Peterborough artists open pop-up studio in Queensgate

The duo will be based in the Vivacity unit (near McDonald’s) from February 1 to 9.

Over the last few years the city’s arts and leisure provider has been donating the shop unit to artists from Peterborough Artists Open Studios to showcase their work. And from Saturday the unit will once again be set up as an art space, going live with art in action, demonstrations and the chance to get involved creating new energetic designs, some destined for digital output and online presentation.

Open for a week, the space features work city based John and James.

The two artists have worked together on numerous community projects including the successful Future Floodlands event held in the Cathedral Precincts and a two-week project at the Westraven Community Garden, building sculpture and running workshops with the local community.

James’ recent work has been seen in Peterborough Cathedral, where his iconic Mermaid with her Mahi Mahi & Ocean Plastic oil painting was displayed to coincide with Luke Jerram’s Gaia Earth installation.

James is following this up with an insight into how his illustration method has moved into the digital world.

John is best known as an editorial cartoonist (see his latest contribution on the letters pages), and his weekly cartoons appear in many regional newspapers and national magazines.

He is currently working with Loughborough University on a water conservation initiative.

John is also a live caricaturist working at weddings/corporate events and festivals all over the UK.

While the duo are in residence, visitors can get involved in the drawing experience as well as talking to the artists about their methods and ideas. See the creative process from conception to the digital version ready to submit for publication. You could also get drawn...! Each artist makes very different work, but they have in common the use of digital tablets to work on, and both artists can offer hand drawn portraits should a visitor want to sit for one. John’s speciality is caricatures which have proved very popular at many city events, including last year’s beer festival.