Spring has arrived, Easter is just ahead, and two May Bank Holidays are fast approaching.
With these welcome breaks in the calendar, the Isle of Wight’s cultural calendar offers the perfect reason to get out and explore.
Showcase exhibition at Quay Arts
Opening on Thursday 3rd April, the Isle of Wight Open Studios season begins with a free Showcase Exhibition at Quay Arts’ West Gallery in Newport.
The exhibition will run until Saturday 31st May and presents a wide-ranging selection of work from 90 of the more than 150 artists taking part in this year’s Open Studios.
Visitors will find work across multiple mediums, reflecting the Island’s rich creative community.
Launch event
Quay Arts will host a launch event on the evening of Wednesday 2nd April, with an official opening by Graham Biss BEM DL, The High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight.
Artists and invited guests will attend the opening, but the exhibition is open to all during regular gallery hours from 9am to 5pm daily, including Sundays.
Previewing the main event
The Showcase offers a glimpse into what’s to come during the full Isle of Wight Open Studios (IWOS) event, which takes place from Friday 16th May to Monday 26th May.
This annual celebration allows visitors to step into artists’ studios, see where the work is made and meet the makers themselves.
From painting and pottery to jewellery, sculpture, photography, printmaking, and digital art, the event brings together a broad range of disciplines.
Artists will demonstrate their craft and sell original pieces directly from their workspaces.
Easy to explore
To make navigating the main IWOS event easier, the organisers have developed an interactive website with four Area Maps and detailed artist profiles.
The 2025 Island-Wide Artists Directory, available both online and in print, provides everything needed to plan a studio tour.
Whether you are a serious collector or simply interested in how artists work, the Isle of Wight Open Studios Showcase Exhibition offers a thoughtful and inspiring introduction to the main event.
Visit Quay Arts from 3rd April to 31st May and discover the depth of artistic talent that the Island has to offer.
For full details, visit the Isle of Wight Open Studios website.
