Introduction by DICK ONIANS

Welcome to the 15th Hertfordshire Open Studios event! Since its inception in 1991 with a mere 17 Open Studios it has grown enormously in terms both of participating artists and craftspeople and of public support.

The brief of the Visual Arts Forum when it was founded in 1989 included making the arts more accessible to the public, and making the public more aware of the art and craft that are created around them. This scheme has proved so successful in both respects that every September roadsides blossom with posters and arrows and visitors discover artists exhibiting and, even better, demonstrating their skills, in town dwellings, in garages in suburbs and hidden -- sometimes very hidden -- away down country lanes.

A report commissioned by the County Council at the time of the founding of the Visual Arts Forum suggested that there was no need for an exhibition centre in Hertfordshire as the people in the county who wanted art could find it in London and the people of London wouldn't be bothered to look for it outside. Open Studios gives the lie to this, judging by the number of people form London and around who make the annual pilgrimage. It is heartwarming to meet visitors, many of whom regularly tour the county pursuing their own passion by visiting and supporting the artists whose work they enjoy, and who talk about art with such discernment and pleasure.

This year’s Open Studios is celebrating 15 years of success in providing people with the wonderful opportunity to discover the exciting work of talented artists around the county. This year provides a 23 day period to enjoy 195 talented artists in 115 places, including artists’ homes, studios, some commercial venues and other exhibition spaces.

The Open Studios provides the perfect platform for artist who have never exhibited before to get some experience at showing their work. As well as the more experienced artists we have many new artists participating for their first time.

The artists have worked hard to open their studios for you to enjoy, so please try and visit as many as you can. The interaction with visitors is often the catalyst for new ideas and can build confidence, so I encourage you as visitors to talk with artists about their work.

This website is also intended to be a useful reference tool. If you cannot get to all the studios you would like during the event, many of the artists are happy to be contacted throughout the year -- just look for the little telephone symbol, which means that appointments are welcome. They may have that special present!

And finally, thank you for supporting the artists in Hertfordshire. Thanks also to the artists and the small team of volunteers who have given up a great deal of time to make Open Studios the success that it is.