Isle of Wight News from OnTheWight

article local schedule May 14, 2026

Isle of Wight Open Studios 2026 opens this Friday with more than 200 artists taking part

Isle of Wight Open Studios 2026 opens this Friday, 15th May, and runs until Monday 25th May, featuring over 200 artists and makers across the Isle of Wight. Visitors can explore studios, galleries, and creative spaces to meet painters, ceramicists, photographers, jewellers, printmakers, textile artists, and sculptors. A preview exhibition, the IWOS Showcase Exhibition, is currently on display at Quay Arts until 30th May, showcasing work from over 90 participating artists. The event has been nominated in the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards under 'Best Event or Festival'.

article local schedule Apr 15, 2026

Freshwater skatepark fundraiser launches with packed opening night and skate deck art auction

Freshwater Parish Council has launched a community-driven fundraiser featuring a skate deck art auction to support the development of a new skatepark and pump track on the Isle of Wight. The initiative kicked off with an opening night at the Newport and Carisbrooke Community Centre, showcasing custom-designed decks by local artists alongside historical displays of the island's skating culture. The event also secured a significant financial boost through a donation from High Sheriff Jacqueline Gazzard.

article local schedule Apr 7, 2026

Monkton Arts in Ryde hosts Island artist showcase exhibition until May

Sixteen artists from the Isle of Wight have gathered at Monkton Arts in Ryde for a comprehensive group exhibition showcasing the region's creative breadth. Running through May 2, 2026, the showcase features a multidisciplinary collection including painting, sculpture, and jewelry from local figures such as Rachael Berry, Martin Swan, and Margarette Moore.

article local schedule May 15, 2025

Elizabeth Smith and Sue Lowday unite for Isle of Wight Open Studios exhibition

Isle of Wight artist Elizabeth Smith will open her studio at Nightingales in Bonchurch from 17th to 25th May 2025 as part of the Isle of Wight Open Studios event. Her watercolour paintings and prints, including works from her Charting Ventnor series, capture the architecture and landscapes of the South Wight. Fellow artist and designer Sue Lowday, a former silversmith who now works in leather, will also exhibit at the same venue from 17th to 21st May, showcasing her handcrafted belts, bags, and other items.

article local schedule May 13, 2025

Explore diverse artworks at Peer Studios with Ventnor Artists Collective Open Studios exhibition

Four members of the Ventnor Artists Collective—Melanie Ayres, Robert Carter, Mary King, and Marilyn Mittelheuser—will exhibit their work at Peer Studios in Ventnor as part of the Isle of Wight Open Studios. The exhibition runs daily from 11am to 4pm between Friday 16th and Monday 26th May, offering visitors the chance to meet the artists, learn about their creative processes, and purchase original artworks. Each artist brings a distinct style: Ayres focuses on nature-inspired printmaking, Carter paints traditional oils, King explores emotion through mixed media, and Mittelheuser creates colorful textured works on canvas.

article local schedule Apr 30, 2025

The Mead Gallery opens in Ryde’s Monkton Village