The annual BV Open Studios is amongst the biggest weekends in the calendar for art enthusiasts in Bristol.
Established in 2010 with the goal of providing affordable and safe studio space for local artists, the labyrinthine Bedminster building is large enough to host over 125 creatives of all stripes.
Four painters who are based at BV spoke to Bristol24/7 to share more about their practice, their plans for Open Studios, and what it’s like to be part of the community.
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Stewart Geddes – abstract expressionist painter, working in acrylics on canvas
“I’m an improvising, painterly, colourist, abstract artist. I start with a prescribed palette on an empty canvas which I ‘activate’ with two types of gesture: a meandering, linear drag; and an amorphous ‘puddle’ of colour. Then the conversation begins. Somewhere down-the-line I’ll ‘find’ a resolution, but at the outset I have no idea what that will be.
“This year at Open Studios I’ll be showing several, mainly square canvasses between 1 and 1.4m².
“I joined BV when it was founded, something over 15 years ago, which roughly coincided with my moving back to Bristol from London.
Painting by Stewart Geddes, 100x89cm, acrylic on canvas – photo: courtesy of the artist
“Being part of the community at BV is like being part of a psychological support network. In reality I don’t see many people from day-to-day, but I hear work noise from elsewhere in the building, and low-level conversations in corridors. I like the backdrop of that as I work away in the studio.
“Over the years I’ve got to know a critical group of mates, who periodically call by the studio for a coffee and a natter. Often, the conversation eventually comes round to talking about the paintings on the walls. I like this distracted way of talking, rather than the formality of asking people what they think of things.
Having said that, I enjoy meeting the public at the Open Studios. I think it’s important we do that once a year to give people the opportunity to meet and see artists in their working habitats. It also motivates me to tidy up. Afterwards, it’s a little like starting up again, having taken stock.”
Painting by Stewart Geddes, 100x100cm, acrylic on canvas – photo: courtesy of the artist
Emily Krainc – abstract expressionist painter, working in acrylics, ink, gold leaf and pastels
“I am often inspired by poetry, dreams, thoughts and emotions; the application of paint creating a mental space to explore them. My work is also about the exploration of the conscious and unconscious mind on the canvas, and I am interested in visual memory and mark making. It has roots in psychology: much like the Rorschach test, every viewer’s interpretation is completely correct as I invite people to engage with the work and hold a space for whatever connections it sets off for them.
“This year’s installation is solely inspired by female poets and explores loss, connection and a deeper understanding of the women in my life. For each piece I pick a poem which I am drawn to for whatever reason (be it from the book ‘a poem a day’ on the corresponding day I am in the studio, or by opening on a random page from one of my poetry books). I then pick a line or a few lines which inspire me the most. This is then abstracted and used to make the work and will end up becoming the title of the piece. The lines I select and my interpretation of them will always connect to my current state of mind and allows a space for me to work through and process my thoughts and feelings around issues.
Love Cast Off, mixed media on canvas by Emily Krainc inspired by poetry by Pan Chieh Yu – photo: courtesy of the artist
“My recent piece Love Cast Off provided a therapeutic space for me to explore the loss of my estranged great Aunt Audrey who passed away unexpectedly in April last year. I wanted to turn something tragic into something beautiful. The piece has multiple layers which describe memories – half-formed as if forgotten and emerging or disappearing, as memories do.
“The bright and hopeful colours focus on happier times and those memories which I hold dearly, with us not having a relationship in my adult life. Everything is always brighter as a child as we view the world through our rose-coloured glasses, and it is only with becoming an adult that our world and those relationships can become complicated and sometimes completely fall apart. This piece is vibrant and bursting with life, and has helped me through her passing by seeing the joy.
“When I moved to Bedminster in 2018 a space at BV Studios became available, shared with a friend from University. The community enhances my experience of being an artist in Bristol. I have curated around 11 shows over the years and been involved with about 17, in different locations across the city (not including Open Studios every year). I always enjoy speaking with the community and hearing their interesting ideas and feedback on my work.”
Emily Krainc in front of her painting ‘Love Cannot Save’ – photo: courtesy of the artist
Martin Jessup – fine artist working mainly in oils
“I am a realist painter. I have studied Hans Holbein the younger, Rembrandt van Rijn, Laura Knight, John Singer Sargent, Lucian Freud, Jenny Saville, and many of my contemporaries too. My approach to portraiture is rooted in close observation and a desire to reveal not just a physical likeness, but the quiet essence of the sitter – what lies beneath the surface. We are all unique and it is this ‘presence’ that I want to evoke; a sort of recording of their persona and soul.
“I work primarily in oils, blending classical methods with a personal sensibility shaped by years of studio practice. I’ve been fortunate to create pieces that have resonated with people, and I pour everything I have into every project I take on. These can sometimes take weeks and months to make.
French Franck the Marsaille Musician, painting by Martin Jessup (accepted in the Bath Open Prize at 44AD Artspace 2025)- photo: courtesy of the artist
“At Open Studios this year I will be showing several large-scale oil paintings, together with a mixture of smaller pieces, some still life but mostly faces and figures.
“I have been in Bristol for just under two years now – before this I was in London for nearly three decades. My wife Tamzin was offered a job here, so we decided to make the change and seek a new adventure.
“I must say that we find Bristolians to be very friendly and kind. If you are in my kind of work you are often shut up in the studio for days and days, but I like people. I go out on ‘walkabout’ and see if there are any potential sitters for my work. I sometimes go up to total strangers such as Diane Benoit and see what might happen. If you are curious, get in touch!”
Diane Benoit, painting by Martin Jessup ( accepted for the 172 RWA Open exhibition 2025) – photo: courtesy of the artist
Peter Kettle – multidisciplinary artist and explorer
“I define myself as a multidisciplinary landscape artist shaped by journey. My work grows out of long, often challenging expeditions to sacred and remote landscapes – particularly mountains – where I travel with sketchbook and canvas, learning from the land and the people who live alongside it.
“With a background in documentary filmmaking, I collaborate with local guides and charities, exploring themes of pilgrimage, conservation, and community. Back in the studio, these journeys feed directly into large, expressive paintings, made with layered surfaces that carry the texture and traces of the places I’ve visited.”
Peter Kettle in the mountains – photo: courtesy of the artist
“At Open Studios I’ll be showing a new body of work developed around Kenya: Points of Return, an ongoing project centred on a journey to Mount Kenya. The work includes oil paintings and mixed-media collages made from sketches, field notes, and repurposed materials gathered through travel.
“The paintings respond to time spent walking and learning with local guides, farmers, and conservationists, exploring mountaineering, navigation, and climate adaptation. Together, the works reflect how people live with changing landscapes, and how knowledge carried in one place can be carefully translated and shared back home in Bristol.
Peter Kettle painting, Torres Del Paine – Patagonia – photo: courtesy of the artist
“I came to BV Studios just over two years ago after working across a range of different spaces in Bristol. I was initially drawn to the location and the openness between artists, but it’s the sense of community that has truly grounded my practice.
“There’s a strong culture of exchange here; ongoing conversations, feedback, and mutual support, that keeps the work connected and outward-looking, rather than isolated. The level of talent within the studios is remarkable, and there’s a genuine willingness to share knowledge and offer advice on individual projects. What I value most is the variety, not only of artists, but of creative businesses too. Having all of that experience and expertise in one shared space creates an environment that continually pushes you to grow and excel.”
Peter Kettle in front of his painting, Valley Meander – photo: courtesy of the artist
BV Open Studios is on April 17 at 6-9pm, and April 18-19 at 10am-5pm daily. Entry is free. For more information, go to www.bvstudios.co.uk.
Main photo: Peter Kettle (‘Valley Meander’)
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