Art / Art Trail
North and South Bristol prepare for art trails
Over 80 artists have confirmed their participation in the 2024 BS9 Arts Trail, which covers 11 venues in north Bristol’s Westbury-on-Trym, Henleaze and Stoke Bishop, all of whom will be throwing open their doors on the weekend of 8-9 June.
Some are hobbyists, some part time, and others professional, including a clutch who made the jump to becoming a full-time artist as a result of their involvement in previous trails.
All works will be for sale, encompassing a rich variety of media, from painting to sculpture, ceramics and glassware to jewellery and photography.
is needed now More than ever
For many visitors, this annual, volunteer-led event is an enlightening chance to meet the person behind the artwork, and to discover more about their chosen techniques and inspirations.
BS9 Arts Trail Map 2024
Nancy Chambers – acryclic painter
“I am a contemporary still life painter with a pared-back style which fits well in today’s homes. I enjoy not just the colour but the textural quality of paint and I work with both to achieve the finished painting. With a dandelion for instance, I use needles to capture their distinctive petals and for poppies, I use very thick paint which I apply in a sculptural way, using ‘palette knives’ made from recycled plastic milk cartons.
“I have painted my whole life and became professional in 2019, by starting with the BS9 Arts Trail! I developed a collection of original paintings and had a few prints made too, along with a website and Instagram page ahead of the event, where I quickly acquired customers and followers. I now exhibit in galleries and at art fairs throughout the UK and have collectors all over the world.”
Wild Poppy Bouquet – original acrylic painting by Nancy Chambers – photo: courtesy of the artist
Emma Catherine – contemporary mixed media artist
“I am a Contemporary Artist working predominantly with mixed media and gold leaf. After studying Fine Art, I worked as a designer then moved to Provence in France where I started my large abstract art. I work intuitively and am inspired by nature and its vast mystery. I try to allow the paint and colours to guide me. I enjoy using texture and gold leaf to enhance a sense of agelessness to my work.
“This will be my fourth year exhibiting with the BS9 Arts trail. I have been lucky enough to exhibit at the very beautiful Trinity Hall, home of the University’s Theological college, near Bristol’s Botanical Gardens. Not only is this event an inspiration to the community, it also opens the doors to explore parts of Bristol that would normally not be available to the general public. Almost every venue offers handmade cakes and beverages for those who just want to relax and take in the atmosphere. The hidden talent that surfaces during the trail is a sight to behold!”
Bristol Moon – original oil and gold leaf painting by Emma Catherine – photo: courtesy of the artist
Caroline Casswell – polymer clay jeweller, mosaic and paper artist
“I am someone who enjoys continuously experimenting and I have enjoyed playing with different art forms over the years but currently make and teach, mosaic and polymer clay jewellery, and continue to find new imaginative levels of depth and pattern in them. Each piece is an adventure in colour and form and has its own character and story.
“I have had the honour to be the chair of the BS9 Arts Trail for the past eight years. The event has always been blessed with wonderful artists volunteering their time, for the good of the whole, and over the years it has had significant support from a variety of schools and churches, as well as the University of Bristol, an adult learning centre and a care home. This unlikely set of institutions have all kindly opened their doors and halls for us to use as pop-up galleries, as well as a few artists showing in their own homes too.
“I have so enjoyed being at the heart of the trail, enabling something fun and inspirational to happen, where artists, professional or amateur are able to speak to the members of the general public about their craft.”
Wild II – original mosaic artwork by Caroline Casswell, Chair of BS9 Arts – photo: courtesy of the artist
Looking to the south of the city, 2024 artist registration for Art on the Hill opens in June, with the event set to take place on the first weekend in October.
This year, organisers are keen to throw the net as wide as possible, and get the word out to those artists and art lovers who have always wondered, but never yet taken part in this annual celebration of the local community of creatives.
Bristol24/7 spoke to three long-time participants who will be showing their work once more, and asked them to explain the magic of the event:
Ceramic penguins by Mandy Macdonald – photo: courtesy of the artist
Mandy Macdonald – ceramicist
“I like to travel and get inspirations from around the world. I went to Costa Rica last Christmas and loved the poisonous frogs. I have designed pots, inspired by ancient Costa Rica pots, with frogs crawling over them.
“Last year I made penguins, after a trip to Antarctica. I also make wall vases and soap dishes, using leaves from my walks and my garden. There will be a variety of my work on show at Art on the Hill.
“I have opened my house for the event for the past 10 years and really enjoy showing my work to local people. It has been a privilege to be part of the organising committee, and a great way to meet other people as we share the creative force of the hill.”
Ceramic frogs by Mandy Macdonald – photo: courtesy of the artist
Anna Harley – screen printing artist
“I am an Anglo-Scandinavian, professional artist, making hand pulled screenprints of landscapes at Spike Print Studio in Central Bristol. My work is inspired by the landscapes I encounter while out walking, particularly the trees, rocks and water features. I combine fabric textures and metallic pigments with drawn and digital elements to construct the layers within my prints.
“I have shown my original work from my home on Nutgrove Avenue, as part of Art on the Hill, for over 10 years now and this has become a regular event in my annual calendar.
“The act of assembling my screen prints to form a cohesive exhibition helps inform me about where I am with my work. It is also invaluable to get feedback from the people who tour AOTH and I enjoy connecting with my audience. I also often take part in the Break Out Voices choir performance on the Saturday evening at the Windmill Hill Community Centre during the weekend.”
‘Mendip Pines’, screenprint by Anna Harley – photo: courtesy of the artist
Abi Eleri – watercolour illustrator
“I’m a watercolour illustrator hailing from Snowdonia, but now living in Bristol. My work focuses on the beauty in nature, the animals that inhabit it, and calls on the adventurer inside each person.
I’ve been displaying work at Art On The Hill for a number of years, was part of the committee for a couple of years, and I love the atmosphere and community. Windmill Hill sits between my home in Knowle West, and my studio in BV Studios Bedminster, and I love how the Arts Trail brings a whole new level of life and community to the area.
“I love the local Arts Trails and markets because they create a community for the makers and small businesses. Having that network makes the experience less daunting and more enjoyable; there are people to ask for advice and there are people to celebrate the wins with. It’s thanks to the continuous support of the community who buy my cards and artwork that I can even make this my living, so I owe a lot to all the wonderful humans who support my creativity, encourage me and buy my work. It means so much.”
Work by Abi Eleri – photo: courtesy of the artist
The BS9 Arts Trail is on June 8-9 at 11am-5pm. More information, including a full rundown of the artists, is available at www.bs9arts.co.uk, or follow @bs9arts. Free trail maps will be available at shops and cafés in the area.
Artist registration for Art on the Hill 2024 opens on June 1, and the event will take place on October 5-6. To sign up, visit www.artonthehill.org.uk or follow @aoth_bristol. Volunteers are encouraged to email the AOTH committee to find out more.
Main photo: Abi Eleri
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