Successful 1st Art Hopper Tour
On Sunday 10th June five renowned North Devon artists opened their studios to a keen group of art enthusiasts.
Art Hoppers were captivated by Liz Willis’ stained glass technique, gaining a great appreciation for how one piece of glass can be fired up to 4 times becoming more fragile each time. They learnt how Mike Taffinder’s love of wood means he rescues ancient oak fence posts to transform into candleholders. Nigel Mason charmed the group by revealing his use of household bleach in his dramatic oil paintings. Extremely successful textile designer Kate Rowley showed how she is enjoying the freedom of creating one off pieces for the home, and Sue Pygott changed the way we all view our holiday photos by revealing her skill at framing a shot.
One Art Hopper visiting North Devon from Wales said that he particularly appreciated the “charm and welcoming spirit which we encountered with all the artists, it made the day very special”. The relaxed atmosphere made sure that the artists work was totally accessible to everyone on the tour, whether they had experience of art or not. The scenic routes to the artists’ workshops enabled passengers to see the inspirational landscapes that make their work so popular. Dion Sears, who set up The Art Hopper this year, enjoyed telling the visitors a few ghost stories and interesting facts about the villages along the way.
The group felt that they had learnt a great deal about art and the creative process, one said they would “definitely consider buying now I have met the artists and seen how they work, their work means so much more to me now”.
Don’t miss out on this special opportunity to join a tour. Tickets remain for 22nd and 24th June tours; Dion is offering a discount for North Devon Arts members. After the three tours in June Dion is planning to offer a special service for groups who would like her to organise a bespoke tour just for them. Group organisers who are interested can contact Dion on TheArtHopper@myartsmail.com to start a discussion.