Herefordshire Art Week, h.Art, is a celebration of all the amazing artists and craftsmen and women working in the county. Over nine days at the beginning of September artists, craftmakers and creative businesses open their private studios so that visitors could meet the makers as well as view and purchase their products.

In Ross those taking part included the 14 artists and makers who are Made in Ross based in the Market House, as well as the artists who are based in the Brunel Workshops on the Ashburton Industrial Estate.

Jeweller, Ali Tregaskes, has been taking part in h.Art for many years, as one of a group of artists exhibiting their work at Llangarron. This year she decided to open her own studio, alongside Sharon Curtis, a paper cutter and printmaker, and bespoke furniture maker, Joe Windsor.

Ali creates stunning pieces of jewellery using photographic images she takes of close up details of plants, leaves and other natural items. The pictures are printed onto photographic etching paper, adhered to sheet metal and then Ali works her magic, cutting, shaping, and soldering so that each piece is unique.

Ali said that opening the studio for h.Art had been really successful. She said “We have had loads of local people through the doors who said that they did not know we were here.” She added that being filmed for Midlands Today had been really good exposure for h.Art and Ross, and had brought in new customers.

A stone carving workshop lead by Glenn Morris was one of the attractions at the Market House. His group brought their equipment and set up their worktables under the Market House and anyone could have a go and experience the thrill of creating an item from a piece of stone.

Artist Mary Deaville told the Gazette that the week had been exhausting but fun. She had a steady stream of visitors to her studio at The Venue on Hill Street, many of whom said they did not know she was in Ross. They purchased vouchers for workshops or booked for Mary’s increasingly popular classes.

See more photos in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here