Somerset Open Studios 2025

13 September – 28 September

Open Studios Opening Times: Wed-Fri 12-4, Sat 11-4 & Sun 12-4.

We are delighted to present four artists and members of the Yeovil Creatives at Yeovil Art Space for Somerset Open Studios this year. Carolyn Lefley, Jess Egan, Dawn Handy & Lupe Velazquez will be found here at Venue 25 in our two spaces situated in the Quedam Centre Yeovil.

Artist Carolyn Lefley takes residency in the gallery at Yeovil Art Space, sharing her ongoing, long-term project Tide—an immersive tidal and lunar odyssey exploring experimental photographic techniques.

Here you will also see paintings, drawings and ‘studio gatherings’ of Jess Egan who’s atmospheric work captures light and reflects shifting elements in the land, sea and sky; alongside pieces from her Full Moon drawings and #495Moons project.

In the YAS Creative Hub resident Mosaic artist Dawn Handy will be joined by designer Lupe Velazquez as they share multimedia work, with incredible stories and colour, that reimagines the everyday. Both artists address themes of heritage in their work, look at stories around

“We are excited to share these wonderful artists who offer us their unique perspective on the world around them and through such interesting and varied disciplines.“

Somerset Art Weeks is an annual countywide celebration of the variety and quality of contemporary visual art and craft that can be found in Somerset. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet artists and makers, engage in exciting workshops, and discover the creative communities on your doorstep.

Find out more about Somerset Art Weeks Here

CAROLYN LEFLEY

Artist Carolyn Lefley takes residency in the gallery at Yeovil Art Space, sharing her ongoing, long-term project Tide—an immersive tidal and lunar odyssey exploring experimental photographic techniques. The exhibition brings together cyanotypes of intertidal and lunar scenes, digital double exposures, and her moving image work, Ancient Sea, a film meditating on deep time and coastal change. Alongside an archive of her full Moon photographs from the last five years and a selection of analogue experiments, Carolyn will be working live in the space, creating a new artist book that documents and reimagines the Tide project as a poetic visual archive.

Carolyn Lefley is a Somerset-based visual artist and educator working with photography and moving image. Her practice explores themes of belonging, folklore, deep time, and the natural world. She combines digital photography with traditional techniques such as cyanotypes and liquid emulsion, while her meditative short films explore elemental themes. Carolyn is currently Programme Leader in Photography at Exeter College and is a Trustee at Yeovil Art Space.

Find more about Carolyn’s work here carolynlefley.co,uk and on her Instagram account

JESS EGAN

Practicing a curiosity of the natural world, alongside an urge to paint, draw and photograph, Jess explores the landscape around her. Through layered brushwork Jess creates immersive paintings that are mainly abstract but with compositions often rooted in land and sea and sky, inviting the viewer to pause and reflect with her. Often looking to the distant horizon as a place of calm and solace and she is drawn to the elements in air, earth and water to root herself. Using mixed media, predominantly acrylics, watercolour and ink, she experiments with her colour palette expressively and emotionally, aiming to capture the essence of her experiences, often drawing on documentation in sketches, studies, photographs and written notes.

“I am interested in the relationship between nature’s influence on us (and how we are nature ourselves) and how I can take that into the solace I also receive from art making; from painting large expressive artworks through to drawings which purposefully slow me down and give me pause”

During the Open Studios weeks she also shares a selection of Moon Drawings, a series of works made in response to each Full Moon, a purposeful appointment to slow down as well as take time to observe the night sky and the Moon itself. Tying in with a theme of Mindfulness and slowing time Jess also shares work from her #495Moons project.

Find out more about Jess’s work at jesseganart.com and on her Instagram account

Jess Egan

Sea Moon – Carolyn Lefley

DAWN HANDY – YAS Members Studios

Dawn Handy’s work is informed by social connection, adoption and the exploration of heritage, of motherhood, identity, and mental health.

She says “Creating is a compulsion; it is my means of processing the world around me. I am fascinated by the interconnectedness of life in all its wondrous forms.”

Valuing resources all around her, from pieces of metal in gutters to discarded junk, she seeks to repurpose, to give new meaning to abandoned objects, which retain their intrinsic value, yet undergo a transformation.

Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, she learned the value of re-purposing objects, items and trying not to be wasteful. Traditional art materials were prohibitive as a child and teen, this steered her in the direction of working with found objects, which could find a new life and new meaning, with her early mosaics made from empty snail shells, pressed into clay.

“Every piece of work that I create and the ethos of the workshops that I teach, are underpinned by repurposing and reusing recycled materials”

Find out more about Dawn’s work at dawnhandy.wordpress.com and on her Instagram and Facebook

LUPE VELAZQUEZ – YAS Members Studios

“My artworks are based on industrial design and fashion, where I combine organic shapes, colours and futuristic features. In my artistic work, the jungle where I grew up with my Native American grandparents of the Nahuatl language is present,” says the artist and designer Lupe Velázquez born in Coacuilco, Hidalgo; Mexico, 1976.

In England, Lupe studied a degree in Product Design, related to furniture and fashion, at the Kent Institute of Art and Design, graduating in 2005 with honours and in 2004 he was given the “Best Edition” award for the university magazine Soup at The Guardian Student Media Awards.

According to Velázquez, his work is influenced by many subjects such as nature, mathematics and geometry, technology and science. He looks into motifs like clouds, stars and the wind, the number three, and spaces like offices, airports, museums, airplanes, ships and even UFOs: “Each design that I have created has an authentic vision due to the details that form it to reach this third dimensional plane, since it carries several details in each information such as the number three that since my beginnings has been present in my designs in many genres in painting, fashion, poetry, architecture, sculpture and embroidery.”

See more of Lupe’s work on Instagram and Facebook

Dawn Handy

Lupe Velazquez

EVENTS & WORKSHOPS

Yeovil Art Space Open Studios Opening Event / Saturday 13 September / 2-4pm

Join us to launch Somerset Open Studios at YAS! Come along to Afternoon Tea, Meet the Artists, Celebrate Art Weeks with us across both of our venues in Yeovil Town Centre. Drinks and Refreshments available for Donation only. All Ages everyone Welcome! Free Event no need to book – just let us know you are coming!

RSVP Here

In Conversation with Carolyn Lefley and Jess Egan / Saturday 27 September / 5-6.30pm

Join artists Carolyn Lefley and Jess Egan for an In Conversation event at the close of their Open Studio at Yeovil Art Space. Together, they will discuss their individual practices and explore shared themes in their work, including the moon, tide, and the natural rhythms that influence their creative processes. This informal conversation offers a chance to gain deeper insight into their inspirations, techniques, and ongoing projects. All are welcome!

Yeovil Art Space Unit 13-15. Doors open at 5pm. Connect with others, socialise, view the exhibition and hear from the artists in this lovely event.

Free Entry. Drinks and Refreshments available for Donation only. Please book your place, click the link below.

Book Your Place Here

Seashore inspired Drawing Session with Jess Egan and Carolyn Lefley / Wednesday 17 September / 6-8pm

Enjoy this gentle and experimental drawing session sharing subjects that the artists explore in their practice and inspired by items gathered at the seashore. Mixed media materials available. No previous experience required.

Yeovil Art Space Unit 13-15. Suitable for adults 18 and over. Free to join book your place below

Book Your Place Here

Mosaic Workshops with Dawn Handy.

Family Friendly workshops with Dawn in her town centre studio. Explore Mosaic with an expert artist tutor and come away with a beautiful mosaic artwork to keep, different sessions cover a variety of mosaic pieces to try. On Sunday 28 join the artist in her studio to explore making Wearable Art with a focus on reusing and recycling materials.

Mosaic Sessions – £25 adults, £15 children.(Under 16’s to be accompanied by an adult)

Saturday 20 September / 1.30am – 4pm – Mosaic Mobile Workshop
Sunday 21 September / 10.30pm – 1pm – Mosaic Roundel Workshop
Saturday 27 September / 10.30pm – 1pm – Mosaic sculpture
Sunday 28 September / 1.30am – 4pm – Make Wearable Art [£20 adults, £10 child]

Book your place via email direct with Dawn: handylot@gmail.com

Design and Print your Own Tote Bag with Lupe Velazquez

Explore Creative printmaking with artist and designer Lupe Velazquez. Make simple and effective designs and print your own Tote Bag to take away with you. Includes using Printmaking Inks.

Family Friendly for Ages 7yrs+ .Children £15 Adults £25. (Under 16’s to be accompanied by an adult) 4 places maximum per session.