glob and David Woodley and furniture by John Fyfe.   Makers participating in the open studio trails include Iris Wallace, who makes enamelled wall panels, plates, dishes and jewellery, Jan Kilpatrick who creates collages, Joan Baxter who designs tapestries, Sonia Bidwell who spins local wool to make wall hangings and Rachel Skene who weaves fabric for handbags and scarves.  Find our more about the trails and participating artists on their website. 

In both Sutherland and Ayrshire some studios are open throughout the year and further details can be found about these on their websites.

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