Brabourne and Smeeth Parish News - June 2004 - South East Open Studios

South-East Open Studios is an artist-led organisation which runs an annual two-week event inviting the public into the workplaces of artists and craftsmen. In this, it's eighth year, it is bigger than ever with over 240 artists taking part in Kent and East Sussex.

This year ten local artists are involved and they ave teamed up to produce a route map of their studios so that visitors can enjoy a day out. Six of the artists are in Brabourne Lees and Smeeth spannign three studios: Angus Zapora at Acorn House, The Ridgeway (10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. from 12th to 27th June); Vi Sprawling at 19, The Lees Close (11.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. on 12th/13th, 19th/20th and 26th/27th June); and Sue Chapman, Liz Garnett and Katrina and John Devenport at 39, Prospect Way (10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. on 13th/14th, 19th/20th and 26th/27th June). The map will be available at Orpins Stores, on the village notice-board and also from each of the studios.

Other nearby studios are Olga Van Dijke and Mary Sampson at Delft Lodge, Bower Road, Mersham (11.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. on 12th/13th, 18th/19th/20th and 25th/26th/27th June) and Paul Crudge and Carol Fulton at The Workshop, Bodsham (10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. on 12th/13th, 19th/20th and 26th/27th June).

This is an ideal opportunity for people to view art where it is created, talk to artists and craftsmen about their work, find out about the commissioning process and, of course, to buy work. There is no pressure to buy and many visitors feel it is important to go away and think about a piece before actually making a decision.