Once the taster exhibition arrives, you know its only weeks until the open studios begins in earnest (25 May -9 June2013). The Opening on Tuesday night at the Norwich Forum was really well attended and the venue is fantastic. The light filled atrium area has a great buzz of through traffic that chance upon the exhibit on the way to the Central library, Coffee shop or Pizza Express. On Wednesday I spent the afternoon on invigilation duty, demonstrating my current abstract techniques. As a consequence, many peeps stopped to observe and chat. They felt inspired and some intend to visit the studio, hoorah! (I did mention I make homemade scones for the event.)

Working in isolation much of the time, you forget how uplifting it is to spend the afternoon with other artists. I was delighted to make the acquaintances of Silver jewellery maker Catherine Downes, Sculptor Berni Marfleet woodcarver and sculptor Mark Goldsworthy, Ceramic sculptor Kirsten Riley and stonemason Louise Tiplady