Moray and Banffshire artists sign up for NEOS in record numbers.
Folk are being invited to take a look around the homes, studios and workshops of more than 50 artists who live and work in either Moray or Banffshire.
North East Open Studios (NEOS), which will run for nine days from Saturday onwards, has been particularly popular in and around Deeside for the past two decades. But this year’s event has seen a steep rise in the number of local artists also taking part.
Duffus-based painter Alison Johnston, a long-term participant, is glad that NEOS is now gaining popularity further north.
She said: “If you sell something at an exhibition it’s rare you get to meet the person who bought it, so you never learn why they liked it.
“That’s why it’s both a lot of fun and really interesting to chat to the people who call in to have a look around.”
Up until Sunday, September 15, the public are being invited to look around various home studios in Elgin, Forres, Cullen, Portsoy and Banff, to name just five out of more than 300 different venues taking part across the North East and which also include the Moray Arts Centre in Findhorn.
As well as paintings to view, there will be photographs, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, prints, glasswork, plus much more.
Alison, who concentrates on painting seascapes, can be seen most days besides the Moray Firth with a sketchpad in hand. Her work will be available to buy, as will that of her daughter, Iona Hall, a silversmith.
Both are member of the Moray Artists Group - 12 artists who most recently exhibited at Logie Steading and will also be taking part in NEOS.
Alison added: “I know from past years that a lot of people really enjoy turning NEOS into a really nice day-out. It’s easy to combine visiting one or two studios with going for lunch or a walk.”
NEOS is running from Saturday, September 7, to Sunday, September 15, with venues everywhere from Inverness to Montrose to Peterhead.
A map and programme, showing the locations of all the various open studios and giving details of the artists involved, can be viewed online.
An app is also available to download.
