Many visitors drawn to Open Studios Art Trail

Reepham proved to be a popular destination between 24 May and 7 June with some 430 visitors attending the town’s second annual art trail, organised as part of the Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios.
 

 
The festivities were launched on Friday 23 May with well-attended private views at Mill House and The Old Stores, where sales were plentiful and spirits were high.
 
Fourteen local artists showed their work over six venues and included enthusiastic demonstrations and explanations of processes and techniques from quilt making and textiles to fine art painting, print, photography, pottery and jewellery, all of which were well received and an inspiration to many. Sales were had by all and commissions for future new work were made.
 
In addition to the art, visitors were also given the rare treat of seeing some of the local gardens as they made their way off the beaten track to the workshops and studios where the artists make their work.
 
Many canine friends also enjoyed the outing with their owners, with some benefitting from a few tasty tit-bits en route, as well as starring in photographs that were posted on the trail’s Facebook page.
 
Photographer Stephen Pond, jeweller Alison Varley and potter Antje Ernestus all enjoyed being part of the trail for the first time this year and benefitted from visitors who were looking for “clusters” of open studios within close proximity of each other.
 
Many of these visitors were also drawn into the town centre by the shops and eateries, including V’s Café, which supported the trail by offering a special discount over the two weeks of the event.
 
The event proved to be another successful fortnight all round and is now firmly fixed in the “Reepham Diary”. If you missed it this year, don’t despair; it will happen all over again in 2016.
 
If you are a local artist that would like to be involved next time, please email julesallen.arts@btinternet.com or check out Reepham Open Studios Trail on Facebook.
 
Jules Allen
 
See our earlier news story:

 

Related stories: