Published: September 16, 2012
Burnham-On-Sea artists open studios for Somerset Art Weeks

Dozens of yellow signs like this one have popped up on street corners across the Burnham-On-Sea area to point drivers towards local artists showcasing their work during the 2012 Somerset Art Weeks festival.

Hundreds of paintings, ceramics, drawings, textiles and sculptures are among the items on show in homes and studios across Burnham between September 15th and September 30th.

Somerset Art Weeks 2012 is a celebration of the work of around 400 artists in over scores of venues across the county.

Burnham Mayor Ken Smout visited town artist Judith Champion, pictured top, at the start of the festival.

Judith is displaying her expressive drawings and paintings at Middle Burnham Farm in Stoddens Lane, Burnham which she says are inspired by looking at shapes in the surroundings here in Somerset.

Debbie Nuttall, Andrea Coleman and Juliet Farnese (right) are showing a colourful display of clay, felts and mixed media at Huntspill Court, 37 Main Road in West Huntspill.

Tim Smith and Jaya Masters are displaying water colours, pastel and ink paintings of local scenes at 47 Rosewood Avenue, including the lighthouse painting shown on the right.

Artistry in wood is the subject of George Foweraker's display at 7 Rectory Drive in Burnham.

Redlynch Studio at 19 Rectory Road is featuring paintings, jewellery and clothing from Anna Nicolaides, Sharon Campbell and Angela Uren.

Eric Petrie, a finalist in the BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year 2012 competition, is showing his paintings at 100 Highbridge Road in Burnham.

Linda Gee has taken inspiration from her garden to create her textiles and paintings, which are on show at her Garden Studio at 212 Burnham Road.

And Veronica Broadley and Lynda Watts is showing a combination of mixed media and textiles alongside embroidery and stitching at 20 Holm Close in Burnham.

Burnham's Cora Stock and Sue Hammond-Lovatt (right) are displaying their work from 11am-6pm each day at 47 The Esplanade. A super collection of ceramics, paintings, prints and drawings will be on show.

The local artists also include Margaret Micklewright and Geraldine Boley Lesley at The Greenwood Guesthouse at 76 Main Road in West Huntspill, whose displays include paint, pastel and pencil work plus books and clothing.

Peter Howe is showing his contemporary paintings in oils portraying landscapes, seascapes and people - including the donkeys pictured on the right - at 16 Osborne Walk in Burnham.

And Malin Basil of 164 Brent Street in Brent Knoll is displaying his still life paintings and textile works, made from recycled materials.

Tina Spratt is showing her paintings of the female form at Oakleigh, Southwick Road in Watchfield, near Highbridge.

The Chairman of Somerset Arts Weeks, Richard Pomeroy, said: "This year is open studios - a chance for visitors to see the heart of Somerset's creativity. There is a huge variety of work out there to see and an equal variety of people and places to visit - it's a chance for you to explore!"

For more details of venues and opening times, pick up a free guide at Burnham Tourist Information or Burnham Library or visit the website.

Pictured: Top, Cora Stock and Sue Hammond-Lovatt are among the Burnham artists showing their work