Cheltenham Open Studios - welcome to the visual arts

This is your portal to the visual arts in Cheltenham and its surrounds. It is set to become the definitive directory of artists working in the area and details all upcoming shows, workshops and events. To find out what’s going on over the coming months, visit our Calendar. If you’re an artist then why not sign up and join in.

COS are participating in the Art Gallery and Museum Christmas Fair at Gardens Gallery – Saturday 10th December, 11am – 5pm. Please come and support us.

We were at Bath Road Market on Friday 25th, (see picture) which was a great day as the lights were put on. There were carol singers and mulled wine freely flowing.

The competition winners for the art and photography exhibition at Christ Church as part of the COS / HOD shows were selected yesterday, by PJ Crook.

Joint 1st prize:

• Sylvia Lauder - Celestial Hierarchy

• Jaynie Tricker - Expectations of Tomorrow

2nd prize:

• Joan Osmond - Atterfee, Salzkammergut, Austria

highly commended:

Arabella Kiszely - Summer 1

Joanna Callaghan - Clock Watching

Carole Bury - Songs of Heaven

Sam Lucas - Creation 1

COS hosts exhibitions at St Lukes Church and at Christ Church in Cheltenham as part of the Heritage Open Days weekend.

St Lukes (8th - 18th) 

Open 12 - 4pm daily, Saturday 10: 11 - 1.30pm, Saturday 17: 2 - 4pm. Open View Sat 10th: 7 - 9pm ALL WELCOME     Unframed works, greeting cards and 5x5's will also be on sale.

“100”: Community Horse No 9 is situated in Pittville Park between the playground and Pittville Pump Rooms.

On 7th July a 7’ high moulded fibreglass horse based on a maquette made by local artist and COS Patron, P.J. Crook, arrived at deepspaceworks, primed and ready for painting.

COS members exhibit in three venues as part of this year's HSBC Cheltenham Music Festival.

COS transform the Spa Well into a mini exhibition space, where you can while away some time admiring a selection of the stunning visual art being created locally.

Gillian Lever exhibits her work at Parabola,inspired by music that evokes a spiritual realm through the abstract language of sound, she searches to evoke this same mysterious world through the use of colour and light.

COS11 is over, and we reflect on another wonderful event and show of local talent on display.

Cheltenham Open Studios ran artist led, all-age workshops at Christ Church, St.Lukes and Glenfall Primary School on both Saturdays. We had a great response to all of these.

With COS11 fast approaching, you can now view the Cheltenham Open Studios 2011 Guide Book online or download it.

Printed copies of the free guide book are also available at central tourist locations.

You can also download posters from our recently updated press kits page.

We hope to see you during the event!

9 days, 64 venues, 200 artists: COS11 is the artist-run event that invites you to get up close and personal with the wonderful work being created in this area. From Saturday 4 to Sunday 12 June, visual artists working in Cheltenham and the surrounding area will be welcoming the public into their studios, workrooms and exhibition spaces to view their work. Watch them at work; talk with them; join in hands-on workshops: it’s a great way for anyone interested in art to get a better understanding of the creative process.

Is it really that time again!? Building on the success of our best-ever open studios event, in 2009, and our busy first year as a members' association, we are now making plans for Cheltenham Open Studios 2011 (COS11). Scheduled to run between Saturday 4 – Sunday 12 June 2011, we are aiming to engage even more local people with the wonderful art being created on their doorsteps. It would be great if you could join us for COS11.

The St Luke's exhibition, which has been part of the hugely successful Heritage Open Days Days event over the weekend is open until the 26th September, 12 - 4 pm daily. Please pop in if you are passing, it would be great to see you.

Paper and stitched textiles, enamelled work, jewellery, printmaking, and photography; add in some sculpture, ceramics, collagraphs and, of course, painting and you get a sense of the diversity of talent on show. Unframed work and cards are also available for sale.