The historic market town of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, not far from the Yorkshire Dales, provides the setting to this unique event. Organised by the Knaresborough Lions, The Great Knaresborough Bed Race is a charity event run by volunteers. It attracts roughly 25,000 people to the town and raises around £90,000 for charity each year and was featured on ‘Rory and Paddy’s Great British Adventure’ in 2008. A fantastic day out for all the family.
Bed Race – ferocious vikings
Ribblehead Viaduct
With the Tour de France’s Grand Depart from Yorkshire just around the corner we felt it was time to explore a small selection of Yorkshire cycling events. A lot of the road cycling events cross the routes taken by the Tour, while some explore Yorkshire’s other hidden gems. (more…)
Horticultural enthusiasts, prepare yourselves… with double the number of show gardens this year, the Harrogate Spring Flower Show 2013 is set to be even better than previous years! Designers and landscapers from all over the UK will be showcasing their talents, with displays depicting the theme of a song from the 50s or 60s ranging from border plots to larger features. Many of the UKs leading nurseries will also be participating.
The show plays host to a whole range of entertainment, from gardening tips and advice to demonstrations, talks and suggestions for how to use seasonal produce to create fantastic dishes. Children will also have plenty to keep them occupied as they weave dragon sculptures from willow, learn how to build wormeries, bug hotels, bird boxes, bee-friendly baskets and more.
Those who prefer to take a hands-on approach can join in with volunteers from the Groundwork Trust as they demonstrate how to create a sustainable greenhouse from recycled plastic drinks bottles. Students from Askham Bryan will also be sharing their knowledge as they help visitors to build dry stone walls. The Show is also a great place to do some garden shopping, with thousands of top quality products to choose from, as well as gifts, handmade crafts and specialist regional foods. It’s also home to Britain’s largest floral art marquee, in which over 150 floral arrangements and displays can be admired.
Tickets for the show are usually £16.50 per day on Thurs / Fri / Sat, and £14.50 on Sunday, but if you reserve your ticket before 16 April you will receive a discount of £2.50. There are also opportunities to purchase a VIP ticket. Call 01423 546157 to book.
If you’d like to stay in Harrogate for a little longer than a day why not try a posh Harrogate Hotel, a comfy Harrogate B&B or a cosy Harrogate Holiday Cottage.
The Easter holidays are almost here, and Yorkshire is a great place to be once the myriad activities begin. Here are 10 great Easter events and activities 2013 in Yorkshire:
1) 18 March, 10am – 2.30pm: Easter Floral Centrepiece Workshop at Fountain’s Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Ripon Learn the intricacies of creating a beautiful floral centrepiece, ideal for any Easter meal. You’ll learn the correct way to soak foam, line a container, and create a lovely design at differing heights. And after all that you will enjoy a scrumptious two course lunch. For more Information contact Simon Brock on 01765 643198 Monday morning can be a tricky time to find the motivation for a long journey, so why not stay over on Sunday night in one in a lovely Ripon B&B.
2) 21 March, 7pm: Chocolate Easter egg making class at Yorkshire Ales, Snaith Expert chocolatier, Amelia Scholey, will guide you through the tricky and sticky process of making your very own Easter eggs. So no need to lose your temper, this is a sweeeet way to relax and get creative! If this chocolaty workshop is up your street, why not make a long weekend of it and get a real flavour of what the area has to offer? The beautiful city of York is just 21 miles from Snaith and boasts some superb hotels. Click here for details.
3) 29th Mar – 1st Apr 2013: Easter Trail at The Moors National Park Centre, Danby Come and seek out the hidden eggs using your map of The Moors National Park Centre grounds, and if you find all 10 you’ll be rewarded with a tasty prize when you return to the Centre. Booking is essential. Please telephone 01439 772738. Fresh air, beautiful landscapes, a stunning coastline and pretty towns and villages. A day trip is not enough when you visit the North York Moors National Park, so why not stay a little while? Here are some excellent B&Bs in the North York Moors.
4) 29 March – 1 April: Easter Eggspress at Kirklees Light Railway, Clayton West (near Huddersfield) The Easter Bunny will be making a personal appearance at Kirklees Light Railway this Easter! Board the Easter Eggspress to meet him, and then search for the golden eggs that he has hidden in the playground. Children and adults can join in the egg and spoon races which follow, and there are lots of chocolaty prizes to be won! Searching for eggs can be a tiring business, so why not save yourself the trip home and stay in one of Huddersfield’s excellent accommodation establishments? Click here for details.
5) 29 March – 07 April, 11am – 4pm: School Holiday Fun Golden Egg Hunt at Fountain’s Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Ripon Bring your family and friends along to this challenging treasure hunt. Somewhere on the estate a tiny golden egg has been hidden, and it’s your job to find it. But shhhhhh! You must keep its location a secret. Those who succeed will be entered into a competition to win an egg-sellent prize! The beautiful city of Ripon is located smack bang in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the North York Moors National Park, and is a great base for exploring North Yorkshire. Why not turn your visit into a holiday and stay for a week in one of the area’s lovely Yorkshire cottages.
6) 29 March – 14 April: Easter half term fun – Colours of the rainbow at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate Your friends will be green with envy when you tell them that you said “Yellow” to the Easter bunny at this colourful event. But they won’t feel blue for long when they realise that he will be visiting the gardens daily between 29 March and 1 April. On 31 March and 1 April the Harrogate International Youth Festival will be providing art for your ears, and each day there will be art and craft workshops for children and an exhibition of artwork by Iain Will. The daily egg hunt will make you see red, as well as orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet as you search for egg shapes in every colour of the rainbow! Whether it’s gardens, architecture, food, pampering or swanky hotels that float your boat, Harrogate has it all and is a great place to stay for a few days. Here are some of Harrogate’s excellent hotels.
7) 29 March – 14 April: Mad About Madagascar at Tropical Butterfly House Wildlife and Falconry Centre, Sheffield Come face to face with a medley of incredible Madagascan creatures as you learn all about them from specialised keepers of ring-tailed lemurs, tenrecs and much more. Activities, games and crafts, all with a Madagascan theme, will be running throughout, and on Easter Sunday and Monday you can follow a trail for clues to win an Easter egg! Sheffield is one of the UK’s largest cities and a creative hub. To find out more take a look at our Sheffield Tourist Information page.
8) 29 March – 14 April: Wartime Easter Trail at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, Doncaster Search for clues in the beautiful gardens of Brodsworth Hall to uncover the story of chocolate during WWII, when chocolate was rationed. Those who complete the trail will be awarded a certificate, and over Easter there will be real chocolate rewards! The new exhibition inside the Hall, Duty Calls: the Country House in Time of War, ties in with this event. If history is a hot topic for you then Doncaster is a great place to visit, with excellent museums and historic buildings. For further information please see our Doncaster Tourist Information page.
9) 30th March – 14th April: The Great Studfold Easter Egg Hunt at Studfold Walks and Trails, Lofthouse (near Harrogate) Collect a clue sheet and find nests filled with colourful eggs! Name the birds and you’ll win an Easter surprise! Other activities include making Egg Hunt badges, Easter cards and other crafts. Feel free to bring a picnic along to make a day of it. Lofthouse is located on the eastern edge of the Yorkshire Dales – an area abundant in magnificent scenery that’s too good to miss. Make the most of the Easter holidays by booking a last minute break in a cosy Yorkshire Dales holiday cottage.
10) 31st March – 12th April, 10am – 5 pm: Eggcellent Easter at Bolton Castle, near Leyburn It’s an Easter eggstravaganza! Come along and hunt for eggs, get creative by doing some egg decorating, make yourself a dashing Easter bonnet, and much more! Leyburn is positioned just on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, an area famous for its stunning scenery and scrumptious local produce. Why not enjoy the surroundings and the food by using this pretty market town as your base whilst visiting the area. There are some fantastic Leyburn B&Bs to choose from.
Bedale Christmas Festival
Saturday 1 December 2012 from 10 am onwards.
Lights will be switched on at 5.30 pm.
Bedale Hall and Bedale Park, Bedale DL8 1AA
Bedale Hall Christmas Festival
More than 30 food & craft stalls in Bedale Hall with treats and gifts.
Father Christmas, free music and performers.
Fun fair with ice skating, children’s carousel and Dodgems (wristbands for unlimited rides/skating available to buy in advance from Bedale Post Office, Maynews, and Nickery Nook).
Purple Play Bus, Fire Engine for kids to explore, Police Car for being ‘locked up’ in.
Gift and crafts bazaar at Chantry Hall (with refreshments and free admission) on Saturday morning
A ‘Community Big Sing’ (organised by BAMFEST) and Freedom Disco will supply music during the day.
The BAMFEST Acoustic Session will feature Crakehall Ukuleles.
Competition prize winners will announced at 3.15.
Freedom Disco, Bedale Primary School Choir, Christmas card making, face painting, story telling.
The Magic Circle’s Mark Waddington will be performing tricks throughout this special day wandering through the town.
Lights switch on at 5.30pm – to the accompaniment of the Bedale Brass Band – with non-alcoholic punch and mince pies.
Follow the Bedale Town Trail (question forms available from Tourist Information)
Follow the ‘Sheep Trail’ to find the scattered flock
Display of entries from the School Art competition
Christmas trees on sale.
The Bedale Brass Band’s winter concert at 7pm at St Gregory’s Church, admission £5 on the door.
Look out for special ‘Festival Day’ deals from local cafés, pubs and shops.
Chance to win prizes in the Raffle (1st prize is a Lewis and Cooper Christmas Cheer Hamper)
Details about all the above from Jinny White on 01677 424 422.
Stop Press: Olympic Torch bearer, local girl Kendra Bones, will be bringing her torch for people to hold and for just £1 they can have their picture taken with Kendra – all proceeds to the Festival fund). Kendra was also a Gamesmaker and she’ll be bringing a display of some of the photos she took during her time at the London Olympics.
Ice skating at Bedale Hall
Eddie the milkman (played by Jonny McPherson)
Peter - Eddie's rival (Jonny McPherson)
Local housewives Lilly (Kaitlin Howard) & Doris (Robert Angell)
Eddie's girlfriend Marion (Kaitlin) with her beau
Velda (Kaitlin) & Eddie
Eddie the pop star
September in the Rain, by John Godber – preview & dates
The playbill for Sept in the Rain, starring Robert Angell and Emma Tugman
Badapple Theatre
Directed by Sue Rosser and starring Robert Angell (BBC’s Waterloo Road) and Emma Tugman (Harrogate Theatre).
If, like me, you’re a fan of John Godber and also a fan of the Yorkshire-based Badapple Theatre Company, then you’ve got a treat in store as Godber’s September in the Rain will be on tour from the 8th to the 30th of September.
Like many of Badapple’s productions, it’s a two-hander and, for September in the Rain, Jack is played by Robert Angell (who has previously acted in Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, and with Hull Truck in a variety of plays, so he knows John Godber well). Emma Tugman plays Liz, and Emma is well known in Harrogate as a both an actor and of administrator of Harrogate Theatre. She’s appeared on TV in ITV’s Emmerdale and BBC’s No Place Like Home.
Robert Angell - who plays ex-miner Jack
The story is set at the seaside – the scene of Jack and Liz’s holidays since their honeymoon. Jack’s a miner and this annual break is always much needed – not least because of the rejuvenating fresh air at the coast. Of course what usually happens is that it rains all week. Godber’s play traces these family holidays over the years, as plans are made, dreams are dreamt and reality intrudes by way of the various disappointments that beset the pair over the course of their marriage. Whilst the moments of sadness will have a poignancy. this trip back in time is not just a nostalgia fest – there are plenty of laughs as Jack and Liz trace the ups and downs of their years together. And the soundtrack of known and loved songs will be sure to evoke powerful emotions in the audience.
Jack's wife Liz is played by Emma Tugman
The play is rated as a ‘PG’ as there is some adult language – which some people may find offensive.
Performances will be limited to Yorkshire (and Yarm) for this run – and you can find out more by visiting the Baddapple Theatre website or phoning the Box Office on 01423 339 168
Fri 8 September 2012
Ripley Town Hall Ripley, Harrogate HG3 3AX. 01423 860 340
Sat 9 September 2012
West Burton Village Hall, West Burton, Leyburn DL8 4, Sally Stone. 01969 663 373, sallystone54@hotmail.com
Tue 11 September 2012
Hutton-le-Hole Village Hall, Main Road, Hutton-le-Hole, York YO62 6UA. 01423 339 168
http://huttonlehole.ryedaleconnect.org.uk
Wed 12 September
Marton cum Grafton Village Hall, Marton cum Grafton, York YO51 9QY. 01423 325 179
Thu 13 September
North Duffield Village Hall, Back Lane, North Duffield YO8 5RJ. 01757 288 458. 01757 282 152
Fri 14 September
Little Weighton Village Hall, Little Weighton, Cottingham HU20 3US. 01482 844 171
Sat 15 September
Potto Village Hall, 14 Cooper Lane, Potto, Northallerton DL6 3HQ. 01642 700 609
Sun 16 September
Fewston Parochial Hall, Fewston, Harrogate HG3 1SU. 01943 880 362
Tue 18 September
Thorganby Village Hall, Main Street, Thorganby, York YO19 6DA. 01423 339 168
www.thorganby.co.uk/village%20hall.html
Wed 19 September
Leven Recreation Hall, East Street, Leven, Beverley HU17 5NG. 01423 339 168
Thu 20 September
Weaverthorpe Village Hall, Main Street, Weaverthorpe, Malton YO17 8ET. 01944 738 804 or 01423 339 168
http://luttonsandweaverthorpe.ryedaleconnect.org.uk
Fri 21 September
East Morton Institute, East Morton, Bradford BD20 5ST. 01423 339 168
Sat 22 September
Long Marston Village Hall, Long Marston, York YO26 7LN. 01904 738 527
Sun 23 September
Dunnington Reading Room Village Hall , Church Street, Dunnington, York YO19 5PW. 01423 339 168
Tue 25 September
Etton Village Hall, 37 Main St, Etton, Beverley HU17 7PG. 01423 339 168
Wed 26 September
Burton Fleming Village Hall, Burton Fleming, Driffield YO25 3LL. 01262 470 556
Thu 27 September
Green Hammerton Village Hall, Harrogate Road, Green Hammerton, York YO26 8AE. 01423 339 168
Fri 28 September
Pickering Memorial Hall, Potter Hill, Pickering YO18 8AA. 01751 472 847
Sat 29 September
Yarm Fellowship Hall, West Street, Yarm TS15 9BT. 01642 888 786
Sun 30 September
Spotlight Theatre, 55a West Street, Bridlington, YO15 3DZ. 01262 601 006
Coming soon from Badapple – a new run of Eddie and the Gold Tops in October and November. Check this blog for a review of the last very successful run of this superb musical comedy.
Diamond Jubilee event in a little Yorkshire village - photo © Rich Fox/Bow House Ltd
Having come to the throne 60 years ago on 6 February 1952, The Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
To mark the occasion, there are lots of great Diamond Jubilee events during the long weekend of the 2, 3, 4 and 5 June, and nowhere more so than in Yorkshire!
Ranging from large city-wide parties, to small village fairs, check out the events below, in alphabetical order by town or city (and have a fabulous time!).
Diamond Jubilee bunting in North Yorkshire village of Minskip, near Boroughbridge - photo © Chris Jones/Bow House Ltd
Yorkshire Diamond Jubilee Events:
Event: Party in the Park
Venue: Elsecar Park, Barnsley
Date & Time: 2 June, 12pm – 5pm
Party goers will see live bands and a motorbike show, whilst there will be plenty of games and refreshments on offer.
Event: Jubilee Tea Party
Venue: Wentworth Castle Gardens, Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Date & Time: 5 June, 12pm – 4pm
Event: Diamond Jubilee Party in the Park
Venue: Oakwell Country Park, Batley
Date: 4 June, 7:30pm
A jubilee beacon will be lit, and there will be live music and fireworks – please bring your own drinks, glasses will be provided.
Event: Jubilee Sculpture Trail
Venue: Thorp Perrow Arboretum, Bedale, North Yorkshire
Date & Time: 1 June-31st July
Chris Moss will be commemorating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a display of sculptures of animals in the spectacular setting of Thorp Perrow Arboretum, including a surprise feature sculpture in situ near to Thorp Perrow’s Jubilee Oak.
Further details can be found here: www.thorpperrow.com
Event: Big Jubilee Lunch
Venue: The Spa, Bridlington
Date: 3 June
Event: Jubilee Celebrations
Venue: Carleton, near Skipton
Date: 1-4 June
A firework display kicks off proceedings on Friday evening, whilst the rest of the weekend will see street parties, a sports day, live music and the lighting of the official beacon.
Event: Jubilee Celebrations
Venue: Waterdale, Doncaster
Date: 3 June
Jubilee event run by Doncaster Council in the public square at Waterdale.
Ready for the Jubilee in Easingwold - photo © Chris Jones/Bow House Ltd
Event: Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
Venue: Easingwold, North Yorkshire
Date & Time: 2 June & 3 June
There’s lots going on in Easingwold during the Jubilee weekend, including a charity market from 9am ’til noon, the town band performing on the Green from 2-3pm, followed by a Music Festival from 3-9pm. On Sunday, there will be a Big Jubilee Lunch in the Market Place from 12:30-2pm.
Other events and more details can be found here: www.easingwold-jubilee.org.uk
Event: Diamond Jubilee Tea Party
Venue: Follifoot, North Yorkshire
Date: 4 June
Held in the Village Hall with live music and circus skills.
Event: Big Jubilee Lunch
Venue: Shay Stadium, Halifax
Date & Time: 3 June, from 2pm
Event: Diamond Jubilee Beach Party
Venue: Piece Hall, Halifax
Date & Time: 5 June,12pm – 4pm
With live music and traditional fairground rides.
Event: Diamond Jubilee Market
Venue: Marina, Hebden Bridge
Date: 1-4 June
Event: Jubilee Tea Party
Venue: Queen’s Gardens, Hull
Date: 4 June
There will be a fabulous tea party in Hull’s Queen’s Gardens, along with a parade, big screens with London’s events unfolding, and an event at Hull’s City Hall which will feature stalls and performances.
Event: Flotilla on the River Humber
Venue: River Humber, Hull
Date: 4 June
Over 60 boats sailing down the Humber in the evening, recreating Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations of 1897.
Event: Jubilee Party
Venue: The Grove, Ilkley
Date & Time: 3 June, from 1pm
Bring your own picnic!
Event: Breeze International Youth Festival
Venue: Briggate, Leeds
Date & Time: 2 June, 11am – 4pm
A festival of music and dance for young people.
Event: Shadwell Diamond Jubilee Procession & Gala
Venue: Shadwell, Leeds
Date & Time: 2 June
Event: Thorner Jubilee Gala
Venue: Thorner, Leeds
Date & Time: 2 June, 12pm – 4pm
Fancy dress & decorative bike parade, with ponies in fancy dress, entertainment, birds of prey, pet shows and raffles.
More information available here: www.thornervillage.org.uk
Event: Diamond Jubilee “Street Party”
Venue: Harewood House, Leeds
Date & Time: 3 June, 10am – 6pm
Come along to Harewood House to join in the fun with majorettes, a brass band, superb English fare at the Courtyard Café which will be decked out in bunting.
Big screens will show the Jubilee celebrations in London, and there will be a royal exhibition at the house, including photographs of The Queen from being born to being in her early 20s.
If you’re 60 or over, you go free (proof required).
Event: Big Lunch
Venue: Menston Village, West Yorkshire
Date: 3 June
Event: Diamond Jubilee Celebration
Venue: Holden Park, Oakworth, West Yorkshire
Date & Time: 2 June, from 2pm
Event: Leeds Philharmonic Chorus Jubilee Concert
Venue: Leeds Town Hall, Leeds
Date: 2 June, 7:30pm
Event: Proms in the Castle
Venue: Pontefract Castle, Pontefract
Date: 4 June
With terrific entertainment for the kids along with a royal-themed fancy dress competition at the castle. Please bring your own picnic. In the evening, watch the official Diamond Jubilee Beacon be lit, along with spectacular fireworks and the West Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra.
Event: Various Jubilee Events at Ripley Castle
Venue: Ripley Castle, Ripley near Harrogate
Date & Time: 2-5 June
Some great things planned at Ripley Castle for the Diamond Jubilee weekend including falconry displays at 11am, 1pm and 3pm on Monday, 4 June, an encampment of Armourial Knights during the whole weekend with fighting, dancing, and various displays of 14th century culture including crafts and cookery, and the annual Yorkshire classic car rally on Monday, 4 June. There will also be 60% off the entry fee on Tuesday, 5 June, with a best dressed king/queen competition, a parade, and a Royal Garden Trail.
Event: Diamond Jubilee Service, Brass Band Contest and Street Party
Venue: Ripon Cathedral, Ripon
Date & Time: 2-5 June
On Saturday, 2 June, there will be a brass band concert and contest at Ripon Cathedral, followed by a Jubilee service the following date at 3:30pm which will feature fanfares and anthems to honour the Queen. On Tuesday, 5 June, the Cathedral will be holding a “street party in the Nave”.
Full details can be found here: www.riponcathedral.org.uk
Event: 1950s Jubilee Street Party
Venue: Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Date: 2 June
With 50s vehicle displays, an old-fashioned fairground and a travelling show, Rotherham’s central shopping streets will become a 1950s street party with lots of entertainment and things to see including street art and a vintage market.
Event: Party in the Park
Venue: Silsden Park, Silsden, West Yorkshire
Date & Time: 2 June, 12pm – 10pm
Party in the park, Queen tribute act, U2 tribute act, big band, local bands, fun fair, licensed bar, stalls, marquee, FREE ENTRY!
More information can be found here: silsdenevents.co.uk
Event: Skipton “Street Party”
Venue: Skipton, North Yorkshire
Date & Time: 3 June, 10am – 10pm
The party will be thrown on Skipton High Street.
Event: Tadcaster Jubilee Celebrations
Venue: Tadcaster, North Yorkshire
Date & Time: 3 June, 12pm – late
A parade of floats will travel through the town, and there will be marching bands, a funfair, a concert with tribute acts to Take That and Lady GaGa, and a huge firework display to round everything off.
Event: Jubilee Street Party
Venue: Market Place, Wetherby
Date: 3 June
Live music, family entertainment and fairground rides.
Event: Diamond Jubilee Steam Festival
Venue: North Yorkshire Moors Railway – trains depart from Whitby and Pickering
Date & Time: 2-10 June, 10am – 6pm
Catch a fabulous steam train (there’s one scheduled for every 2 hours from the towns of Pickering and Whitby throughout the Diamond Jubilee weekend, and up until 10 June).
Further details can be found here: www.nymr.co.uk
Event: Opening of “From Hamlet to Hollywood”
Venue: Barley Hall, York
Date & Time: 2-10 June, 10:30am – 4pm
A glittering exhibition of historic movie and film-star costumes – the exhibition has had a fabulous Diamond Jubilee makeover and will re-open with on-screen royal costumes including costumes from “The King’s Speech”, “The Duchess”, “Anonymous”, and “Around the World in 80 Days”.
And whilst you’re here, why not try your hand at creating a Venetian mask, some crown jewels, or a beautiful corsage.
More details can be found here: www.barleyhall.org.uk
Event: 1950s Jubilee Weekend
Venue: Yorkshire Museum of Farming, Murton, York
Date & Time: 2-5 June, 10am – 5pm
This is a Jubilee weekend event not to be missed – step back in time for a 1950s-themed weekend for fun and games. You are invited to join in and come in costume.
Further information can be found here: www.murtonpark.co.uk
Event: Queen’s Jubilee Parade
Venue: Upper Poppleton, York
Date & Time: 4 June, from 12 noon
Parade of floats, marching, fancy dress competition, stalls, maypole dancing, morris dancing and much, much more – parade starts at noon from Poppleton Football Club on Millfield Lane at 12pm, arriving at the Maypole in the centre of the village at 1pm.
If you are organising an event and would like to feature it here, please get in touch.
And if you’re looking for holiday accommodation in Yorkshire, check out the great places to stay on Hello Yorkshire.
Jubilee door pigs in Sinnington - photo © Chris Jones/Bow House Ltd
Late Harvest - Colin Smithson - photograph courtesy of NYOS
Venue: Artists’ studios throughout North Yorkshire - FREE entry
For two weekends in June artists throughout North Yorkshire will open their studios to the public. It’s a great opportunity to unearth art in some unique and stunning places, from farmyard studios and the blacksmith’s forge, to stone cottages and suburban sitting rooms at the 2012 North Yorkshire Open Studios.
Artist-blacksmith Annabelle Bradley at work in her forge - photograph courtesy of NYOS
The inspiration of North Yorkshire’s spectacular landscape, from the fabulous Yorkshire Dales to the dramatic coastline, can be traced through the art of over 130 artists. It’s a chance to uncover hidden gems and to purchase paintings, furniture, contemporary crafts, jewellery, sculptures and prints directly from the creator.
Heather Burning by Debbie Loane - photograph courtesy of NYOS
Debbie Loane’s art is created with mixed media (as seen above), and her pieces are inspired by the North York Moors landscape, particularly the views around ‘Hambleton Street’, an historic road visible from her studio on a farm close to Easingwold. Whilst Andrew Kay’s striking sculptures are featured at Austwick Hall amidst the spectacular backdrop of the rolling Yorkshire Dales hills.
Watchful Stag - by Andrew Kay - photograph courtesy of NYOS
Emerson Mayes, whose art is displayed at numerous galleries in London, resides in Nidderdale and his artwork is inspired by the fabulous local landscape and its varied wildlife, all found within a few miles of his home.
Approaching the Abbey, November by Emerson Mayes - photograph courtesy of NYOS
The great fun of the two weekends is tracking down the varied artists’ studios (with the help of the very useful guidebook). Lots of information about all the artists are available here whilst a studio guidebook (free) can be acquired through the organisers, Art Connections, on 01756 748 529 or info@art-connections.org.uk
Jewellery by Moxon & Simm - photograph courtesy of NYOS
In addition to the wealth of studios to go to see, there is also a fantastic events programme, including workshops, hidden tea parties and captivating artists’ installations throughout a number of North Yorkshire heritage sites. A preview exhibition – ‘Secret Spaces, Hidden Gems’ – which will feature the work of artists who are taking part in the Open Studios, will be held in the newly restored Edwardian Ambulatory Arcade at Harrogate’s Royal Hall from 31 May to 17 June.
Violet Night by Richard Snowden - photograph courtesy of NYOS
The Open Studios event takes place on 9 & 10 June and 16 & 17 June, between 10.30 and 5.30.
Artist Bren Head at Ravenscar - photograph courtesy of NYOS
Small Tea Pot by Charlotte Morrison - photograph courtesy of NYOS
Attentive Tawny by Emerson Mayes - photograph courtesy of NYOS
For anyone looking for accommodation in the area, please check out the hotels, B&Bs and cottages on Hello Yorkshire.
If you like trains, spectacular scenery, hog roasts, beer tasting, ice creams and an all-round great time, and want to raise money for a good cause, then hop aboard the Jubilee Express on the Wensleydale Railway on Friday, 1 June at Leeming Bar station (train departs at 7:30pm).
There will be entertainment on board, Hambleton Ales beer tasting, a hog roast, party packs for each guest, ice creams, and more, and money raised goes to the Herriot Hospice Homecare, about which you can read more here and you can also buy tickets for the train from here too, or by calling 01609 777 413.
An evening to remember!
