9 June
Friday 18:30 — 21:30
10 & 11 June
Saturday — Sunday 11:00 — 18:00
It’s that special moment again, when the Pullens Yards fling open their iron gates, and invite the world in – the Summer Open Studios 2023.
Over 50 studios host a rich variety of artists and artist-makers; ceramicists, illustrators, jewellers, printmakers, furniture makers, rug, bag, doll and scarf makers, and more. There will be pottery, drawing and flower-arranging workshops for children and adults, and many artisanal food and drinks stalls.
It’s free to enter, just come and stroll around. There are three Yards, each with a distinctive character. The studios are where the artists work, day to day. The artists themselves will be present in most of the open studios, and visitors will have a rare opportunity to see and talk to them about how they work. All of the crafts practiced in the Yards have one thing in common, everything is hand made. In an increasingly robotic, mechanised, generic world, every piece in the Yards is unique.
They vary in price, from a few pounds to a few hundred, but any would make truly special pieces for your home, or gifts.
The architecture and atmosphere of Pullens Yards are worth experiencing, the original cobbled streets are some of the last left in London.
The studios have housed craftspeople, working with their hands, for a hundred and twenty years. Over this length of time what most of the crafts-people produce has evolved: at one time the Yards boasted lace makers, fan makers and cabinet makers. These have been replaced by today’s filmmakers, jewellers and artist potters. A few crafts have remained the same, furniture designers and letterpress printers are here now, just as in the days of Queen Victoria.
Visit our website for stories and portfolios of the individual artists: pullensopen.org