Sheffield’s creative community is throwing open its doors on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November, as Yorkshire Artspace’s annual Open Studios weekend returns. More than 100 artists and makers across Persistence Works and Exchange Place will welcome visitors in for a rare nosey around their studios, a look at works in progress and the chance to buy art direct from local artists.
From jewellery and ceramics to painting, printmaking and contemporary art, it’s a weekend-long peek inside two of the country’s biggest creative hubs, right here in Sheffield.
We spoke to artists Holly Clifford, Evelyn Albrow, Lianne Mellor and Roanna Wells about opening their workspaces and what visitors can expect behind the studio doors.
What are you working on at the moment – and what might people see if they wander into your studio during Open Studios?
HC: At the moment I am working on a very exciting piece for Festival of the Mind, depicting the north polar cap of Mars. I am also working on an array of bespoke topographical jewellery and wall piece commissions, including a map of the Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania) and Broomhead Reservoir (closer to home!).
What does your studio look like on an average working day? Organised chaos, meticulously tidy or somewhere in between?
LM: I’m a very visual person so there’s lots of sketches, studies and inspiration pinned on the walls or scattered on the floor if I’m in the middle of a painting. However, I’m quite meticulous about all my brushes, paints and tools having a ‘home’ to live in. There’s nothing worse than arriving at the studio ready to paint, then spending 45 minutes searching for my favourite paintbrush.
Is there a part of your process that people are often surprised by?
HC: People often assume that my wall maps are made from lots of separate layers of metal. However, they’re actually made from one single sheet – the contour lines are cut through the metal then beautifully fanned out into a three-dimensional representation of the landscape. In theory, each map could be flattened back down to that one sheet.
Open Studios gives people access to spaces they’d normally never see. What do you think visitors get from seeing where and how work is actually made?
EA: It’s such a good chance to see what inspires artists and get a sense of who they are. Just to be nosey! I like looking at their books and seeing what’s on their walls. It’s always fascinating to see their tools and materials too – you get a true sense of their process and way of creating. It’s a much more tactile experience.
What do you enjoy about meeting people face-to-face and talking about your work – and is there anything slightly strange about opening up what is usually a private working space?
RW: I always find it encouraging meeting people and talking to them about my current work and process. Whether I’m in full motivation mode or feeling a bit stuck, the conversations that arise can either confirm direction or help to unlock creative blocks. I’m naturally an introvert so it can be a bit tiring allowing people into a space that is usually just my own, but it’s worth it.
For someone coming to Open Studios who doesn’t normally visit galleries or buy art, what would you say to them?
LM: Everyone is welcome at Open Studios. You don’t need to be an expert or collector to appreciate things made by hand. Bring an open mind and curiosity to find out how the work is created – I love hearing more about the process behind the work and why things are done a certain way. Even if you don’t see anything that resonates with you, at the very least you can stay out of the rain on a grey November weekend and treat yourself to a pastry in a pop-up cafe!
Yorkshire Artspace Open Studios 2026 takes place Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November, 11am–5pm, at Persistence Works and Exchange Place. Free entry. Head to yas.art/whats-on for more info.
