Arran Open Studios
15th – 18th August 2025
For the very best in contemporary art and craft on the Isle of Arran
Welcome to Arran Open Studios
We are looking forward to 2025 Arran Open Studios which is set to be bigger than ever. The online brochure is now available for download and our interactive map gives details of all our participating artists/makers. Here are the key dates:
Preview Exhibition, Brodick Hall: Friday 11th – Monday 14th July
Ceilidh at Brodick Hall in association with the Boathouse Ceilidh Band, Tuesday 5th August
Film Night at Corrie Hall, Sunday 10th August
Open Studios Weekend: Friday 15th – Monday 18th August
See the Events tab for more details
If you are an artist or maker on the island who has not taken part this time and would like to discuss taking part in the Open Studios next year, please do get in touch. We would love to hear from you!
Arran Open Studios on Instagram
My name is Lesley Lockhart and I will be exhibiting at venue number 46. I’ve always had an interest in the decorative arts .I paint mainly in oils and acrylics favouring rich colour and pattern.I’m stimulated by any decoration whether it’s painted or lettered or stitched ; gardens , ceramics and needlework I enjoy.
Managing Arran Art Gallery for Nick Giles for some years gave me the opportunity to indulge my interest. My paintings are mostly light-hearted.
This year I’ve relocated from my old studio at the Old Haybarn ,Lamlash to the Ormidale Pavilion, Brodick , exhibiting alongside Kirsty Forsyth , potter , and Iris Russel , watercolourist.
As well as originals, I’ll have prints and cards for sale ..or just come and have a look .You will be made welcome.
website: www.lesleylockartart.co.uk
#arranopenstudios25
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My last post for now. Here I’m adding a few more paintings including the spanners one that I finished yesterday. After that I will start a new big one depicting pebbles, driftwood and sea shells from the Whiting Bay area. If it turns out ok you can see it in August at the Ormidale. Hope to see you there! Ta dah! 👩🏻🎨🥰
#arranopenstudios25
#arrantheartsisland
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From Iris Russell to all you cat lovers!
Good morning folks! As promised yesterday here’s a batch of my paintings of animals. My cat Flakey didn’t want to be filmed, but here she is sleeping on her cat condo in my studio.
I will post the last batch of my paintings later this afternoon, including my latest that I finished yesterday. You saw the preview on Monday in Kirsty’s post about our Ormidale Arts group.
STUDIO NUMBER 46 with Kirsty Forsyth and Lesley Lockhart at the Ormidale pavilion Brodick
Arran Open Studios 15th-18th August
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Hi, Iris Russel from Lagg here! I’m a watercolour artist and have just joined Arran Open Studios for the first time after encouragement from the recent Arran Visual Arts exhibition. This year I will be exhibiting my paintings in Ormidale together with the fabulous Kirsty and Lesley, please come and see us there in August!
I will post some photos here from my studio and a few pictures of my paintings as well.
Come back here tomorrow when I will post some of my animal portraits. My cat Flakey might make an appearance too…..
#arranopenstudios25
#arrantheartsisland
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Artists Iris Russel, Lesley Lockhart and Kirsty Forsyth, potter are together as Ormidale Arts, and will be in the Ormidale Pavilion, Brodick. Lesley is a Lamlash artist who paints mainly imaginative , decorative still lifes favouring rich colour and pattern. Iris is a watercolour artist who enjoys depicting items with character and patina, beach treasures like driftwood or sea shells and she uses only recycled frames found on the island’s charity shops. Kirsty is a potter who combines her love of throwing with making sculptural hand-built pieces inspired by the island, nature and architecture.
#arranopenstudios25
#ormidalepavilionarran #arrantheartsisland
@arrantheatreandarts
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Thanks all for your support during this week of my Arran Open Studios takeover. For the last post of my tenure, here are some pics of my spinning equipment, and our cat Max. He is the reason we have to ask that you kindly leave any dogs in the car. We have no idea how Max would react, we just know it would end badly for someone...
Kat Sparshot
#cat #catlovers #catlife
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Today, I am plying. After spinning two bobbins, it’s time to combine these two ‘singles’ by plying them together (turning the wheel in the opposite direction). This adds extra strength to the finished yarn, and also, especially if you’ve spun particularly fine, makes a thicker gauge of yarn which is easier to work, especially for knitting or crocheting. After this, I will transfer the bobbins into skeins, set the yarn by briefly soaking in cold water, and once dry, the final step is to wind it into balls, and then it’s ready to be woven, crocheted or knitted.
#spinningyarn
#plyingyarn
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A video of me knitting wouldn’t be very interesting, so here’s a small selection of some items I might have available during the Open weekend. Socks, in a sock blend of merino, shetland and nylon fibres for comfort and hard wearing ability, neck cosies in 100% merino, all handspun and handknitted by me. Cosies are like wearing a roll neck but without the sweater (very cosy but useful if you’re coming out of the cold into a much warmer temperature).
#knitting #handspunyarn #arranopenstudios25
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Today, I’m all about the handspun yarn! Here are 4 types: Bluefaced Leicester and Dutch Spot from flocks raised on Kildonan, a blend of the two, and two balls of merino in pink and in yellow - other colours of merino will be available in house over the weekend. You might well find me spinning any of these if you visit.
#handspunyarn
#bluefacedleicester
#dutchspot
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If you visit me in my studio , number 4, here’s an example of something you might find me doing. These have been handdyed using daffodil, copper, blackcurrant, red onion, indigo extract and dogwood. What local plants would you suggest, or like to see being used?
Kat Sparshot.
#plantdyes #naturaldyeing #arranopenstudios25
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Exhibition at Lochranza Inn
#drumadoon
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Thank you to Lagg distillery for supporting us again this year. It’s much appreciated.
@laggwhisky
#laggdistillery #arranwhisky
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