Step Inside Ayres House: A Working Artists’ Studio Community

This May, Ayres House Studios invites visitors to step behind the scenes and experience the creative life of one of Wallingford’s most distinctive artistic communities as part of Oxfordshire Artweeks.

From 2–10 May, the former rectory at Ayres Yard will open its doors for Open Studios, welcoming the public into a working environment shared by more than 18 artists and makers. Spread across individual studios, a gallery space and a walled garden, the event offers a rare glimpse into how ideas are developed, tested and transformed into finished work.

Ayres House Studios is home to a diverse group of practitioners working across ceramics, painting, textiles, drawing, photography, print, sculpture, jewellery, and conservation. Visitors can expect to encounter everything from sketchbooks and samples to completed pieces ready for exhibition or sale. Many of the artists work professionally beyond the studios, with practices that include commissions, teaching, research and international exhibitions.

Rather than a conventional exhibition, Open Studios offers a more personal and informal way to engage with art. Visitors are encouraged to talk with artists about their materials and methods, watch demonstrations, and take part in planned Artweeks activities. It’s an opportunity to learn about creative processes as they unfold and to gain insight into the realities of working as an artist or maker today.

“This event is about opening up the studios as they really are,” says Studio Coordinator Amy Hughes. “Visitors can explore at their own pace, ask questions, and see the variety of approaches that exist side by side here, from traditional skills to experimental practice. There’s always something new to discover.”
The studios will be open Thursday–Sunday from 10.30am to 4.30pm, with late openings on Thursday and Friday from 12pm–8pm. A special drinks evening on Friday 8 May, 6–8pm, offers the chance to meet artists and fellow visitors in a relaxed social setting. (Please note the venue is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.)

Open Studios at Ayres House is free and open to everyone, whether you’re a dedicated art enthusiast or simply curious to explore. It’s a chance to discover what’s being made behind the doors of this historic building and to connect with the creative community at its heart.

Full details of exhibiting artists, demonstrations and workshops can be found at
www.ayreshousestudios.co.uk/exhibitions

Instagram: @ayreshousestudios

Ayres House Studios is located at Ayres Yard, Station Road, Wallingford, OX10 0JZ, within easy walking distance of St George’s Road Car Park.