THE spirit of place is one of Alex Coppock-Bunce’s greatest inspirations and seeps into all the artistic work which will be on display when she opens her studio doors next month.

The painter is taking part in this year’s Swindon Open Studios and during the first two weekends of September will open up her workspace at 86 Avenue Road, Old Town, to welcome the public to view her paintings.

She is one of more than 50 artists taking place in the eight annual event, which this year will see work showcased across 39 locations on September 5 and 6 and September 12 and 13.

“I’m inspired by my Cornish heritage and some of the tales, myths and legends within the family,” said the artist, who has painted and drawn for more than 30 years.

“My work is mainly mixed media, nature based land or seascapes and I work in an experimental way using different techniques which evolve as I learn about their capabilities and limitations. “I’ve got several favourite artists, Christopher Wood, Grayson Perry and Peter Lanyon. He was, like Christopher, one of the St Ives school of artists and he flew over the countryside and painted abstracts from memory and sketches. His work Porthleven is one of my favourite pieces of work. Coincidentally that is the area where my family is rooted.”

When she is not painting Alex works as a psychotherapist, and often uses her hobby to support others through therapy.

“I fit in my art wherever I can both at home and I also belong to the Experimental Drawing Hub,” she said. “On Saturdays we explore media and undertake projects and exhibitions in a very supportive environment. I also belong to Artsite where I sometimes exhibit and I regularly attend workshops to develop my mosaic skills.

“I’d like to be remembered as someone who, through art, helped people reach their potential and that I developed my own unique, recognisable style.”

Alex is looking forward to taking part in this year’s event.

She said: “Swindon is a thriving centre of culture and art and is bang in the middle of some of the most ancient and beautiful countryside. We have a fantastic Art Gallery and committed artists willing to help people who are interested, whatever their level of expertise, to belong to that community and be encouraged and supported. It is better than so many other experiences of artist communities who can be very exclusive and unwelcoming.

“It is very real and genuine here, unlike some of the snobbish art institutions who simply see it as a money making machine. It is inspirational here.”

To find out more visit www.swindonopenstudios.org.uk.