Bucks Open Studios, the largest visual arts event in Buckinghamshire, encourages artists and craftsmen and women to throw open their studios to visitors for two weeks during the Summer.
Each year Haddenham is very well represented and across the County last year over 500 artists displayed their work in such forms as glass, ceramics, jewellery, photographs, paintings and prints.
The organisers of Bucks Open Studios have just announced that they have chosen one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's former West End leading ladies, Susannah Fellows, to take charge of the annual artistic extravaganza this year, which will take place from 10th to 25th June.
Susannah has spent her life in professional theatre, film, television, radio and on the concert stage, clocking up leading roles in 21 West End shows including Evita, Chicago and Mamma Mia. Susannah also has impressive "art world" credentials having owned and run a Craft's Council selected gallery in London for several years alongside her theatre work. She now runs "fitch & fellows" gallery in Thame, featuring her own handmade leatherwork as well as ceramics, glass, jewellery and contemporary art and craftwork by celebrated craftsmen and women.
Commenting on her new role, Susannah Fellows said: "I am absolutely thrilled and honoured to have been chosen as the new Chairperson for Bucks Open Studios. I really look forward to introducing new visitors to this great event. The wealth of artists and makers in our county, responsible for the vast array of work which is shown and sold to the public each year, is astonishing. We have so much talent here and, quite simply, I would like to see Bucks Open Studios become the best known and most successful of all the countrywide art and craft events. "
Fellows continues: "I have enormous energy and limitless enthusiasm for contemporary creative artwork and I'd like to make Bucks Open Studios a really memorable experience for visitors. My upbringing and professional life has always been in the Arts. I've grown up producing as well as appreciating and interpreting the diversity of creative endeavour – acting, singing, dance as well as painting, sculpture, carving, silversmithing, ceramics – I love the challenge of trying to help newcomers to understanding how and why artists and makers do what they do, what's involved in their techniques and, perhaps, explaining the intention of their work to the public. I don't think there is a mystique to these things. Creativity is about communication and artwork can and must be presented in a commercial fashion without detracting from the integrity of the piece".
In addition to announcing its new chairperson, Bucks Open Studios is now open for entries from artists and makers in Buckinghamshire wishing to take part in its 2017 event.
As Fellows explains: "I heartily welcome any new creative talent to Bucks Open Studios for 2017. If you're a Bucks based professional or amateur, artist or maker then why not join this well-established, vibrant event? The public made over 35,000 visits to Bucks Open Studios last year so it's a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work and skills as well as network with 500+ like-minded creative people in the area. We are now open for entries until 31st January 2017 and all the information and application process can be found on our website at www.bucksopenstudios.org.uk."
