Visual Arts

With 250 artists opening the doors to 149 venues throughout Cambridgeshire every weekend throughout July, you can get closer to the work of some of the county's most talented artists this summer.

The range of work on offer is almost endless; there's drawing and painting, jewellery and furniture making, photography and sculpture to name but a few - many inspired by and using materials from the local area. Some artists exhibit individually in their own homes - giving you the chance to see where they work and live - while others group together to exhibit in a gallery.

Either way, COS has achieved exactly what it set out to do all those years ago; to bring art to ordinary people who may have felt intimidated in a more formal gallery setting, and to give those visitors the chance to talk to the artists about their work. And if you choose to buy, knowing just who and where your chosen piece has come from will make it all the more precious.

Gallery @ 12A

Throughout the year you can visit the Gallery @ 12A (on the High Street in Fulbourn) to see and buy artwork by Cambridge Open Studios members - paintings, photographs, prints, sculpture, ceramics and textiles as well as handmade greetings cards.

Charlotte Cornish by David Chow

The Gallery's current exhibition gives you a taste of what to expect when visiting the Open Studios in July. Photographer David Chow, one of 40 new members this year, is exhibiting his stunning black and white images of artists in their studios, alongside the work they have produced. Just one of those is sculptor Christine Fox, one of the original six artists who first opened their studios in 1974.

The gallery is usually open to the public Fridays, Satudays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm; for current opening times please click on the link at the top of the page, or call the gallery on 01223 561192.

Mixed Artists Exhibition

One of the many highlights of this year's Open Studios will be the Mixed Artists Exhibition, taking place at the Pitt Building on Trumpington Street in Cambridge on the weekend of July 7th and 8th.

Mixed Artists is a grouping of five local artists who share a passion for art. Their diverse work includes Giulia Portuese-Williams' sculpture, using alabaster, honeycomb calcite and travertine stones from Italy, the US and Iran; and Lottie Farman's strong, stylish jewellery using precious metals and stones.

Opening times

Each participating artist will open their studios from 11am to 6pm on one or more of the following weekends: 7th & 8th July, 14th & 15th July, 21st & 22nd July, and 28th & 29th July.

For more information on this year's Cambridge Open Studios, click on the link at the top of the page.