HB Open Studios

Just as Saltaire has its Arts Trail every year, so Hebden Bridge has its Open Studios. It is a town that has always attracted radicals, liberals and independent thinkers and, since the 1970s, it's been home to an ever-growing collective of creatives and artists. Several of the former textile mills and warehouses in the town have been converted to studios and they open annually over a long weekend to welcome visitors, giving chance to see and buy some interesting and in many cases stunning art works - paintings, prints, ceramics, sculptures and jewellery. 

My favourite local artist, Kate Lycett, was exhibiting and I also spotted several other artists whose work I was drawn to, including some wonderfully atmospheric, painterly photographs by Linda Hodges and local scenes by Angie Rogers. 

I also rather liked this deceptively simple work in copper wire by Judith Glynn. 

I enjoyed a collaboration between the artist Heather Boxall and poet Judith Willson: Colour Standards,  exploring colour in words and paintings, so I bought myself some cards, though I was rather tempted by a large poster that had a whole collection of these delightful works. I can't exactly articulate why I find these inspiring but I do. I love colour myself and enjoy the supporting resonance of the words - I find I want to read them out loud and feel the words in my mouth!