Whats on guide
Discover whats on for the next 30 days
Northants Open Studios: Your Gateway to Artistic Exploration
Northants Open Studios stands at the forefront of democratizing art and creativity, fostering a diverse and vibrant artistic community within Northamptonshire. We believe that art should be accessible to all, irrespective of age, skill level, or medium preference. Our platform welcomes a rich tapestry of artists, patrons, and art enthusiasts, highlighting the myriad expressions of creativity that exist within our community.
Our central mission is twofold:
- Empowering Artists: We cultivate a supportive network for artists, offering opportunities for growth, collaboration, and exposure. Whether through facilitating exhibition opportunities throughout the year or opening channels to connect with venues, collectors, and buyers, we provide the scaffolding for artists to flourish.
- Engaging Communities: We work relentlessly to make art accessible, encouraging a broad spectrum of venues to host artistic endeavours. From historic churches to contemporary commercial galleries, we bring art into the heart of the community.
Our flagship event is the Northants Open Studios Visual Arts Festival, renowned as the largest of its kind within the county. Held every September, this festival turns the spotlight onto the artists and their creative process. Artists open the doors to their studios, welcoming the public into their creative sanctuaries. Here, visitors gain an unprecedented view into the inner workings of a pottery studio, the intricacies of stone carving, or the techniques employed in traditional crafts.
Complementing the studio tours, the festival also incorporates a Central Exhibition, showcasing a selection of each participating artist's work. Acting as a tangible brochure, this exhibition allows visitors to plan their studio visits based on their artistic interests.
To ensure broad reach and engagement, we distribute 10,000 festival brochures across Northamptonshire and beyond. These brochures, coupled with various venue-hosted exhibitions throughout September, serve to amplify the visibility of participating artists.
As a self-funded organisation, we rely on the generosity of venues and commercial sponsors within Northamptonshire. Their continued support empowers us to achieve our mission, making art accessible, promoting local artists, and nurturing an artistic community that thrives on diversity and mutual support.
Join us on this journey of artistic exploration and discover the myriad ways in which art continues to shape our lives and communities. Welcome to Northants Open Studios, where art comes to life.
Date: 31/03/2025 - 31/12/2025 at 10:00-16:00
BOOKED ON REQUEST Have you always wanted to have a go at upcycling but just don't know where to start? This workshop is designed to give you all the essentials to start your very own upcycling project and give you the confidence to create something unique. An introduction to furniture upcycling (See information on event)
Date: 12/11/2025 - 12/12/2025 at 10:00-12:30
Held in the beautiful setting at Yardley Arts, this a 6 week course is for beginners and those who already have experience with watercolour. We cover the basics discover some tricks and you will produce a minimum of 2 finished pieces of work. Materials are included as is tea and coffee. (See information on event)
Date: 12/11/2025 - 12/12/2025 at 10:00-12:30
Held in the beautiful setting at Yardley Arts, this a 6 week course is for beginners and those who already have experience with watercolour. We cover the basics discover some tricks and you will produce a minimum of 2 finished pieces of work. Materials are included as is tea and coffee. (See information on event)
Date: 28/11/2025 - 11/12/2025 at 10:00-12:00
Come to my garden studio (NN10 6DQ) for a workshop of creativity, upcycling fun and festive refreshments. You will be provided with a pre-cut reclaimed wooden base for you to create and paint your own colourful design and finish with a beautiful glass votive for a tealight candle. Whether you want t (See information on event)
Date: 29/11/2025 - 19/12/2025 at 10:00-12:00
Come to my garden studio (NN10 6DQ) for a workshop of creativity, painting fun and festive refreshments. Get yourself in the festive mood by creating your very own hand-painted Christmas Baubles. Not only will you go home with a selection of unique hand-painted ceramic baubles, you can bask in the a (See information on event)
Date: 03/12/2025 - 31/12/2025 at 10:00-16:00
An exhibition of artistic research delving into the relationship between two women living and working on the waterways 80 years apart. The work looks at how words, materials and images draw comparisons between two artists from very different periods of time. (See information on event)
Date: 12/12/2025 - 12/12/2025 at 19:00-21:00
Winter Greetings Cards Workshop 7-9pm Friday 12 December Desborough Library Join us at Desborough library to enjoy a relaxing evening creating beautiful watercolour designs for handmade cards. We will explore simple techniques using Winsor and Newton watercolours to paint a variety of leaf shapes an (See information on event)
Date: 14/12/2025 - 14/12/2025 at 13:00-16:00
Lino Printing For Winter Cards 1-4pm Sunday 14 December The Shire Workshops, Wilbarston LE16 8FE Come along and learn to design, carve and print your own artwork for winter themed greetings cards, gift wrap, tags, notebooks, placeholders, postcards or bookmarks! Enjoy seeing your ideas grow into pri (See information on event)
