Over 200 artists are set to showcase their work at this year’s Perthshire Open Studios.
During the nine-day event, which runs from Saturday, September 7 until Sunday, September 15, artists will be opening up their studios and welcoming in visitors.
Artists and craft makers will be displaying the paintings, jewellery, photography and ceramics in their homes, workshops, galleries halls and churches throughout this year’s event.
This year, Perthshire Open Studios has also partnered up with Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust to have artists in residence in a number of the region’s historic buildings as part of the annual Doors Open Days.
This will include Linda Russell at Innerpeffray Library, Ciara Gibson and her group at Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Centre, Duncan McGregor and Sarah Blackie at Tibbermore Church, Dawn Wood at Perth Subud Centre, and Issy Valentine and Elizabeth Petrie at Meikleour Village Hall.
Daniel Postma, coordinator of Doors Open Days, said the organisers are very excited to have artists displaying their works in this way.
He said: “We are delighted to be hosting Perthshire Open Studios artists in this year of arts and entertainment at several of our best venues in Perth and throughout the shire.
“This year’s theme is echoed in many other venues across Perth and Kinross, be it their events or exhibited work from other artists, past and current, or the craftmanship displayed in their buildings’ vernacular and architectural design.
“The programme offered by Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, in conjunction with Scottish Civic Trust, is perfect for dipping in and out along the different Open Studios routes.”
The artists taking part in the event are divided up into eight colour-coded routes based on geographical areas - lemon, orange, lime, turquoise, plum, blue, green and red.
Visitors are encouraged to follow each of the routes to get the most out of the nine days of Open Studios.
During the event, artists from the green route will have their works exhibited in Strathearn Artspace in Crieff, and artists on the orange route will have their works displayed in the shop window on Leslie Street Art Trail in Blairgowrie.
Glenys Andrews, president of Perthshire Open Studios, said: “This year we will be welcoming visitors to enjoy the work of around 200 artists and makers in 141 studios all across beautiful Perthshire and Kinross-shire.
“It’s a chance to meet amazingly creative people, some who are taking part for the first time and others who have been opening their studios since the first event back in 2008.
“Wherever you go you can be assured of a warm welcome as well as having the opportunity to see and purchase original works from the artists who created them.
“We also have an exciting partnership with Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust to have artists and makers based in some of the region’s most intriguing buildings as part of Doors Open Days.
“This is a way of celebrating the synergy between art and architecture and highlighting the history of our area.”
On top of the different trails visitors can follow, there will be two showcase exhibitions where they can view a variety of works by different artists involved in Perthshire Open Studios.
These will be at The Beild at Blackruthven in Tibbermore and at Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
From Saturday, August 31 until Sunday, September 15 the larger exhibition at The Bield will have six artists in residence.
The featured artist is Simon Jauncey, who has been a photographer for the past 30 years in the UK and overseas.
After 10 years in Venezuela he returned to his Perthshire home to photograph its great houses and castles for guide books and magazines.
The brochure is available online at perthshireopenstudios.com and from local visitor centres, libraries and art venues.
