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‘I'VE had a horse turn up in the garden before’. The Press decided to pay a visit to Upper Poppleton on the second and final weekend of , to meet one of the two-dozen or so signed-up artists living and working outside of the ring-road / A64, and ask one of them how the annual event is received. The public have the opportunity to visit workshops and studios situated within a ten-mile radius of the city centre - including Sheriff Hutton, Warthill, Stockton-on-the-Forest and Holtby.
Jo Rodwell, who grew up in York, when 200 people in total came to see her – she said she was the only artist in Upper Poppleton who showed at York Open Studios at the time. The artist - number 69 on this year's list of 160 - focuses primarily on printmaking and her distinctive linoprints, blending architectural and figurative designs. Today, there are four of her contemporaries from Upper Poppleton also registered at this year’s community arts event, including two new entrants Peter Monkman and Denise Duncan.
Jo said: “It’s mind-blowing actually. “There’s a really strong community of people outside the ring road and we all chat with each other, and make recommendations and people come and say, ‘we’re doing the outside this time, and next time we’ll do the inside’.” “Most people have a map and trail that we work hard at putting together, and people can park and there’s nice pubs in the village.
“It’s nice that people learn about the process and speak at length to us, including people who once visited and are now exhibiting themselves. “I’ve had commissions from local places and shops, I’ve done some work with the Merchant Adventurers, the Friends of the York City Walls, which inspired a new print, which is a story about the river and the merchants in York. “There’s been lots of lovely opportunities, I’ve done some work in schools, and some workshops with children.
” As well as being part of York Printmakers, Jo’s membership of Poppleton Collective Artists allows her to "raise her game" and contribute more to the local scene. She said: “We exhibit in the local pub, The White Horse, they’ve been massively supportive, we’ve run workshops in there and all of us have done it – ceramics, lino printing, we’ve done plasticine workshops with Amarti from the collective and we have others coming up. “We’re looking to do art in the pub, where people can come and have a go and see what it’s about, try and throw a pot, or try a little bit of lino cutting, and chat with us about how we do it.
” The ex-teacher said she tries to bring education and appreciation for the arts through, and especially during the interactions with the public at York Open Studios. Jo said: “All the creativity and pushing, the trial and error, the happy accidents and testing boundaries, it’s nice to show that to the kids as well. “The beauty is that we’ve got the families that do come round and being on the school run I’ve got lots of kids who stop, the balloons and signs have been up all week, and my brochures are on the gate, and they come, they have a go.
“The scenes I create are quite local scenes, so they do a lot of spotting, and interacting, my children’s friends in the village come and they’re excited to bring them round – it’s not intimidating, and it’s a talking point, opening discussions and communicating. “They all want to touch the tools – and I love that. "It means they can have a go, it’s accessible, they can be part of it.
“ Jo said York Open Studios 2025 has been another success for her so far with one day to go in terms of visitors to her home. She said: “Bring your dogs, bring your kids – I’ve had a horse turn up in the garden one year. “The rider brought it past, saw the balloons and were like ‘Can we, erm.
.?’ “So I told them it was fine and invited them in - I love it when people come into the studio who are curious.” York Open Studios runs until April 13 and more information can be found .
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