Kentish Express - 18 September 2003 - Artists Throw Open Studio For A Meet-The-People Day

Ashford Visual Artists include many whose work is exhibited and collected locally, throughout the UK, Europe and worldwide.

News this month includes examples of this growing reputation, with member Dick Barton having four paintings on show at the recent Society of Equiestrian Artists exhibition at the Mall galleries, London, and being awarded the Ingleton-Beer Associates Prize for the best horse and rider picture in the exhibition.

Textile artist Mandy Munroe is opening her studio in Willesborough on Saturday, September 27, where she will be joined by photographer Liz Garnett.

The studio is open 10am-4pm at The Oast House, Lacton Oast, Willesborough. Both artists will be on hand to discuss their work.

Mandy specialises in contemporary abstract wall pieces, concerned with colour and shpae and inspired by themes relevant to individual clients.

Mandy uses hand-dyed cotton and silk alongside commercially printed fabrics collected on her travels.

She has recently completed a commission for a client in Vienna and has won awards for her work, which has been exhibited in Europe and USA. She is currently creating a body of work for an exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London in January 2004.

Liz Garnett is a photogrpaher with a passion for abstracts and experimenting with different films and photographic processes. She was an established travel photographer before branching out into the fine art field and has exhibited in both the UK and Italy. Liz has now decided to use her individual style of photography in portraiture and will be launching her portrait portfolio at the open day.

Mandy said: "We're hoping people will come and see what we do in the relaxed atmosphere of the studio and garden. Visitors don't have to know anything about art; the can just come for a fund day out."

The open day is one of a numbe rof open studio weekends organised by Ashford Visual Artists and part of a growing movement by local artists to raide the profile of art in the borough of Ashford.