VISITORS arriving at Eastcott Studios for the final weekend of this year’s Swindon Open Studios were able to enjoy the work of not one, not two, but four great artists.

The former pub, located at the bottom of Eastcott Hill, was opened earlier this year by Jo McAree as a hub where creatives could offer classes and use the space to bring art and music into the community.

Open Studios provided the perfect opportunity to welcome new visitors while also acting as a convenient communal space for artists who might not want to open their homes to display their work.

Among those taking up temporary residence was 74-year-old Frank Murphy whose striking sculptures and paintings were a hit with visitors.

Frank worked in design for many years in a corporate environment before retiring to focus on his own creative work.

“Last year I was in my own studio in Marlborough Road but this year I decided on a change. They want to get kids involved here and I thinks that’s a fantastic idea.

“I don’t do this particularly to sell the work, I do it because I love it and it’s what I’ve always wanted to do.

“It’s the hands on bit that is so fantastic.”

At the other end of the age and experience spectrum was jewellery designer and metalsmith, Rosie Leather.

Rosie, 28, had always been creative and had pursued an art foundation course but had never really settled on a focus to pursue.

During an extended stay in India, she took a silversmith course and it was there that she discovered her path.

Rosie works with the same traditional tools that she first learned with in India and they were out on display for visitors to admire over the weekend.

“They’re very traditional, quite old fashioned, not the normal tools you would see in jewellery making,” said Rosie.

“To the extent that my ring sizes are Indian sizes which can be a little confusing when people tell me what size they are.

“Although I learnt silversmithing in India, my work isn’t representative of traditional Indian jewellery at all.

“I work a lot with copper and resin and I try to use organic materials whenever I can in my broaches for example.”

Rosie will be running jewellery workshops using the new Eastcott Studios space in the coming months.

Also displaying her work was illustrator and painter Emily May.

Originally from Cornwall, 39-year-old Emily moved to Swindon because of her husband’s work as was delighted to discover a thriving artistic community.

For her, the chance to show her work alongside other artists in a communal space was a welcome opportunity.

“I’ve got two small children so my dining room table is my studio,” she said.

“I didn’t think I was ready to do the open studios but I’m really pleased I did it.”

Emily’s delightful cards and prints will be available at a Christmas event near you in just a few months.

Photographer Elmar Rubio’s pictures provided a stunning accompaniment to the work of the other artists – due to his busy schedule, Elmar was not there at the time of our visit but his portfolio can be seen at his website elmarrubiophotography.weebly.com