Words from the Shore - Devon Open Studios - the middle bit - a Reflection by Devon Artist Charlotte Ellis

Sketching at Lyme Regis

Two Lympstone studio opening days tumble into one, as I write this morning. I had my first day off in ages on Monday so I headed into Exeter and explored a different event 'Graveyard Shift' which is part of Heritage Open Days. I found myself in the very beautiful and very old St Martin’s church on the corner of Exeter Cathedral Green. I have walked past this old stone building hundreds of times but have never passed under its stone arch and gone inside. I am so pleased that I did. I sat in a well-worn gated pew feeling the history of others who throughout time have taken their place in this very same spot. I ran my hand along the wooden rest feeling its warmth and smoothness - a tactile motion being both connecting and calming.

Under the church's ancient ceiling, I listened to Caroline Wilkins talk about her art project which involved visiting a small Cornish graveyard during lockdown. On a daily basis she took rubbings of gravestones and recorded words in her diary . This daily ritual was a way that helped her move through the journey of grief. Her visits led to her becoming guest artist for a year and the creation of a whole body of work both visual and written which highlight the importance of graveyards for rememberance and as social spaces. She read some of her Graveyard Shift diary in the church and also at stopping points as our small group of four  walked past the cathedral to the Dissenters Graveyard. The entries were short, poignant and left me wanting to hear more. I know that this is not to do with open studios as such but I mention it as listening to talks, visiting new places and seeing familiar places from a different perspective are things I enjoy and all feed in to my art practice. 

Acrylic painting of the Exe Estuary

Devon Open Studios can be quite intense at times as the focus is completely on me and my art so I find being in a quiet place,  in the background, absorbing someone else’s knowledge and art is gently restorative. I like to learn new things and I like to make myself think and question things that I already  have some knowledge of. If you are interested in local history do look up Heritage Open Days as you can visit so many interesting places that are not usually open to the public.

Small acrylic on board of the Exe Estuary

Luckily,I have managed to visit some other open studios in East Devon this week- always a refreshing and uplifting experience. I love seeing different ways of creating things and different ways of presenting yourself as an artist. I haven’t explored as many studios as I would like but I had a wonderful afternoon of art, blue, clouds, love letters and bower birds at  Powderham castle and an afternoon visiting Umborne Bridge Studio and catching up with friends and fellow artists there before stopping off to see Lesley Hook in Salcombe Regis to enjoy  her joyful, colourful work. It is great to know what art is happening in Devon and I often find myself talking about other artists when people visit my studio. One visitor laughed saying I should be talking more about my work than other artists but I think shining light on others often leads to that light shining right back on you. So back to my past two Open Studio days…

Pencil sketch of Joey

Sunday was ridiculously wet but I had some lovely visitors and made some  sales. A highlight, apart from selling work, was being told about a rather special little Dartmoor church which is magical in the winter and becomes surrounded by the most beautiful snowdrops. It sounds like just my kind of peaceful place to visit. I love sitting peacefully in old churches and in time plan to visit every one of them on Dartmoor. The lady had found my work so calming and felt inspired to share this little hidden gem that she says not many people know about. I felt honoured that she had chosen to share it with me.

Thursday was sunnier and my visitors were a collection of friends, collectors and people discovering my work for the first time. I was  visited by an old student of mine that I haven’t see for over a decade, which was really nice. It was a good day.

A page from my 'Shells' sketchbook

Things to add to my growing list of ideas to take forward for next year’s Devon Open Studios:

·       Visitors have loved looking through my sketch books, so I will put more out on show next time.

·       I need to plan out the whole time so that I build in plenty of time to see other studios.

·       Make a packed lunch the night before so that it easy to have lunch. My kitchen has been taken oven with art displays so this is an important one for me.

Sunset colour studies with Joey Dog

It’s now the last weekend of this year’s Devon Open Studios and I will be open from 10-4 today and tomorrow. It will be lovely to see you if you are able to come and visit. My work can also be seen in Seaglass Gallery, Lympstone, Devon

Charlotte Ellis - Devon Artist