Staithes Festival of Arts & Heritage has established itself as one of the friendliest festivals on the Yorkshire coast — a must-see weekend in the regional arts calendar.
Step inside a village like no other as the doors of cottages are thrown open, transforming Staithes into a trail of pop-up art galleries showcasing painting, print, ceramics, textiles, sculpture, photography and more.
Alongside the open studios, enjoy a programme celebrating Staithes’ rich history and heritage, including walks, talks, photographs and film shows.
Location: Staithes — 11 miles north of Whitby (TS13 5BH)
Contact: info@staithesfestival.com
Photo: Duncan Lomax
Zosia’s work combines elements of landscape, architecture and nature with richly textured gold leaf. Bringing tactile organic surface together with multiple layers of gilding, her paintings are a celebration of the decorative object. She was lucky enough to win Jackson's Art 'Atmospheric Acrylics' Competition, and has been a contestant on Sky Landscape Artist of the Year.
Venue: Foretop Cottage, Church Street, Staithes, TS13 5DB
Medium: Mixed Media Painting
I’m a Yorkshire based printmaker, designing and printing pieces onto paper and fabric, with an illustrative, drawn quality - focusing on colour, line and shape. Products range from greetings cards, limited edition prints, cushions, lampshades, zip bags, napkins and upholstered furniture. Taking inspiration from nature, fashion, interior design, patterns and everyday objects - my collection has grown to include imagery such as chairs, stacks of books, shoes, plants and patterns with a 1950s feel.
Venue: Akenside, just off Barrass Square
Medium: Printmaker
Mark is an old retired Yorkshire bloke and an untrained artist who just loves visual art. He mainly uses acrylics and lately has been focusing on scenes of Staithes. He also has a history of producing caricatures and humorous drawings, some of which have been published. This will be Mark's first ever exhibition and he is both looking forward to and terrified by the prospect! He loved the art that he saw at Staithes last year and hopes that his paintings find a place there. Thanks for looking!
Venue: Lahney Cottage, High Barrass
Medium: Acrylic paintings
Christine has an alternative modern interpretation of a traditional landscape, using bold vivid colours and impulsive mark making, inspired by North Yorkshire's rugged Moors and coastline. Her vast imagined landscapes transport you to view an alternative euphoric realm. Using acrylics in striking neon and mixed media Christine is influenced by the surrounding landscapes and her interpretation of them and composes each piece as a way of expressing her memories as 'Snippets of Time'. Christine is a fine artist and narrator of stories developing in the form of her illustrations & Ceramic Sculptures, inspired by anecdotal life events and imagined whimsical characters in animal and human form. Christine transforms you into a magical world by use of colour to create original paintings to make you smile.
Venue: Bethel Chapel
Medium: Fine Art Illustrator
I am a self taught wildlife artist working mainly in pastels, some colour pencil, watercolour and ink and I am a member of the Staithes Arts and Crafts cooperative. I am a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild and produce my giclee prints to their high standards. Alongside my giclee prints I also sell my work on fine bone china mugs, coasters, bookmarks, greeting cards, handy bags and fridge magnets too, some of which are specific to Staithes so suitable as holiday gifts.
Venue: Staithes Arts and Crafts Centre, 7 Church St TS13 5DB
Medium: Wildlife/Animal Artist
I am a painter and potter living on the Northeast coast. I have had a stall at the Staithes Arts and Crafts Centre for over 10 years and a selection of my ceramics and landscape paintings can be seen there from March until November. My ceramics are based on plants and animals in woodlands and under the sea, many having a whimsical quality to them. My paintings range from textural, multi media underwater scenes to realistic portrayals of the beautiful village of Staithes, Saltburn and the North york moors in either acrylics or more recently pen and watercolours. I look forward to greeting new and existing visitors again this year in the unspoilt, quaint Sealey Cottage.
Venue: Sealey Cottage, High Barrass
Medium: Ceramics. Landscape Paintings
Harry Dunn is a full time A-level student currently studying Fine Art, Graphic Design and Geography at Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough. He works in a variety of mediums but has a particular fondness for acrylic and line drawing often depicting both the built landscape and the wildlife around him.
Venue: 1 Webster steps, Staithes,
Medium: Line Drawing/Painting
Di Wright gained a degree in Textile and Surface Pattern Design, studying at Bretton Hall, University of Leeds. After having spent many years in the home interiors sector Di returned to her studio where she now creates her ‘We Are Creatures’ series, which have now been joined by the ‘We Are Tiny Creatures’ series . This body of work is forever changing, blending the fascination of faces with various creatures from the animal kingdom. Di Wright runs popular art workshops throughout the year and also offers art retreats in Staithes.
Venue: Flither Cottage, High Street
Medium: Mixed Media
I am a linocut artist based in Saltburn on the North East coast. My work is rooted in the landscapes that surround me, from coastal views to woodland environments, which I explore through drawing and printmaking. I begin with observational sketches and photos, then translate these into hand-carved linocut prints. I am drawn as much to the process as the final result and as with most printmakers, I’m overly happy each time the last layer of colour prints in the right place and makes all the other colours make sense!
Venue: Betsy & Bo
Medium: Linocut prints
Suzanne specialises in watercolour. She creates atmospheric land and seascapes that present a feeling of tranquility. Her work consists of large bold washes down to the finest details. Suzanne’s paintings invites the viewer to take time and explore the scene. Suzanne was born and still currently lives in Yorkshire, and this is where she finds much of her inspiration from. Suzanne is a self taught artist, and has successfully sold her work for over 10 years.
Venue: Crows Nest Cottage 9 Cowbar Bank Staithes TS13 5BZ
Medium: Watercolour artist
Inspired by the tranquil sea and sun of her childhood home in Dubai and the dramatic, moody seas of North Yorkshire, where she was born and now lives, Alex creates abstract seascapes. She works with a range of media, but predominantly acrylic, ink and gold leaf, all work is then finished with a shiny resin glaze.
Venue: The Boiling House, Beckside
Medium: Resin Glazed Seascapes