Open Studio Artists We Recommend to Everyone
Margaret River Region Open Studios is a personal favourite for us; a great opportunity to get friends together for an art adventure, exploring from Busselton to Augusta and meeting artists in their studios. It’s completely different to visiting a gallery; instead, you venture into authentic woodwork or welding sheds, backyard or home studios and chat to all kinds of artists – sculptors, glassblowers, printmakers, painters, potters, upcyclers, mosaic artists and more. Meet the artists, ask questions and maybe buy something special to take home.
It's free to attend and runs 9th to 24th September. However, with 166 amazing artists scattered from Eagle Bay to Augusta, where do you start?
We’ve rounded up some of our recommendations to get you started.
1. 7 Artists at ArtGeo
We love an arts hub, and at the historic ArtGeo complex you can meet and discover the works of seven incredible artists.Be awed by Georgia Zoric’s ceramic seafarers and pirate folk. And if you prefer glass over clay check out Jaky Pinnock’s mosaics inspired by the ocean.
Photography lovers, you’re in for a treat. Between Sarah Hewer’s fine art photography and Noah Scott McDonald’s dramatic landscape shots, you’ll experience two impressive perspectives on our natural environment. And newcomer to Open Studios Anton Felix Blume showcases superb aerial photography and we’re keen to learn more about the fire-breathing moveable dragon he sculpted for the Creality Arts Festival.
Textile artist Barbara Weeks is generous with her knowledge, demonstrating felting techniques, as does semi-abstract seascape painter Gerald Ashcroft.
2. Reif Myers at Shelter
Reif Myers was raised around brushes and boards; his dad was a surfer, and mum renowned Yallingup artist Jos Myers. You might recognise Reif’s vibrant designs from Ocean Zone boardies, a business he launched at age 15, inspired by his love of the ocean.He studied commerce at UWA and balances art with business; managing and designing the prints for Ocean Zone, on top of being a full-time artist.
Meet Reif for a dose of fun and fabulous art at Shelter Brewing Co, before tucking into a pizza and pint afterwards.
3. Camille Reid
We’ve been admiring friends’ beautiful noodle bowls and speckled mugs – all handmade and kiln-fired by Camille Reid – and eagerly await a visit to her Busselton studio this spring. Her glazes are quite spectacular – richly textured, they reflect the vivid aquamarine colours of Meelup or Point Piquet on a bright day, and the fine white sand of Bunker Bay.
Fun fact: Camille made ‘portholes’ for Georgia Zoric’s pirates last year!
4. Christine Creswell
Christine Creswell captures the delicate beauty of native wildflowers in her botanical watercolour paintings. A few years ago we delighted in a visit to her old Margaret River home studio, looking out to her sprawling garden. She moved to Busselton two years ago, and we look forward to seeing her new studio, artworks and of course, her garden!
Meet Christine in her Busselton studio this spring.
5. Jacquie and Myles Happ
Happs Pottery has long been our go-to for handmade gifts and 'nude' honey, so we're thrilled that Jacquie Happ is taking part as an artist this year, joining her husband, master potter Myles Happ.
Jacquie’s collection will be beautifully curated using a combination of wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques. Highlights include decorative and colourful bowls, vases, and platters.Jacquie has been working for the City of Busselton since 2011, where she does so much for arts and culture across the region. We are thrilled to see her pottery at Happs in Dunsborough.
6. Ian Mutch
Ian Mutch’s whimsical paintings, characters and illustraitons explore concepts of memory, stories and places, inspired by his previous travels. We first admired his large-scale murals – like the life-size whales at the end of Busselton Jetty, and his small sketches, prints and paintings are easy additions to any collection.
Check out his garage studio in Dunsborough.
7. Christian Fletcher
Last year, Christian Fletcher teamed up with fifteen talented artists, and it was one of the most exciting and inspiring studio visits we’ve had. Christian gave each artist one of his photographs to interpret in their own art forms, be it painting, sculpture, glasswork, metalwork or felting.
It was such a success that Christian is collaborating with 26 local artists this year, and the Art Is exhibition will take over both upstairs and downstairs in Christian’s Dunsborough gallery.
Browse all 166 artists online at the Margaret River Region Open Studios website or pick up a
free Event Guide at any Jacksons Art Supplies store or south west tourism venues.
