When you think of tourist destinations in Worcestershire the natural beauty of the Malvern Hills, the majesty of Worcester Cathedral, the fabulous fountains of Witley Court and its world famous baroque church probably spring to mind.
This summer it’s time to think again and to discover some of the county’s secret splendours -places which probably don’t appear in your tourist guide and are in some cases little known even to the county’s own residents. What’s more, whilst you are discovering these rural gems you will also be able to see some of the finest art and craft the county has to offer.
Worcestershire Open Studios Art Week, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary, is a free, countywide event running from 16th- 25th August during which artists and craftspeople open their studios doors to the general public. This year 167 artists and makers will take part at 105 different venues, many of them tucked away in the county’s glorious countryside.
The names of the villages where some participants’ studios are located read like a Betjamin poem: Inkberrow, North Piddle, Grafton Flyford, Feckenham, Welland and Abberley to name but a few. Here you will find painters, potters, printmakers, glass artists, sculptors and textile artists many of whom draw their artistic inspiration from their rural locations.
This is not to say that there are no artists in and around the county’s major towns. You will find studio’s open in the lee of Worcester Cathedral’s walls, in Colwall and Malvern either on or below the hills, near Pershore with its ancient abbey, as well as in the picturesque riverside town of Bewdley.
In addition to displaying their work, some participants will host workshops, exhibitions and demonstrations. Most will also offer original art and handmade items for sale, including paintings, prints, ceramics, jewellery, cards, and unique gifts.
To make plotting your routes around Worcestershire really straightforward, the organisers have divided the county into five different regions and created an interactive online map with a pin for each participant https://www.worcestershireopenstudios.org/artweeks-guide-2025/
Simply click on the profile of any artist whose work appeals to you and you will automatically be shown other venues in close proximity. Check out those participants who offer light refreshments,( many do) and/or the local eateries (many villages have excellent pubs) and you are all set for a magical artistic and scenic experience.
