Tag Archives: valerie armstrong

Suffolk Open Studios Spring Exhibition in Aldeburgh, Easter Weekend, inc. ARTWORKS artists

Suffolk Open Studios (SOS) presents its Annual Spring Exhibition at Ballroom Arts Gallery in Aldeburgh, featuring over one hundred artist members of SOS.

The SOS Spring Exhibition is open over the Easter Holiday weekend, from Thursday 6th April to Tuesday 11th April 2023, 10am to 4pm. Free Entry to the exhibition – if you are visiting the Suffolk Coast this weekend, it is worth a visit.

Suffolk Open Studios are also holding a special preview at Ballroom Arts from 6pm – 8pm on Friday 7th April 2023 – everyone welcome.

Nine artists in ARTWORKS are also members of Suffolk Open Studios (SOS): Valerie Armstrong; Martin Coe; Nicola Coe; Gillian Crossley-Holland; Cathy D’Arcy, Nicci Dedman; Simon Farr; Judith Glover; Jazz Green.

All art on display in Suffolk Open Studios Spring Exhibition is for sale, and is available to purchase & take home on the day.

Suffolk Open Studios Annual Spring Exhibition
6th – 11th April 2023
Ballroom Arts
152a High Street
Aldeburgh
Suffolk
IP15 5AQ

Free entry, open 10am to 4pm, final day Tuesday 11th April 2023.

Follow this event on Instagram:
Artworks: @artworksesast
Suffolk Open Studios: @suffolkopenstudios.
Ballroom Arts: @ballroomartsaldeburgh

ARTWORKS: now & next year, a pop-up exhibition at a new venue!

This would have been the closing weekend of the Artworks exhibition in 2020, and this would normally mean a whole year before our next show. However, we have some good news: our next Artworks exhibition (all being well) is not a whole year away but will be opening at Artspace Woodbridge in May 2021.


New Year’s day afternoon by Nicola Coe

This pop-up exhibition – away from our usual venue of Blackthorpe Barn – was originally planned for 2020 as part of Artworks 20th Anniversary celebrations. Now, however, the exhibition at Artspace offers us a wonderful opportunity to gather together, show new work and celebrate the start of Artworks 21st year of exhibitions.


Summer Fireworks by Zoë Rubens

We hope you will find time to appreciate the work of our Artworks artists, either online or in the real world.


Greenwood by Jazz Green

Nicola Coe, Jazz Green & Zoë Rubens are now offering their art for sale online via their own websites and on social media.


Wave 1 by Carol Pask

Other Artworks artists are exhibiting more locally as galleries reopen for business. Carol Pask is currently exhibiting ceramic sculptures at the Quay Gallery at Snape Maltings until 14 October 2020, with Alfie Carpenter’s new exhibition ‘The Tide of All Things’ opening the following week, 15-21 October 2020, at the same venue.


Alfie Carpenter, detail of new work

Our artists are still creating, with many sharing glimpses of new work in progress, from Lyn Aylward, Sue Caddy, Valerie Armstrong and Gillian Crossley-Holland – you may also discover new articles about their artwork or exhibitions here on the Artworks blog.

As always, none of our exhibitions would be possible without the many wonderful visitors, supporters, sponsors and guest artists who have enabled Artworks to prosper for the last twenty years.

Our thanks to you for helping us to shape a positive vision for the future success of Artworks as we look forward to our next run of exhibitions.

Follow ARTWORKS on social media:
Instagram: @artworkseast
Twitter: @artworkseast

Valerie Armstrong: ART IN THE TIME OF COVID 19

Notes from the studio from Artworks’ Valerie Armstrong:

valerie-armstrong-DISCONNECTiON
DISCONNECTION, acrylic on canvas, 70 cm x 100 cm

It is 12th May 2020. We have now been in home lockdown for nearly two months. I am over 70 years old and though normally healthy, I do suffer from very nasty bouts of bronchitis, so I know I must do everything I can to avoid contracting this destructive disease.

valerie-armstrong-THE-SILENT-VISITOR
THE SILENT VISITOR (detail), acrylic on canvas, 60 cm x 30 cm

I now live alone, but despite that I am one of the lucky ones: I have a beautiful garden and studio at home. The weather has been sparkling and so far, I have painted my way through the solitude. During this time my paintings have changed, they have become larger, freer and bolder as I think to myself:

I have nothing to lose, now is the time to express all that I am feeling: the sadness, the fear, the loneliness, the anger, the calm.

valerie-armstrong-THE-MEMORY-TREE
THE MEMORY TREE, acrylic on cradled board, 45 cm x 45 cm

I have painted my Covid ‘monster’: my garden which calms and soothes; my tree of memories and my feelings of fear and confusion regarding the present situation.

valerie-armstrong-THE-WILD-GARDEN-OF-CHILDHOOD
THE WILD GARDEN OF CHILDHOOD, acrylic on canvas, 70 cm x 100 cm

It is an intense time in my studio. These are the paintings I have completed during the past two months.

Valerie Armstrong

www.valeriearmstrong.com