THE Green Door Art Trail has expanded for 2017, taking in venues across South Cumbria.

Artists across South Lakeland and North Lancashire will be coming together and opening their studios for the 12th annual Trail event on Saturday April 8 and Sunday 9.

More than 50 members of the local art co-operative will be showing their work with painting, prints, papercuts, photographs, jewellery, wood, glass, textiles, sculptures and ceramics on view.

The Art Trail originated in Kendal but as Green Door has grown – it now numbers more than 100 members - the Trail has expanded, and this year 17 venues in Allithwaite, Burton-in-Kendal, Cark, Carnforth, Grange, Leasgill, Kendal, Satterthwaite and Silverdale. For the first time, a group of artists will also be exhibiting in Ulverston in the Coach House at Ford Park.

Ellie Chaney creates artworks that explore the natural world through the medium of papercutting. Her images are created by removing fragments of paper with a scalpel to reveal the final picture from a sheet of paper.
 Born in Cambridge but now living in Ulverston, Ellie studied fine art at Goldsmiths College in London before going on to complete an MAat Manchester Metropolitan University.

Creating artwork that is intricately detailed has always been a passion of Ellie’s, and so when she discovered papercutting in 2010 she was instantly in love with the medium.

She also loves to work in illustration, animation and printmaking, making complex images inspired by natural patterns and forms which she combines with the joy she finds in ornamental patterns.

Based in Ireleth, Greg Howard paints dramatic landscapes full of mood and atmosphere.

He says: “My philosophy is that it’s not places we fall in love with but the feelings we have when we visit places.

“Many of my paintings are imaginative representations of various areas of the UK designed to evoke deep emotional connections with viewers. As a keen hillwalker and climber I have found myself in lots of places that most will never have the privilege to see and it’s a constant desire to share these experiences that spurs me on to paint.

"Although there may appear to be a fair amount of detail in some of my work this very often is an illusion as I feel that allowing the viewer to fill in some of the blanks themselves is important and allows for a much more creative approach to be employed in my painting.

"I am a painter of light and atmosphere in the main and thus more concerned with depicting an impression rather than a photographic representation of the subject in hand.”

Jo McGrath is based at the famous Yew Tree Farm, in Coniston, where she’s surrounded by constant inspiration for her drawings and paintings. The farm was once owned by Beatrix Potter, and Jo loves the idea that she’s following in her footsteps, specialising in the character of our domestic and wild Cumbrian animals.

Trail visitors also have a chance to win a £100 voucher to spend on any Green Door Art Trail artist of their choice and collect an entry form at any of the studios or venues taking part in the trail.

Visitors can download a brochure from the Green Door website, or pick one up at venues across Cumbria and Lancashire. Most venues are open from 10am to 4pm over the weekend, but some are open for

longer.

Visit www.greendoor.org.uk/art-trail for more information.