NEOS Showcasing talent across the region

August

September

October 38 133

Carolyn Milne

years old this year and what a year it’s been. Now the proud owners of a QAVS (Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service) they are just chuffed to bits for everyone who has ever volunteered to create this amazing event, it’s quite an honour and the equivalent of an MBE for voluntary organisations. Just as exciting is the hope that NEOS will be able to take place when so many other events have sadly had to be cancelled. Everyone is working positively to this end and as long as we are not placed Clearly this year is going to be different because of Covid-19 but with the right measures in place there will be an event. The big difference this year is that there is no printed book– this is because the decision happened during lockdown, when there were still so many uncertainties that it was decided to forgo

North East Open Studios (NEOS) is 17 printing it for this year. So, sadly no physical yellow book, but there is a printed map that normally is inserted into the book. These will be available from NEOS members and you can discover who they are by visiting the NEOS

website www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk There will of course be the famous yellow signs pointing the way to members who are open. The book will still be available to download as PDF and as a virtual page turning experience on ISSUU all via the website, where you will also find that the members will have created their own trail maps and as a bonus there is an

interactive google map. So, get researching back in lockdown it will go ahead with over 180 where you would like to go, the area is vast. A year round guide to the artists & makers in the North East of members taking part. Scotland Imagine a line drawn from Inverness to Montrose Basin and the NEOS area is the north east

A year round guide to the artists & makers in the North East of Scotland

NEOS is happening this year, with some changes, due to Covid19. We have printed maps with a list of participants on the back. These are available from participants, from the middle of August. Our book is on the website as a downloadable PDF.

www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk

section above that line on the map. It’s the perfect excuse to get into your car and explore the amazing countryside which surrounds us and inspires so many of the artisans taking part in NEOS. The breadth of creativity within the NEOS community is immense and everyone is looking forward to welcoming you as best they can.

Here in Lifestyle you can see adverts from a selection of the artisans who are participating in NEOS this year.In Whitehills you will find Fiona Duckett the NEOS Chairwoman. Fiona, the resident potter at Watergaw Ceramics specialises in a glaze technique called ‘In Glaze Lustre’. This is where the glaze looks like oil on water or a peacock’s feather and is iridescent. She uses this glaze to create a variety of ceramics for the home and decorative use.

Her husband and potting buddy Brian Cook Shand is joining her for NEOS. Brian’s speciality is creating everyday use pottery in the electric kiln and he’s been honing his technique for 50

Aubin Jewellery

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Clare Terris

Fernweh UK

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66 Tel. 07881 785 163 Turriff • AB53 4RZ brian.burnettuk@btinternet.com

PHONE FOR DETAILS OF OPENING TIMES DURING NEOS WEEK.

133 CAROLYN MILNE

I work in oils and acrylics. I’m happy to give most things a go although my paintings are mainly based around the countryside and farming life. I LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU AND WILL HAVE REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE.

OPEN DURING NEOS 10AM TO 4PM EVERY DAY AND 10AM TO 7PM FRIDAY 18TH

Kennieshillock Farm • Lhanbryde • IV30 8LJ T: 07815 188265 | info@carolynmilne.com www.carolynmilne.com

JANE BRADFORD

LANDSCAPE ARTIST

49 Main Street, Newburgh, AB41 6BL M: 07977 297426 E: jane@bradford1.net www.jbradfordart.co.uk jbradford_art jbradfordart 27

Established in 2017, The Portsoy Gift Box is a friendly, family run, independent shop which sells cards, gifts and artwork by Scotland-based makers, artists and designers. We currently stock work from just under 100 makers, approximately 60 of whom are based within a 50 mile radius to the shop. Our wonderful customers have voted us into the Finals of the Independent Retail Awards in 2019 and 2020 and we are also finalists in the Aberdeen Business Awards 2020. We hope you love our gift shop as much as we do and we look forward to welcoming you!

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Mark loves to paint and has a very mixed portfolio based around very bold colours. He takes inspiration for his work from the fantastic Scottish Countryside. Mark4art 118 mark.art13@yahoo.com 07739 638 913 Facebook: Mark4art

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Muriel uses tweed, fleece and cotton fabrics to make her original designs. Crochet jackets, waistcoats and knitted and sewn items including hats, scarves, cushions and more.. Skylark Stitches 178 07399 063 438 muriel.mcgregor52@ gmail.com

MARK AND MURIEL ARE BOTH EXHIBITING AT THE GIFT BOX THROUGHOUT NEOS EVERY DAY FROM 11AM TO 4PM

THE PORTSOY GIFT BOX • 21 Seafield Street • Portsoy • Aberdeenshire • AB45 2QT Tel no: 07772195306 • Email: paulinebenzie@aol.com Website: www.portsoygiftbox.co.uk

years now, so we think he maybe just about knows what he’s doing, but sometimes the kiln gods play tricks on all of us potters! He has started to use Cone 6 glazes and is working with clay marks to create exciting results in his pieces.

They have for 20 years created joint ceramics and will continue to do so – usually Brian throwing and using Fiona’s glazes to finish the piece, but who know what will happen this year!

They are both looking forward to seeing you for NEOS, and also welcome visitors all year round, opening Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm at 4 Chapel Street, Whitehills, Banff AB45 2NB in the old Methodist Church. The hours differ for NEOS so that they can see other NEOS members – please see advert.

Just outside Portsoy you can see four amazing artisans all in one place at Triangle Croft, Alan Baillie Silversmith, Linda Watson Photographer, Jamie Ferguson’s Jewellery and Ulrike MuhleMacDonald Felt Artist. Having all four in the one studio gives you an opportunity to see a diverse range of wonderful artisans work under one roof.

In the Portsoy Gift Box run by Pauline Benzie you will find Mark4Art and Skylark Stitches. Mark has been lucky enough to have been involved with the Gift box for a few years. And says that Pauline has a fabulous shop and prior to the Covid problems he did a lot of painting workshops there. He is hoping to get them up and running again if the problems ease down.

He says he simply loves to paint and paints whatever takes his fancy on any particular day, hence a very varied portfolio.

Muriel McGregor is Skylark Stitches and she enjoys lots of different crafts with machine sewing probably her favourite at the moment as well as knitting, beadwork and card craft. 14 16

Sam Barnett Brian Cook Shand

Muriel produces beautiful original designed items, from crochet jackets and waistcoats, to sewn dog jackets and more

Muriel is excited to be involved with NEOS at Pauline’s shop and said it is a good way to start with NEOS when you don't have a proper workshop at home that can be used.

Mark and Muriel will be resident at the Gift box during NEOS from 11am- 4pm every day.

In Turriff you will be able to see Brian at work dressing fishing flies. These beautiful coloured Flies are a joy to behold. The classic salmon flies are dressed on handmade hooks and mounted in solid wooden frames. Brian started dressing flies while at school. Anne Buckle at Tawbis Studios in Kingswells Aberdeen is definitely worth a visit. Her handmade and bespoke jewellery is inspired mainly from architecture and naturally occurring abstract textures.

Carolyn Milne and Jenny Ebdy are joining forces this year at Kennieshillock Farm Lhanbryde. Pop along to see the wonderful paintings from Carolyn mainly based around farming life. Jenny

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Anne Buckle (Tawbis Studios) Anne designs and hand makes unique pieces of jewellery in a range of materials, including precious and non-precious metals and gemstones. Her main sources of inspiration are the built environment and geometric and abstract patterns and textures. Individual clients can also commission one-off pieces of bespoke jewellery.

Anne is sharing the space at Kingswells with painter Deborah Burr at No 34. Studio open both NEOS weekends 11 am – 5pm and Mon, Thurs & Fri 5pm - 8pm. Tues & Wed Closed.

anne@tawbis.com | www.tawbis.com www.facebook.com/tawbisstudios

Brian Burnett

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Anne Buckle - Tawbis Studios, Jewellery Design

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of Burnbank Pottery will have her new collection of individual pots especially for NEOS.

We can’t forget Jane Bradford in Newburgh who supplied us with Lifestyle’s cover picture. Jane captures the sense of space and freedom in her big landscapes of the North East.

Open all year by appointment a visit to JB Studio & Gallery is a must. 56

You can see that even within those advertising in Lifestyle you have a fabulous eclectic mix of artisans to visit and there are over 200 in total across the North East to choose from.

Please pick up your map follow the yellow signs enjoy the experience. You will receive a very warm welcome.

If you enter the Lifestyle competition you may have a £50 voucher to spend kindly donated by NEOS.

Alun Dyson - Beantighe

Hilary Duncan

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Jane Bradford

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Mark Green

96-98 High Street - Aberlour - AB38 9QA

At The Spey Larder you will find Store Cupboard Essentials and Quality Wholefoods plus the World’s Finest Teas & Coffees, Spices, Oils, Cheeses & Wines, and of course a Little Chocolate Treat!