Explore a month of creativity with Northants & Rutland Open Studios

This September, step into a world of artistic wonder beyond the ordinary in Northamptonshire and Rutland. The Northants & Rutland Open Studios (NROS) invites you on a journey to uncover the county’s hidden artistic treasures amidst its picturesque landscapes and charming countryside.

As the premier visual arts festival of the region, NROS promises a vibrant celebration of creativity. Over 300 talented artists across Northamptonshire and Rutland will open their studios, homes, and gardens, offering an exclusive peek into their creative processes. From painting to textiles, ceramics to jewellery, sculpture to photography, NROS showcases a diverse range of mediums that cater to every artistic taste. NROS isn’t just about visiting individual studios.

The festival features more than 20 stunning venues hosting group exhibitions, presenting an array of artworks under one roof. Start your adventure at Lamport Hall, home to the Central Exhibition, which displays over 500 exceptional pieces by participating artists. This remarkable showcase sets the tone for an unforgettable artistic journey.

Engage in pottery-making workshops, explore various printing techniques, and create beautiful jewellery. Learn directly from the artists and let your creativity blossom. Sponsored by the Lamport Hall Preservation Trust, Northants & Rutland Open Studios is a free event open to all. Katie Boyce, the festival’s director and organiser, emphasises the importance of the artist’s studio as a birthplace of ideas. She urges visitors to seize this rare chance to enter the artists’ secret worlds and witness the transformative power of their creative spaces. Gather your friends and prepare for a month-long celebration of art, creativity, and discovery.

Let Northamptonshire and Rutland surprise and inspire you this September with an experience that blends hidden talents with stunning landscapes.

A word from two local artists exhibiting:

Rachael Aldridge, glass artist in Walgrave, Northants: “Opening my working studio as part of NROS allows me to demonstrate and promote my craft to a wider, appreciative audience.”

Rachael will open her studio on 1st, 7th, and 28th September, from 11am-4pm. Esme Loasby, mixed media artist and sculptor of Northampton: “To be awarded one of the generous bursaries from Lamport preservation trust last September was more than just the money, it is the belief and support that my ideas and future aspirations are important and exciting and should be shared and brought to life.

“It’s a collaboration to continue bringing the arts to people in an accessible way, so they too can explore and be immersed into this key world, I’m so grateful to have this support and can’t wait to begin this next part of my journey”. Esme will be opening her studio on Saturday 28th September at the same venue as Jack Asbury a woodturner in their home studios in Northampton.