“Open Up Sheffield” brings over 100 artists’ studios to the public over the weekend

The Open Up Sheffield festival is coming back, with more than 120 artists showcasing their work across the city. The festival invites the public to visit art studios for free. 

Open Up is an annual project that was started by Keith Hayman and Kate Jacob in 1998 with the aim of “meeting artists and makers in interesting places.” This year’s event will take place on the 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, and 12th of May.

Nigel Cunis, 70, the Head of Events on the committee and a potter, said: “Our headline this year is to meet artists and makers in interesting places. Artists tend to be enthusiastic about what they do and tend to love sharing what they do with other people and demonstrating it. If people like their work and want to buy them, that’s a bonus. 

“We like sharing what we do. It gives us a great opportunity once a year. Last year, we had over 120 people visit us over the two weekends.”

The annual festival has showcased a diverse range of arts and crafts for over 25 years, featuring works from painters, sculptors, printmakers, photographers, jewellery-makers, textile artists, illustrators and designers.

Clare Hill, 64, a retired engineer, is now a semi-abstract landscape artist working in acrylics on all kinds of substrates of the local countryside. 

She said: “One is more abstract than the other, but both reflect emotions I’ve felt whilst in our beautiful countryside and also the physical feelings of being in the countryside and experiencing the wind in your hair, and the sun on your face.” 

The festival is mainly funded by Open Up member artists, with sponsors from Sheffield City Council and the Art House in the city centre. 

Fenella Noble, 75, a retired teacher, said: “It’s really a chance for me to set out my work, have a look and to see what I’ve done over the years. It’s like a recap of the time I spent.  

“It’s a gift to have the time now in my retirement to do whatever I like. I got great freedom to play on clay.”

Jason Happenstall, 55, a scrap metal artist, is joining the festival for the first time. He created the peregrine outside the diamond building in Sheffield and the Salmon of Steel outside the train station. 

He said: “One of my friends invited me to join their venue. It’s a fantastic project! I feel I’m lucky for what I’m doing, enjoying my life, and meeting people.”