Meet the Swindon artists who are opening up their studios to the public

A surprise in the woods is one of more than 140 stories of creativity.

A purpose-built art studio, crafted by a fiancé in a quiet orchard in Stratton, is home to Joanna Scislowicz, one of more than 140 artists taking part in this year’s Swindon Open Studios.

Visitors will find her at work surrounded by bold, large-scale oil paintings and a lifetime of artistic ambition.

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Ms Scislowicz said: “My fiancé loved me so much he built it for me.”

Originally from Poland, Ms Scislowicz holds a master’s degree in fine art from Poznań and has exhibited internationally, including in Los Angeles, Berlin, and London.

Another featured artist, Aradhna Rastogi, was similarly supported by her husband, Praveen, who transformed their Wroughton garage into a dedicated studio.

Ms Rastogi said: “If you do still life properly, you can paint anything.”

She incorporates gold leaf into her work, reflecting her Indian heritage and her father’s profession as a goldsmith.

Swindon Open Studios, a free community art event, returns this September and invites the public to explore art in homes, studios, and pop-up galleries across the region.

Now in its 20th year, the event has grown from just 53 artists in 2004 to nearly 140 participants in 2025, spread across 57 venues.

Full details, including a searchable map of venues, are available at www.swindonopenstudios.org.

Anna Enright, chairperson of Swindon Open Studios, said: “Swindon Open Studios is a community-based art event which started informally with a few artists inviting family and friends over and sending them on to visit other local artists.

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“Artists from Swindon and surrounding areas invite the public into their studios, homes, and pop-up exhibitions over the last two weekends in September each year.”

The event showcases artists and makers at all stages of their creative journeys, from trained professionals to passionate self-taught talents.

Ms Scislowicz’s story is a testament to the dedication behind the artwork.

After studying in London, she moved to Devizes and was considering a return to the capital when her fiancé, Bryan, persuaded her to relocate to Swindon with the promise of building her a studio.

He kept that promise, and together they renovated a home where her art is now displayed in a striking setting.

Ms Rastogi’s journey into full-time art began just six years ago, encouraged by a colleague at Lethbridge Primary School.

With two young children, she paints in the evenings with the support of her husband.

She begins her pieces with a charcoal tonal study and continues to develop her skills through courses with New Masters Academy.

Visitors to her studio during Open Studios will find paintings of a kingfisher, a Spanish flamenco dancer, and works that celebrate her cultural roots.

Swindon Open Studios is organised by a committee of six volunteers and supported by local sponsors.

Funds from registration fees and sponsorship go towards marketing and running the event, and organisers are actively seeking commercial sponsors for 2026.

The event promises a wide variety of styles and mediums, ensuring something for all tastes.

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Brochures and A5 guides are available in Swindon libraries, pubs, and cafés, and visitors can plan their route using the event website.

The public can drop in, meet the artists, and gain insight into the spaces and stories behind the art.

For many participants, the event is also a celebration of the support that makes creativity possible.

Whether it’s a studio built in an orchard or a converted garage, these personal stories add another layer of meaning to the art on display.