Two University employees will exhibit their work alongside 300 other artists at 150 venues across Warwickshire in Warwickshire Open Studios 2012.

Russell Gain (Centre for Applied Linguistics) and Amanda Glanville (Arts Centre Box Office) are exhibiting at two different venues in the County. Russell will show his highly colourful abstract paintings in his home in Stratford over the weekend of 7/8 July, and Amanda, a glass beadmaker will be exhibiting jewellery and headpieces as part of a group exhibition with three other artists at the newly opened mini museum Chedham's Yard in Wellsbourne on Saturday 7 July.

Amanda said:

Russell and I already know each other's work well as we have exhibited together before. We are both members of the Visual Arts Forum, an unusual local arts group which boasts painters, photographers, potters and jewellers who organise exhibitions and events across the county.

It's the first time Russell has opened his garden studio, having previous exhibited for the Open Studios in a group, and he has the advantage of not having to transport his large scale paintings any further than his own front door!"

Russell added:

Although I started out painting watercolour landscapes, nearly all my paintings are now abstracts in acrylic on wood, paper or canvas. I'm particularly fascinated by the idea of layers of images, some visible, some partly concealed. The starting point of a work may be something in the real world, but I'm trying to create something beautiful which hasn't been seen there before."

Amanda continued:

My own exhibition for Open Studios has the theme 'Old to New' in sympathy with our unusual venue. Chedham's Yard is a time capsule which won the BBC Restoration Village Competition. The four artists exhibiting all use traditional skills in new ways - a blacksmith, a traditional signwriter, myself and a potter who combines old tools and tins within her quirky designs. The Yard also has an unusual booking system which reflects its size - you will need to book a timed entry slot online, which gives you access to the museum as well as the art exhibition."

Find out more about Russell Gain and Amanda Glanville and Old to New Chedham's Yard.

Amanda also has a number of brochures detailing the full Open Studios programme available over the counter at the Arts Centre Box Office, so pop along and pick one up.