Every September the Devon Artist Network organise and promote the Devon Open Studios event to celebrate the flair and talent of artists who live and work in our beautiful county.

Artists from all over Devon open their Studios or areas they work in and invite the general public to come and connect with them and maybe find that piece of artwork that they have been looking for, after all it is always more satisfying to purchase work from someone you have met and spoken to and have even watched working.

This year is no exception and the event will run from September 11 to 26 and will feature 183 venues in the county and 323 artists.

Teignbridge and Teignmouth and Dawlish feature well in the event and, as in previous years, TAAG and Pavilions Teignmouth have offered Teignmouth, Dawlish and surrounding area based artists some display space in the Pavilions on the Sea front in Teignmouth to display a taster of their work.

This year sees a new innovation and there will be three Information Hubs around the county where visitors can chat about the event, pick up a guide and find out about the local artists.

TAAG is delighted to be one of these and will offer advise on locations and artists taking part this year, particularly those in the Teignbridge area. They will also have a supply of guides to help you find the locations of those taking part.

The four artists at TAAG in the Arts Quarter of Teignmouth are Diana Kleyn who works in acrylics, oils and mixed media while Petra Turner, daughter of an upholsterer specialises in stitching scraps of fabric into seaside pictures. Amanda Lyon-Smith is a Devon born multi media artist and World Double Gold medal holder for Dragon Boating for GB has a passionate love for the local coast and countryside. Sandra Lissenden’s interests lie in light and atmosphere.

Voyage, also in Teignmouth’s Arts Quarter, has five artists presenting their work, well known artist and tutor John Skinner whose detailed work is a must to see plus Jane Branch. who believes her background in Printed textile design and Lithography influences her work, to Clare Jenkinson with a background in carpet design and who paints the landscape and objects she finds while enjoying the coast and estuary nearby. Kath Loram and Virginia Griem will also be exhibiting there.

Across the river in Shaldon you will find a unique venue, The Tin Shed Studio, with four very singular artists – Ceramicists Jenny Amon and Helen Sargent, Architectural artist Sue Williamson and Painter, Printmaker Mei Lim.

Also in Shaldon, behind the London Inn, you will find the Vibrant abstract art of Annabelle Hulbert.

South West Academy member Martin Dutton SWAc ,based in Maidencombe, has a collection of distinctive, richly coloured and textured paintings from a wide variety of locations.

Carolyn Cheesley in Teignmouth designs and makes unique hand dyed, organic cotton lampshades while Janec van Veen creates sculptures using retro objects such as radios, clocks and telephones, plus a 1990’s Apple computer donated by TAAG, and entombs animals inside them to symbolise a time when we thought nature was an infinite resource and we were less aware of environmental issues.

Brian Harris from Gallery 8 in Teignmouth is a Specialist Portrait Photographer who also specialises in landscapes using archival inks and papers for rich permanent colours and monochromes while Rachael Bennett has produced many excellent new and varied mixed media drawings for the event which are inspired by the natural world.

If innovative stained glass or mosaic work is of interest then a visit to Words and Pictures Gallery in the Little Triangle is a must to see the latest work by Amy McCarthy and Michelle Greenwood-Brown.

Other artists in this area include Steve Bowden in Bishopsteignton with his atmospheric land and seascapes.

There are many more artists around the area who will be pleased to invite you into their studios and whatever your taste in art you ae almost bound to find something that will make your journey around the artists worthwhile.

We hope you enjoy visiting and find it all worthwhile. Don’t forget to drop into Pavilions Teignmouth to see the exhibition there.