North Yorkshire Summer Open Studios to Showcase Diverse Artist Workspaces Across Region

Visitors will have the chance to explore hundreds of unique artist studios throughout North Yorkshire during the Summer Open Studios weekends on 6-7 and 13-14 June. Organised by the artist collective North Yorkshire Open Studios (NYOS), this event spans 3,000 square miles, offering an extensive look at creative spaces across the region.

The participating artists work in a variety of styles and media, with studios located in settings ranging from the remote Upper Dales hills to suburban Harrogate, the Vale of York, and the rural North York Moors and coastline. The event provides an opportunity to engage directly with both emerging and established artists, some of whom will also take part in a preview evening on Friday 5 June.

Garth Bayley, Project Manager at NYOS and an artist opening his home studio, described the event as “a rare chance to step behind the scenes and see art in the very places it is created.” He added, “Instead of just looking at a finished piece on a gallery wall, visitors can talk to the makers, see the tools they use and explore the landscapes that inspire them. It’s a curiosity-filled day out that connects the public with our region’s rich history and its vibrant contemporary art scene.”

Among the featured artists are A.C. Telfer, whose studio is located in a Victorian school in Skipton illuminated by a gothic stone window; Fiona Arnold of Braythorne Baskets, who works in an old milking parlour on a farm in Stainburn; and Jonathan Pomroy, a painter and sketcher whose garden studio in Gilling East is frequented by swifts and housemartins that he sketches in flight.

Telfer commented, “I enjoy being part of the NYOS family of artists and art lovers across North Yorkshire, making new friends and connections. There will be plenty of pictures to see in my studio, from just started to finished, and I’m happy to chat about inspirations and techniques. I also hope to be demonstrating acrylic inks.”

Fiona Arnold said, “Taking part in North Yorkshire Open Studios is a chance to open my doors and welcome visitors into my workspace, inviting them to see how my baskets are made and to ask questions along the way. I love sharing the materials, techniques, and stories behind the work, and creating a relaxed, friendly space for conversation and connection.”

Jonathan Pomroy added, “Summer Open Studios gives me the opportunity to show people our swift colony and visitors can often find me sketching swifts and the skies they inhabit. I believe that art has an important role to play in conservation and hope that by sharing my passion others will be encouraged to appreciate and protect the natural world.”

Summer Open Studios is part of NYOS’s broader 2026 programme, which includes the Spring Showcase at Inspired By… gallery in Danby running until 10 May, a selling exhibition at Ampleforth Abbey from 11 to 19 July, and the Winter Open Studios weekend on 7-8 November.

Brochures containing venue details and maps for the Summer Open Studios are available online for £5 at nyos.org.uk/brochure. Supporters can become Friends of NYOS to receive a brochure and a 15% discount on purchases over £100. Further information about participating artists can be found at www.nyos.org.uk.