PAUL BULLIVANT

Don’t miss the current Oxfordshire Artweeks vibrant spring show at The Jam Factory in Oxford, by a selection of the 1000 artists involved in the annual festival which runs from May 7-29.

‘Celebrating 40 years’ which runs at The Jam Factory until June 18, is a large exhibition of joyful and colourful art by 100 artists who have their own exhibitions around the county during May.

For both Artweeks enthusiasts and first-time visitors, this is a great way to get a feel for the occasion and the variety of art you can explore further before the festival proper begins.

Forever The Sea by Sophie Basilevitch

The exhibition is a riot of colour and joy, like a spring garden that encapsulates the very best of the season in paint, photography, textiles and other media.

There’s a wealth of botanical wonders from the flowers that herald spring’s arrival, bold yellow tulips in fabric collage, bluebell woods, pink peonies, and a splashy June hedgerow in exuberant greens under a summer blue sky by Finstock artist Julia Ogborne.  

Patsy Jones

From the garden, where Gabriella Blakey’s birds bathe in colourful wood marquetry, you can head to the mountains or around the world with pieces inspired by Iceland, Zanzibar and the women of African. Closer to home, the exhibition celebrates local woods and trees, and look out for Ratty and Mole on the river.

Edwina Sercombe

Alternatively, dream of the coast where Alexandra Buckle’s linocut beach huts nestle beside the waves, Arctic terns dance beneath a Hiroshige-style wave as the sun rises, white-horses frolic at the foot of an impressive lighthouse, and an intriguing coastal chair in a North Cornwall bids you to stop a while and stare. 

Sarah B Smith – Riverbed

There’s glamour and humour too as The Queen peers down from the walls in acrylics, pearls and glittering rhinestones and Ruth Swain presents a spring onion with a difference.

You can even tuck into a breakfast of boiled eggs and soldiers in a monochrome linoprint by Watlington’s Mark Lord – or a real breakfast care of the Jam Factory which serves coffee and cakes, brunch, lunch, and dinner between this inspiring wall art.

Lino Lord – Boiled eggs

There’s plenty to see in this joyful exhibition, kindly sponsored by Wise Investment. The show continues on-line with more to see and an array of 3D pieces too. The exhibition is also on-line here: www.artweeks.org/latestshow.

Visit www.artweeks.org/latestshow to start exploring the collection and begin making your May visiting plans.

For more information go to https://www.artweeks.org/v/celebrating-40-years-jam-factory