Wirral Open Studio Tour 2026 showcases work of almost 100 artists
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Wirral artists are throwing open their studios and workspaces to visitors next weekend.
Almost 100 artists are taking part in the 16th edition of the Wirral Open Studio Tour which runs on Friday and Saturday, June 13-14.
A room in a former greengrocer’s in New Brighton, an old fire station in Port Sunlight, a former lifeboat station at Hoylake and a Georgian townhouse in Hamilton Square are among around 50 locations along the free, self-guided route.
Studios, workshops and display spaces across the Wirral peninsula, from Neston to New Brighton, and Caldy to Eastham, will be open from 10am to 5pm on each day.
And 23 are also set to throw open their doors on the evening of Friday, June 12 for a special preview.
Wirral Open Studio Tour was started in 2009 by Canadian artist Micheline Robinson, and it offers art lovers a rare opportunity to meet artists, find out more about their creative processes and even take home an artwork.
Organiser Helen Smith says: “Wirral Open Studio Tour is a fantastic day out because it strips away the formality of a traditional gallery. You get to chat with the artists, see behind-the-scenes of the creative process and discover the incredible talent hidden right on your doorstep.
“Whether you’re a serious art collector or just looking for a unique way to explore the peninsula, there is a real sense of adventure in seeing where the magic happens.”
Above: Wellington Road Art Studios in Oxton which will be open on Friday evening as well as all weekend. Top: Potter Dawn Phillips (left) and Pop Artist Phil Pike (right).
Among the 96 artists involved in this year’s event are 23 who are taking part for the first time. Their practise covers painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics, sculpture, glass, woodturning, illustration, jewellery and textiles.
Contemporary Pop Artist Phil Pike (pictured top right), who is throwing open his home studio near Eastham Country Park for the first time, says: “I moved to the Wirral from the South West a few years ago and quickly fell in love with the peninsula - its character, its coastline, its green spaces and the sense of community that runs through it.
"Being part of the tour feels like a way of giving something back to the place that has become home.”
Meanwhile half-a-dozen artists will be on hand to talk about their work at the Wellington Road Art Studios in Oxton, showcasing jewellery and textiles, painting, printmaking, sculpture, basketmaking and mixed media.
Wirral Open Studios Tour takes place on Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14. More details, including a free tour brochure, HERE