Staithes Festival has established itself as one of the friendliest festivals on the Yorkshire coast – a must-see event in the regional arts calendar.
Doors of cottages are thrown open as pop-up art galleries in a unique selling exhibition.
Celebrating the history and heritage of Staithes with a programme of walks, talks, photographs, and film shows.
Staithes is 11 miles north of Whitby, TS13 5BH.
Contact us at info@staithesfestival.com.
Photos: Duncan Lomax, Jackie Ambrosini
Photo: Duncan Lomax
Jane draws inspiration from the coast and moorland around her home in Staithes. The Seaglass used in her jewellery is collected from the local beaches. Her intricate papercuts (all hand cut with a scalpel) and illustrations are inspired by walks along the Cleveland Way and local woodland and moors.
Venue: 91 Staithes Lane, Staithes
Medium: Jewellery, Papercutting, illustration
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I communicate my passion for the natural world through watery mediums. I use a mixture of mediums, experimenting with traditional watercolour and more contemporary approaches. I let the watery movements of the paint guide my creations, and I love to embed visual and tactile textures within them. I try to draw out the subtle, sometimes hidden beauty found in nature. I am an enthusiastic marine biologist, palaeontologist and artist who is inspired by the complexities and beauty of life in the ancient and present-day oceans. I hope to unravel and translate the hidden mysteries that they hold.
Venue: Potters Nook, 1 Wesley Square, Chapel Yard, Staithes, TS135BT
Medium: Watercolour painting, mixed-media
Carrie is a ceramic artist specialising in hand building. Using porcelain white stoneware to produce delicate yet durable slab formed functional ware. She utilises other hand building methods such as pinching and coiling to create beautiful one a kind vessels with spiral textures. Against the white of the clay, bright blues and turquoises add patterns and highlights of vivid colour producing elegant, contemporary pieces that will elevate any living space. She also exploits the fascinating ceramic art form of raku to make decorative vessels and wall pieces with sumptuous turquoise and white crackle glazes with atmospheric enrichments.
Venue: St Peter’s Centre, Church St, Staithes, Saltburn-by-the-Sea TS13 5DB
Medium: Ceramic Artist
Sue paints abstract expressive land and seascapes using oils and texture mediums. She lives on the North East coast, close to the dunes and sea and is inspired by the light and changing weather conditions unique to this coastline. Sue was awarded a 1st Class BA(Hons) Fine Art in 2008, but is now retired and paints mostly to commission.
Venue: Salmon Cottage
Medium: Painting
Staithes Candle Co is a small artisan brand based in the historic fishing village of Staithes, offering lovingly handmade aromatherapy candles, wax melts, reed diffusers, bath salts, liquid hand wash, room sprays, and magnesium sleep balm. All products are crafted in a restored old fisherman’s store using only 100% plant-based ingredients and pure essential oils—completely free from chemical or toxic preservatives. Rooted in nature and tradition, each item is designed to soothe the senses and support well-being.
Venue: Fishermans Store
Medium: Aromatherapy candles
Painter of bold, atmospheric and abstract seascapes in oils and acrylic on large and small canvasses. Prints, cards and originals. All budgets catered for.
Venue: Kindly Light, Wesleyan Chapel, Chapel Yard
Medium: Landscape painter
Abstract, and experimental, Lou uses an array of entangled processes within her work, creating unique and bold jewellery designs. Using traditional Gold-smithing techniques, Lou likes to let the material react and evolve organically, creating beautiful bespoke and one-off pieces. One of her unique selling points is working on location at river sources and coastlines so the water tells the story. Heavily inspired by nature, specifically texture and tone, Lou's designs are organic rustic and Quirky.
Venue: The Cottage, High Street Staithes.
Medium: The Wonky Jewellery Company - Handmade Silver Jewellery.
I am a retired teacher with a passion for textiles and their history. I make rag rugs from old pure wool blankets and yarn using three main traditional techniques - proddy, hooking and peg loom weaving. I hunt down old tools to use and sell with other vintage textile treasures. I will also be stocking pure wool yarns and fabrics from Yorkshire and Scotland including my hand dyed skeins. I have been a member of the Staithes Arts and Crafts for many years.
Venue: Sealey Cottage, High Barrass
Medium: Textiles
Born and raised in East Cleveland, Emma works primarily in Acrylic. Drawing inspiration from the local countryside and industrial landscape of the area.
Venue: Festival Gallery at St Peter’s
Medium: Acrylic Painter
Sarah is a complete self-taught artist. Her artworks are created through a series of sketches, notes and photographs, but mostly through the continual observation of her surroundings and experiences. Larger pieces are then created from these memories back in the studio. Working predominantly with oils; applying the paint with palette knives, brushes and her hands Sarah creates layers and textures, which give the paintings a sense of movement. Sarah strives to keep her work evolving with experimental techniques and the use of other mixed medias, such as spray paint and cold wax, capturing the enjoyment and shear fun of creating.
Venue: Seacrest Cottage 3 Barrass Square
Medium: Oil Painter
Lighthouse Crafts selects local hardwoods which are then turned on a wood lathe. The range includes bowls, pens, bottle openers and stoppers. Also a range of crafters items including a quick unpick, bradawl and interchangeable crochet hooks, all with balanced handles which make them easy to use.
Venue: Staithes Museum
Medium: Wood Turning
Living and crafting from her garden hut, right on the North East coast of England, Geraldine Pattinsons handmade jewellery combines 100% recycled Sterling silver with the warmth of recycled copper. She is continually drawn to nature and inspired by its textures, imperfections and asymmetry. By melting, texturising and recycling every scrap, she is able to produce unique, tactile pieces. She takes commissions and teaches workshops in silver smithing.
Venue: Ling Cottage Beckstones Yard (Chapel Yard) High St Staithes TS13 5BH
Medium: Silver Jewellery Artist