Worcestershire Open Studios is run entirely by artist volunteers who believe in supporting fellow artists and makers. A new team was appointed in Spring 2024 to take the organisation forward for its tenth event and beyond.
Mary Brittain
Mary Brittain is a self-taught painter and sculptor living in rural Worcestershire. Her work in both disciplines is inspired by her surroundings and love of nature, especially garden plants, domestic animals and birds. Mary has exhibited widely within both disciplines. Working across a range of materials painting in both oils and acrylics and drawing in charcoal, pencil and soft pastels, Mary sculpts in clay which is then cast in bronze / bronze resin. Mary has a background in journalism and PR for the jewellery and gift industry and is passionate about supporting and raising the profile of the visual arts in Worcestershire.
Gemma Griffiths
Gemma Griffiths is an artist working from her studio on the Malvern Hills. Particularly passionate about drawing and painting outside, in all weather, Gemma enjoys trying to capture the feeling of the elements in her work whether that be brooding skies or stormy seas. Gemma’s international design career was focused on British heritage brands and latterly led to her running award-winning shops for 12 years championing independent designers, artists & makers. Gemma is looking forward to encouraging new artists & makers to join in with Worcestershire Open Studios as well as those further along on their creative journey. Also found as Gemma Wiseman!
Anna Cumming
Anna Cumming is an oil painter living by the Malvern hills, and inspired by the local landscape, and her Scottish heritage. Anna is known for her richly coloured palette knife pieces which invoke a sense of place. She has painted and exhibited full-time, since completing a life-changing course at the, sadly no-longer, Malvern School of Art in 2015. Her previous career was in finance and project management. Anna has significant experien/ce as a solo and group exhibitor taking part in events across the Three Counties and Wales.
Meet our Area Champions
We’re excited to introduce our Area Champions, who will be your go-to contact for any questions before/during Art Week within the relevant areas. These volunteers will help coordinate local marketing efforts and support participants.
Suzanne Nicholl (NW Worcestershire)
Hailing from Wales and living in Worcestershire, Suzanne is inspired by our tangled hedgerows, rolling hills and breathtaking coastlines. Her work features the natural and human influences upon our magnificent landscapes.
She develops many of her pieces from plein air sketches, aiming to encapsulate the time and place in layers of colour, texture and mark making. Suzanne’s work is a personal expression of the landscape, its energy and her connection to it.
WOS was her very first experience of exhibiting when in 2022, and she couldn’t have asked for a more welcoming introduction. Suzanne says “The community is incredibly supportive, and any doubts I had about opening my space to visitors quickly disappeared.”.
Hayley Reynolds (Avon/Evesham)
Hayley has been a professional artist for over a decade, selling her work locally, across the UK, and internationally. Her artist residency began in 2018 at the renowned Confetti Fields, where she has been invited back each year to showcase her latest floral collection during the June/July open days.
In December 2023, she opened the Hayley Reynolds Gallery in Blackminster, a vibrant creative hub where visitors can explore her latest works, see her studio in action, and participate in her art workshops.
With extensive experience in exhibiting her work, Hayley is always happy to share her knowledge. If you’d like to get in touch or arrange a face-to-face chat about joining WOS this year, feel free to reach out!
Debbie Macklin (Welland/Hanley Castle)
When Debbie moved to Welland, near Malvern, four years ago, Worcestershire Open Studios was the first event she participated in. She found that it was a great way to meet people and introduce herself as a painter. In a short time, she has been amazed by the many talented creatives in the area. Debbie found opening her studio to visitors helped build her confidence. She paints in oils and uses a loose, direct approach, focusing on mood, beauty, and atmosphere,. Though no formal art education earlier in life, after a career in journalism, she completed Martin Kinnear’s oil painting diploma at his Norfolk School of Painting in 2019 and hasn’t looked back.
Karen Stone (Worcester City)
Karen Stone started her career in engineering, designing test equipment for the food packaging industry. After having her daughter, she became a freelance technical illustrator and studied art. While studying Fine Art in Birmingham, her work was featured in the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists New Horizons exhibition. She has since exhibited in London and across the UK, receiving awards for painting and printmaking. Karen now works from her studio in Worcester, balancing her practice with lecturing in Art and Design.Karen has exhibited with Worcestershire Open Studios for many years and brings a voice of experience and support.
Worcestershire Open Studios organisers will further support following areas as Area Champions:
Anna Cumming -Colwall
Gemma Griffiths -Malvern
Mary Brittain -NE Worcestershire/Great Witley area