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>May Events / Art & Theatre / Business Editorials / Events in Norfolk and Suffolk / exhibitions / Tourist Attractions Norfolk and Suffolk / Waveney Valley May 13, 2022

Art Trail set to return to the Waveney Valley this Spring

Artist Lisa Henshall. Credit Genevieve Nice Art Trail — Artist Lisa Henshall. Credit Genevieve Nice

An Art Trail in the picturesque Waveney Valley is set to return to its regular Spring slot this May.

Harleston & Waveney Art Trail will take place throughout the valley that forms the border between Norfolk and Suffolk.

Eighteen artists will open their studio doors to visitors across the weekends of 21st – 22nd and 28th – 29th May 2022.

It’s the perfect opportunity for locals and visitors alike to explore how and where artists work in the stunning landscapes of south Norfolk and north Suffolk.

The free event features a range of artworks including contemporary and traditional paintings, abstract work, batik, mixed media, ceramics, lino prints, drawings, collage, textiles, wire sculptures plus greetings cards and prints made from the artists’ original artwork.

Harleston and Waveney Art Trail chairman Malcolm Cudmore said: “After two years of uncertainty and new habits, Harleston and Waveney Art Trail has returned to its regular Spring timetable for 2022.

“The two mini-trails that we held in 2021 proved that, despite the disruption to normal life, there was a considerable public interest in visiting artists’ studios and we’re very happy to be returning to our regular annual weekends in May – with 18 artists opening their studios.

“We’re delighted to welcome new member, Nikki Dedman, to the Trail. Last autumn, she was a guest artist in another artist’s studio and her work attracted great interest. Her unique wire sculptures add an extra dimension to the already wide range of creative works made by Harleston and Waveney Art Trail members.

“I’m particularly pleased to be back on the Trail myself after a two-year absence due to Covid restrictions. We hope that our visitors will be intrigued and entranced by the new work made by the artists over the last year. We look forward to welcoming both regular and new visitors and to inviting them to see our work in the very place it was made.”

The artists participating in the Trail are Kath Wallace, Lisa Henshall, Caryl Challis, Rachel Wiles, Bobbie Watchorn, Noelle Francis, Barbara Bernard, Sara Johnson, Di Mckenna, Malcolm Cudmore, Paul Zawadzki, Liz Taunt, Lin Patterson, Ingrid Duffy, Nell Close, Nicci Dedman, Rosemary Elliott and Chris Mound.

The artist’s studios are dotted around the valley – in Harleston, Redenhall, Denton, Earsham, Ditchingham, Hedenham, Bungay, St Cross South Elmham, Homersfield, Wortwell, Weybread, Wingfield and Syleham.

The event is sponsored by Durrants Estate Agents and supported by The Imperial Wine Company, Bungay and The Old Kings Head, Brockdish.

Malcolm Cudmore said: “Once again, we are very grateful for the support of our principal sponsor Durrants. Thanks also to our advertisers – Imperial Wine in Bungay and The Old Kings Head in Brockdish.”

The 2022 art trail leaflet will be available from locations across the region as well as in every branch of Durrants, at The Imperial Wine Company and The Old Kings Head.

A fully interactive Google Map of the Trail will be available through the Harleston & Waveney Art Trail website. Anyone with a smart phone will be able to obtain accurate directions to any studio from any location. Precise locations will also be given through the What Three Words app.

For more information visit www.hwat.org.uk

Participating artists

Kath Wallace
Painting and drawing – Harleston

“I am very much looking forward to opening my studio again as part of Harleston and Waveney Art Trail and sharing my new collections of paintings. Over by Wingfield and Light and Air are part of a collection of paintings inspired by a walk at the end of last summer. I’m pleased that they capture some of the atmosphere of late summer in the Norfolk and Suffolk countryside.”

Lisa Henshall
Mixed media – Harleston

“For me, Harleston and Waveney Art Trail is such a fantastic opportunity to share my creative process and new work. I will have a variety of sizes and types of work available in my little town studio…. And maybe even some cakes!”

Caryl Challis
Batik – Harleston

“It’s fast approaching that time of year again, when I excitedly begin to make plans to open my studio and garden to visitors from all across the Eastern Region. Way-markers are brought out of storage, the party tent erected, bedding plants purchased and last but not least, batiks framed ready for display.

“It’s always such a pleasure to welcome art lovers on foot, by bicycle or car, to look at the work and learn the techniques involved, new faces in addition to those who come along each year. Visitors can expect to see a number of framed batiks on cloth and paper, including land and seascapes. The browser offers unframed work, and there will be a good selection of handmade batik cards and batik collages. I’ll have some cloth covered frames and welcome people ‘having a go’ with the hot wax, dyes and brushes.”

Rachel Wiles
Painting and textiles – Denton

“Having just completed my Masters in Arts Practice (Art, Health, and Wellbeing) I am really excited to be showcasing my personal practice at this year’s Harleston and Waveney Art Trail, along with the collaborative projects in the community I have worked on over the last 18 months as part of my MA.

“I will also be launching new workshops in “Creative Textiles with Wellness” that have an emphasis on enhancing health and wellbeing whilst you experiment and create beautiful works of art using a wide variety recycled materials. A warm welcome awaits you in my garden studio with coffee and cake!”

Bobbie Watchorn
Stoneware ceramic – Earsham

“I am looking forward to the Harleston and Waveney Art Trail, I always feel that 3D work never really displays at its best in a 2D photograph. The whole point of sculpture is often that it has to be viewed from many sides. I spend a lot of time thinking about my pieces and trying to make sure there is an interest from all views.

“A lot of my work can be displayed outside. I am lucky in having a large garden and enjoy gardening, so I have an ideal spot at home to display my larger pieces. I will also have smaller pieces on view in the house. My work is often inspired by the animal subject and something interesting or quirky about it. After all if an elephant can balance on an upturned drum, why not a pig?”

Noelle Francis
Oil paintings – Ditchingham

“I have been involved with the Harleston and Waveney Art Trail since it began. It is an opportunity to show recent works and gives a boost to my creativity knowing paintings will be exhibited. Visitors can expect to see many travel and nature inspired oils and watercolours and enjoy my wildlife friendly garden.”

Barbara Bernard
Oil paintings – Ditchingham

“I look forward to the Harleston and Waveney Art Trail every year. It is my chance to talk about my work and share it with the public in what is otherwise a fairly solitary creative pursuit. I am working hard on new paintings to show – full of sunlight and shadows.”

Sara Johnson
Paintings and mixed media – Hedenham

“I am very much looking forward to the Harleston and Waveney Art Trail after two years of Covid restrictions and to welcoming previous visitors as well as many new ones to my studio and garden which is always a delight at this time of year. I will have a selection of atmospheric watercolours as usual, as well as my latest collection of acrylic & mixed media landscapes.”

Di Mckenna
Lino prints – Bungay

Malcolm Cudmore
Painting and drawing – Bungay

“In March 2020, as well as having to cancel the Harleston and Waveney Art Trail, I had to stop seeing regular students in my studio. I’ve restored and rearranged my studio – meaning there’s more time and room for my own work and better arrangements for displaying it! Now I can’t wait to be open again during the 2022 Art Trail to welcome visitors back after my two year “sabbatical”.

In addition to new framed work, I’ll have a selection of unframed “studio clearance” paintings and studies at bargain prices. Many of the new paintings are landscapes painted outdoors directly from the subject depicted. I’ll also have a browser of unframed figure drawings and some examples of portrait commissions (drawings and paintings) on display. Together with blank cards produced from my original paintings, and my drawing DVDs, there will be plenty to see. In the hope that the weather is going to be kind to us, there will be outdoor seating and I plan to show some work in the garden outside the studio.

Above all else, it will be a real treat to be able to talk art with regular and new visitors again during the two weekends of the Trail. Plus, as always, there will be home baked cookies!”

Paul Zawadzki
Oils and mixed media – Bungay

“I very much enjoy the Harleston and Waveney Art Trail weekends. It’s a great way of showing and getting feedback on new work as well as having stimulating conversations with interesting people. Plus of course they get to see the creative process in operation and previews of new pieces. It’s such a positive community event for the public to be able to meet local artists in their creative spaces – some visitors are seasoned veterans while for some it is their first venture into the world of an artist.”

Liz Taunt
Print and collage – Bungay

“I really enjoy the interest people show in my work during Harleston and Waveney Art Trail – so many intelligent conversations – I’m looking forward to it after the hiatus of the last couple of years.”

Lin Patterson
Textiles – St Cross South Elmham

“I’m looking forward to opening my studio to show beautiful textile art for the walls, and sofa, as well as smaller textile gifts. All in a lovely barn conversion.”

Ingrid Duffy
Textiles – Homersfield

“I’m really looking forward to welcoming visitors to my new, light and airy studio in the Waveney Valley. I’ve been busy over the last few months creating a whole body of new work, ranging from framed textile art for the wall to unique, colourful throws for sofas and beds. I have also created a range of useful and unusual textile gifts in a variety of exciting colours and textures.”

Nell Close
Paintings – Wortwell

“I am really looking forward to this spring’s Open Studio event. It’s just so good to have visitors coming to see what I have been doing. Lots of new work to look at and hopefully much more to see by the end of May.”

Nicci Dedman
Wire sculpture – Weybread

“I am thrilled to be opening my studio and showing my work with Harleston and Waveney Art Trail for the first time. It will be a chance for me to show the whole range of my work: including little birds and various wildlife subjects; also flowers in vases and potted plants of various sizes. Along with my latest range of garden furniture!”

Rosemary Elliott
Paintings – Wingfield

Rosemary Elliott Painitngs - Wingfield Art Trail — Rosemary Elliott Painitngs – Wingfield

“I’m really looking forward to welcoming visitors back to my studio and garden again this year after a long break. Last year I had a retrospective exhibition at Wingfield Barns as part of the Autumn Trail. This year the focus for me is to show recent semi-abstract paintings inspired by the East Anglian coastline, including a couple of new figurative wildlife paintings.

“I work alone in the studio for most of the year so chatting to visitors and getting feedback is really helpful in gauging public response to the work. It also enables visitors to see behind the scenes and experience first- hand the paintings in situ before they leave the studio for exhibitions and new homes. The studio is set at the end of landscaped garden overlooking farmland with uninterrupted views to the Norfolk border.”

Chris Mound
Prints and drawings – Syleham

“I have always enjoyed welcoming visitors to my studio and having the opportunity to show how I work and chat about printmaking. There is a special buzz this year after two years of lockdown.”

About Harleston & Waveney Art Trail

www.hwat.org.uk

The Harleston & Waveney Art Trail Collective (also known as HWAT) is a diverse and lively community of professional artists who live and work in the beautiful Waveney Valley, all within reach of Harleston, a small market town on the border of Norfolk and Suffolk.
The Harleston & Waveney Art Trail has taken place every summer since 2005. Each year the group opens their studios and workshops for two or three consecutive weekends. Entry to all studios and workshops is free, browsers are very welcome, and work can be purchased direct from the artists. All the studios are within ten miles of Harleston.