
Editorial Updates
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This September, Devon Open Studios will bring together the Witheridge Artists, a collective of four artists exhibiting together at Leat Farm, on the edge of Witheridge.All four artists are based in Witheridge, where they live and work, and have each taken part in Devon Open Studios individually in previous years. This naturally led them to collaborate, supporting one another and creating a shared venue that offers visitors a richer experience. By bringing multiple artists together in one space, they are able to provide a wider range of work, generate greater interest, and offer workshops and demonstrations during the event.The exhibition takes place at Leat Farm, the home of artist Jenny Nash, surrounded by rolling Devon countryside. The location itself is a key part of the experience, offering visitors not only an exhibition but also the chance to visit a beautiful rural setting that directly inspires the work on display.All four artists draw deeply from Devon’s landscape, each interpreting it through very different media:
• Maria Rose ROI is an award-recognised oil painter (member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and former Landscape Artist of the Year contestant) who paints outdoors to capture the changing light, mood and atmosphere of the Devon countryside.
• Jenny Nash, the host at Leat Farm, creates abstract seascapes inspired by the movement, power and energy of the Devon coast.
• Woody Fox makes life-size willow sculptures, with commissions including Kew Gardens and Hampton Court Palace. His work reflects natural forms, with the organic weave of willow echoing the rhythms of the landscape.
• Laura at Mud and Moor Pottery produces functional ceramics inspired by botanical forms and the sea, incorporating hand-painted details and textures taken directly from the natural world.Together, the exhibition creates a small artist-led hub in a rural location, offering visitors the chance to meet makers, explore a range of disciplines, and experience how the Devon environment influences contemporary art and craft.Leat Farm feels particularly special as it combines:
• A welcoming farmhouse setting rather than a formal gallery
• A strong shared connection to place
• A diverse but cohesive mix of painting, sculpture and ceramicsThe Witheridge Artists hope this could make a compelling feature, bringing together four artists inspired by the Devon landscape in a beautiful rural home setting.Devon open studios runs from 12-20th September 2026. Pick up a Devon Open Studios brochure or visit our website for full opening times, and a schedule of our live demonstrations.https://www.witheridgeartists.co.uk events@witheridgeartists.co.uk
