What's Happening at West Studios - Spring Newsletter 2023

Get the latest updates about upcoming exhibitions, workshops and projects from West Studios our community of tenant businesses and artists!

Women United - an exhibition by Sue Dickins.

It’s the final few days of Women United, an exhibition from Chesterfield-based artist Sue Dickins.

The idea behind the exhibition is to combination of two of Sue’s passions figurative work and her passion for painting fabrics. The exhibition showcases women from around the world, wearing traditional dress where possible.

Open to the public between 10am and 4pm until Friday 28th April.

Chesterfield Postcard Show

Chesterfield’s annual exhibition of mini masterpieces is back for 2023, giving creatives, communities, and up-and-coming artists the opportunity to show their work in this unique and exciting exhibition!   This year’s show is entitled ‘Wish You Were Here’ and will take place between the 9th and 19th of May at West Studios.  In 2022, there were first exhibits and sales for several new artists and creative people in the community, with 70 artists involved and 131 postcard-size pieces exhibited. 

The exhibition celebrates the importance of getting creative and its impact on people’s self-esteem and well-being.  Organisers, Junction Arts, and local artist Dave Elsom are inviting people locally, from across the UK, and Internationally to create their own postcard piece of art and submit it by the 20th of April 2023. 

Hannah Bowdler, Fundraising Coordinator at Junction Arts said: “We believe that everyone should have access to art. The Chesterfield Postcard Shows not only provides a free exhibition of marvellous miniature artworks for local people to enjoy, but it also provides a unique opportunity for new artists to exhibit and showcase their talent. 

You can find out more information and download the submission forms from Junction Arts website.

Young Artist of the year

Are you aged between 8 and 18? Do you enjoy getting creative and want an opportunity to show off your work? Then enter this year Derbyshire Young Artist of the Year award 2023 to be in with a chance of being crowned the winner for 2023.

All the rules about the competition and how to enter can be found in the link below.

This years brief is ‘Reduce, Recycle, Replace – How do you think we can make the world be more sustainable?’

Click here to find out more information about the Young Artist of the Year exhibition.

Lego Printing For Adults - A Printmaking Workshop by Dave Elsom

Join Chesterfield based printmaker Dave Elsom at West Studios for a Lego printing for adults workshop.

 It's just £20 per person for a 90 minute workshop where you'll use Lego to make printing plates so you can print off your unique designs onto cards and paper. All materials and equipment are provided.

Tuesday 9th May, 6.30pm - 8pm.

 To book your place, contact Dave directly on 07790447615 or email him at davidjelsom@hotmail.com.

Shop at West Studios

There’s a range of cards and enamel pins available on our Etsy store!

Get your special person a quirky card and token gift, or pop into West Studios between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday to browse the gallery-shop to find a wider range of cards and gifts.

Click here to visit our Etsy store.




Venue Hire

We have a range of rooms and hireable space to suit the needs of any type of booking. Whether you need a space suitable for standard meetings, theatre, sports, dance, drama, yoga, choir, or something else we have a space suitable for you!

HOST YOUR COMMUNITY GROUP HERE…

MEET WITH CLIENTS OR HOST A TEAM AWAY DAY…

A SPACE FOR CONFERENCES AND SHOWS…

GET YOUR AUDIO SORTED…

Updates from our community of artists & businesses…

Pomegranate Youth Theatre & Gokkota Arts

The Pomegranate Youth Theatre offers weekly drama workshops that are available to all at a low cost. Formed in 2002, the fun workshops are for young people aged 7-18 years old. The weekly sessions teach all areas of stagecraft with professional facilitators which promote teamwork, social skills, emotional intelligence, creativity and confidence.

Gekkota Arts is a group of adults (18+) that provide a fast paced, improvised comedy performance, full of laughs and banter!

For more information about either group please contact Carole on 07932603525 or email pomytheatre@gmail.com.

Dave Elsom of Sombrero Printmaking

As well as running group workshops, Dave Elsom, who is a tenant at West Studios, offers 1-1 lessons on various printmaking techniques. 1-1 sessions are £40 for 2.5 hours with all equipment and materials provided. Dave can be contacted via email at davidjelsom@hotmail.com


Life Drawing with John King

A life drawing session with Chesterfield based artist John King.

To book onto these sessions please contact John directly by phone or email.


Chesterfield Children’s Festival - A Junction Arts Event

Junction Arts is delighted to announce that this summer we are launching our first Chesterfield Children’s Festival, a free weekend of fun for families that will include music, theatre, storytelling, dance, and art workshops.

The two-day event, will celebrate the joy of childhood, imagination, and play. It will take place in Queen’s Park on the 29th and 30th of July, bringing colour and excitement to Chesterfield during the summer holidays.

The arts and culture festival will have a number of family-friendly acts and activities taking place over the weekend.

Entertainment announced so far includes a silent disco tour, an interactive game zone, a comedy club, a circus, story time yoga, tie-dye workshops, face-painting and a brass band that plays everyone’s favourite Disney tunes!

You can find out more information and get regular updates on the Chesterfield Children’s Festival Facebook event or directly from Junction Arts.

Commissioned portraits by Sue Dickins

Ever fancied your very own portrait?

Get in touch with Chesterfield-based artist Sue Dickins to get your very own commissioned portrait. A free consultation will be provided to discuss your requirements, size of portrait etc. and a quote will then be provided to you.

A photo shoot and discovery session can be arranged to create a unique and special portrait or Sue can work from an images provided.

Your portrait will then be completed in oils on museum quality stretched linen canvas.

Contact Sue directly to enquire by email, phone, or through her Instagram account.