North Devon artists to make Devon Open Studios Debut

Emerging North Devon artist, Clare Willcocks, is teaming up with Northam-based printmaker, Josie Grant, for their first Devon Open Studios event.

Along with over 350 other artists across Devon, including big names such as Yvonne Coomber, Rosie Sanders and Jane Pine, Clare and Josie will be opening their stunning Northam venue to visitors from Saturday 10 to Sunday 25 September 2022.

Clare was selected along with four other artists across Devon to be awarded an Emerging Artist Bursary by Devon Artist Network, the organisation behind the popular Devon Open Studios event. The bursary aims to nurture and encourage new talent to take the next steps in their career.

Previous bursary artists include Amelia Webster in 2021, who has gone on to be a finalist in the Holly Bush Emerging Women Painting Prize and Nicola Barton, who is exhibiting her jewellery at Fursdon Barn Studios, Moretonhampstead for this year’s Devon Open Studios. As well as the bursary, Clare is receiving support to further her career as an artist, an opportunity which she is excited to have been chosen for.

“To have my efforts recognised with an Emerging Artist Bursary is a huge boost,” said Clare. “I’ve been working on my ‘Wave Collection’ of oil paintings for the past nine months, and I’m excited to be exhibiting them for the first time during the event.”

Josie Grant, apprentice to eminent printmaker, Merlyn Chesterman, will be exhibiting alongside Clare at Josie’s charming, historic property, Tadworthy Tower, in Northam. Visitors can not only view the pair’s work, but can also join workshops to make their own art.

Josie will be leading printmaking workshops and Clare will be offering relaxed ‘Sketching in the Garden’ experiences, during which participants will use a variety of media to sketch the plants, flowers and historic buildings.

Other local artists taking part in Devon Open Studios include Pebbleridge Art Studio manager, Emma Johnson; esteemed seascape artist, Amy Jobes; prolific plein air painter, Debs Last with ArtMakers; and talented artist duo, Jackson and Young.

Studios will be opening across the county, welcoming in members of the public to view original art, meet the artists and get an insight into the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of the artist’s practice.

It’s a rare chance to get up close to original works of art which ordinarily may only be accessible online. Visitors are encouraged to plan their own trail, and visit several of the venues on their own art tour.

It’s a huge event in the local art calendar, helping to support artists make sales, and establish connections directly with the public. With most venues offering a range of cards, prints and affordable art, it’s the ideal opportunity to support an artist you admire.

Clare, a self-taught artist, draws her main inspiration from the coast – the movement of water, the land where it meets the sea, and the creatures that inhabit it. Living in Northam, she spends most of her time by the sea with her partner, Sam, and their children, Thomas, 6, and Phoebe, 3.

Clare said: “I can’t imagine living away from the sea. I love it in all seasons, and often feel an intense desire to capture fleeting moments – a wave about to break, calm ripples in the surface, stormy skies over the land.”

In addition to being a fine artist, Clare is also an illustrator, and live wedding artist, painting 10-minute on-the-spot portraits of couples and their guests.

For Clare, painting is akin to meditation, a feeling which she shares with Devon Open Studios partner Josie. Josie said: “When I’m carving my designs into lino, I’m fully in the zone and focussed. I work on pieces I feel moved to create – lately these have been lino prints inspired by nature and their many different forms.”

Josie has made a splash in the North Devon art scene with her heart-warming lino prints, and is deepening her knowledge of the craft as apprentice to North Devon master printmaker, Merlyn Chesterman.

Josie said: “I’ve learnt so much from Merlyn, and I’m excited to be sharing my own knowledge about the artistic process of lino printing with visitors to my workshops during Devon Open Studios. It’s exciting to be sharing my work and space with people face to face for the first time”.

From 10 - 25 September, 366 artists will be exhibiting their work at 213 venues across Devon. Pick up a guide for this year’s Devon Open Studios from community venues, libraries and tourist information offices, or browse the online version at devonopenstudios.co.uk.

View Clare and Josie’s work on their respective websites, and book their Devon Open Studios workshops online: clarewillcocks.co.uk and josiegrant.com