Talented Scarborough artist to exhibit at Ampleforth Abbey as part of Open Studios

Paintings, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, jewellery, millinery and more will be on display in a showcase celebrating the region’s great artistic talent - with all work available for visitors to buy.

Among those exhibiting will be Scarborough-based artist Lisa Skelton, a textile artist specialising in wild animals and pets. Lisa uses fabric and embroidery to recreate images of birds and wild animals set in their natural environment. Her work demonstrates how the use of the right materials, colours and stitching techniques can be a powerful and expressive medium.

Organised in collaboration with artist-run collective North Yorkshire Open Studios (NYOS), the exhibition also offers the chance to step inside the recently restored Alban Roe House Visitor Centre, formerly a preparatory boarding house for Ampleforth College.

The showcase will take place in the former dormitory rooms, where each artist will show their work in a space that once housed the boys’ beds and desks.

NYOS project manager Garth Bayley said: “We are thrilled to bring this showcase to the truly unique setting of Ampleforth Abbey. We will be transforming the old dormitories into mini-galleries for our artists, giving visitors an incredibly intimate way to interact with the art while exploring a beautifully restored piece of North Yorkshire history.”

Ampleforth Abbey has been home to a community of Benedictine monks since 1802 and remains a working monastery where visitors and guests are welcomed throughout the year.

Visitors are encouraged to make the NYOS exhibition the centre of a full day-out, by exploring the Abbey estate via new waymarked walking trails or visiting the orchard where you can find more than 1,500 apple trees. You can also take a guided tour of Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s Grade I listed Abbey Church (Thursdays and Sundays at 2pm), which features a spectacular domed ceiling, colourful stained glass, and learn about the Abbey’s history and the monastic way of life in the Visitor Centre.

Catherine Hodgson, Head of Marketing at Ampleforth Abbey, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the North Yorkshire Open Studios exhibition at Ampleforth Abbey once again, as part of our commitment to supporting local and independent artists. We would encourage everyone to support this celebration of art and creativity in North Yorkshire.”

Artists taking part include:

Andrew Bloodsworth, from York: Andrew works in a variety of media - oil, ink and print - to produce figurative and abstract interpretations of the natural and built environment. He draws on the dynamic landscapes of Yorkshire and beyond, and records the impact of weather and wear on the detailed character of historic buildings.

Annette Cole Ceramics, from Scotton: Annette’s fascination with clay and gardening combine creating bird baths, planters and sculptures for home and garden. She uses contrasts of texture, decoration and colour, such as bird baths incorporating warm toasted unglazed areas with strong textures and bright turquoise glaze. Each piece reflects her love of colour and texture.

Alice O'Neill, from Hutton-le-Hole: Alice works in a number of mediums using layering to bring them all together. She also paints murals and designs backdrops and posters for theatrical and musical events. She spent her professional life as a hand colourist and paper restorer.

The exhibition at Ampleforth is just one of a packed programme of events and exhibitions organised by NYOS in 2025, with the aim of celebrating and raising the profile of the region’s artistic talent. Last month, its Summer Open Studios weekends welcomed thousands of visitors to hundreds studios across North Yorkshire. A further Winter Open Studios will take place from November 7-8 .