Crouch End Open Studios returns in May – with a chance to meet award-winning artists

The event offers people an opportunity to meet local artists in their homes and studios

Ceramics graduate, Audra Goffeney, is the first recipient of the Crouch End Open Studios Barbara Mansi Award (credit Marie Mangan) — Ceramics graduate Audra Goffeney is the first recipient of the Crouch End Open Studios Barbara Mansi Award (credit Marie Mangan)

The much-loved Crouch End Open Studios art trail returns next month.

Now in its 21st year, the event is an opportunity for people to meet local artists in their homes and studios and to buy directly from them.

This year, 59 artists will be taking part across around 40 venues in the Crouch End area over the weekend of 9th-10th May.

Leaflets with a map of the venues will be distributed in the local area in the lead-up to the art trail and there is a map on the website where people can find venues and plan a route.

There is also a group exhibition between Friday 8th and Sunday 17th May at The Original Gallery in Hornsey Library, with one piece by each artist involved.

Artists include Mark Entwisle, the 2020 Sunday Times watercolour competition winner; Jenna Waldren, who reached the semi-finals of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2024; and Simon Gazzard, who was one of the participants in the Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year 2025.

Organising this year’s event are three artists; Richard Peacock, Elizabeth Brown and Isabella Lloyd Mitchell.

Richard, who has taken part every year since it started in 2005, said: “We have a great mix of artists taking part. There will be something to interest everyone, including paintings, prints, ceramics, drawings, glass, mixed media, photography and sculptures.”

Reflecting on how the art trail has grown in popularity, he added: “I remember the first year. We had 25 visitors over the course of the weekend. Last year, we had more than 200 visitors a day to my venue! And the group show attracted more than 3,000 visitors.

“A West End gallery would be jealous of those numbers!”

Crouch End Open Studios recently lost one of its artists, Barbara Mansi, who created stunning mosaics and ran mosaic workshops in the local area.

Elizabeth Brown remembers Barbara as a joyful person. She said: “Barbara had a sparkle and was such a bundle of energy. She was always willing to help and was so creative.

“I remember she a ran brilliant workshop for children at the gallery where we hold our group show. We became very good friends and we will all miss her a lot.”

In her memory, one of Barbara’s artworks will be included in the group exhibition and the Barbara Mansi Award for a recent graduate has been created. Ceramics artist Audra Goffeney is this year’s recipient and will take part in the art trail and group show.

Audra, who has a degree in ceramic design from Central Saint Martins, said: “From what I have heard about Barbara Mansi, she seemed incredible and achieved a lot in her life.

“She is someone who believed in sharing her work and her knowledge and it is a wonderful gift to be the first recipient of the award in her memory at this early point in my creative career.”

Crouch End Open Studios art trail takes place on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May, from 12pm-6pm on each day, with a group show at The Original Gallery, Hornsey Library (N8 9JA) held from Friday 8th to Sunday 17th May. For more information:
Visit crouchendopenstudios.org.uk

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