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
Jacqueline runs a long established business designing and making precious metal jewellery and silver vessels, employing traditional techniques such as hand raising, forging, chasing and repousse. She also makes silver icons and triptychs which explore myth and folklore.
Venue: Pennysteel Cottage, Boathouse Yard. Staithes
Medium: Jewellery and silversmithing
Emma has been a professional Jeweller all her life. Currently a resident artist at Arnup Studios In York. Emma utilises her love of traditional jewellery making skills to create work inspired by nature. The nearby Yorkshire coastline and Emma's interest in geology provides endless inspiration explored in metal and stone.
Venue: Kindly light, Wesleyan Chapel, Chapel Yard, Staithes. TS135BS
Medium: Jewellery
Sarah Westwood is an illustrator based on the Yorkshire coast, known for her fun and colourful illustrations of Sprocket the Dog. Celebrating ten years of Sprocket’s adventures, Sarah’s has a collection of prints, placemats, mugs, coasters, magnets and textiles. She shares her creative journey through workshops and products that celebrate dogs, art, adventures, and storytelling. Sarah is also a recent winner Of Small Business Sunday with Theo Paphitas, she is now a part of his 1% club.
Venue: Pelican House
Medium: Digital Art, Ceramics
Bridget paints colourful, quirky and energetic artwork depicting coastal scenes and underwater life. These designs capture the relationship between coastal living and the sea, producing artwork that makes you smile. As an extension of her work she also produces 3D pieces which captures coastal living and the homestead
Venue: Seacrest Cottage, Barrass Square
Medium: painting & mixed media
Charlotte is a talented painter whose work is deeply inspired by the interplay of light and color. Originally from Newbury, she has lived in York since 1990, where she has developed her unique artistic style. As a pianist, music plays a central role in inspiring her creations, helping her convey a dreamlike quality through her joyful palette. Her paintings often capture scenes from York, coastal harbors, wildflowers, and animals, with a focus on preserving the distinct beauty of each subject. Charlotte’s work resonates with the words of Henri Matisse, who said, "Colours have their own distinctive beauty that you have to preserve." She sells her art internationally but also participates in local exhibitions, where her vibrant pieces continue to captivate audiences.
Venue: Harbour View , Seaton Garth
Medium: Painter and Printmaker
I love collecting driftwood, shells and bits of broken things, then repurposing them all as mirrors, boats and hearts
Venue: Staithes Arts & Crafts, St Peter's Centre, Church Street
Medium: Driftwood, reclaimed materials
I live and work in Staithes, where I create a range of artwork, based on local views, the fishing heritage of the area and sea birds and animals. I paint on stones and wooden drawing boards, hand print lino designs, and paint driftwood fish.I exibit at Staithes Arts and Crafts throughout the summer, and Staithes gallery year round. I have pocket money gifts for children.
Venue: Eastcliffe, Seaton Garth
Medium: Pictures, pebbles, driftwood
Joanne Wishart is an award winning artist based at her studio gallery in Cullercoats on the North Tyneside coast. Born in Berwick upon Tweed Joanne grew up by the beautiful Northumbrian coast and countryside. In 2000 she gained a BDes hons in Printed Textile Design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee. She began her career as a freelance designer but in 2006 she made a change and developed her own painting and mixed media artwork. In 2019 Joanne bought an old Pet shop in Cullercoats and fulfilled her lifelong dream of opening her own art gallery.
Venue: York House, Staithes Rd, Mount Pleasant, Staithes, NE11 9DR
Medium: Colourful coastal paintings
I have a BA Hons in Surface Pattern and Textile Design and studied at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park , under the umbrella of Leeds University. I love colour, from subtle combinations to shock pairings that make one sit up and take notice. My current work is based on a series of quirky females and is called …We Are Creatures…My fascination with portraiture covers all media , sizes of canvas and is a constant source of inspiration …I also enjoy teaching others and facilitating workshops where we use a variety of techniques and the aim is to encourage everyone to be creative.
Venue: The Boiling House, Beckside , Staithes
Medium: Mixed media artist