The successful Stonehouse arts trail is back for 2026, with creative local residents and groups again welcoming visitors to showcase their creative talents for a second year.
More than 20 artists will be sharing their work, including giving demonstrations and allowing visitors to try their hand at a range of crafts, at 13 venues across Stonehouse and Glassford during the weekend of May 30-31.
New attractions this year include the transformation of “scrap to art”, a mum and son creating dens and interactive play spaces, plus cardmaking and a young people’s art exhibition.
Last year’s inaugural arts trail proved to be a huge success with hundreds of visitors enjoying the work of their talented neighbours who shared work ranging from paintings, handcrafts and pottery to jewellery, sculpture and pyrography.
It is now returning with a mixture of exhibitors who took part in 2025 plus new additions for this year; with the free event being sponsored by Stonehouse business association plus private donations from supporters.
Trail maps are available in print at local businesses as well as online, showing the locations of the homes, businesses and community spaces which will welcome visitors, while local residents of all ages are already getting in the spirit of the event by taking part in photography and drawing competitions.
Organiser and artist John Young told how the idea of the arts trail came from a lack of suitable public exhibition spaces, and was inspired by similar concepts thriving in areas including Tayvallich on the west coast and Crail in the east.
He said: “The event began as a consequence of the lack of public spaces locally to exhibit art professionally and as amateurs – with the closure of public halls and rising costs, artists in the community thought, ‘if we can’t bring our art to the people, maybe we can bring the people to our own spaces!’
“It’s hoped that these opportunities and the participating artists will inspire others to explore their creative talents and join us in future events.”
This year’s new participants include Mark Monie of Stonehouse firm MMM Body Repairs, who will share “unseen talents” with visitors being promised: “From scrap to art – beyond body repairs, a world of art awaits”.
Art and design graduate Nichola Kergan specialises in immersive art and will be teaming up with her son to combine her “love of creating spaces with his joyful imaginative world”; saying their playful space contribution “celebrates the boundless wonder that comes from seeing the world through a child’s eyes [and] is an invitation for both children and adults to step inside, play and rediscover the magic of make-believe”.
Cardmaker Joyce Davis will show her vast range of creative techniques including heat embossing, decoupage, paper folding and die cuts, with visitors able to make their own free card; while artist Marion Clark will exhibit her work including landscapes, wildlife and figurative pieces.
View 2 ImagesThe garden of Stonehouse mental health charity Trust Jack is again one of the venues in this year’s arts trail(Image: Contributed/Hamilton Advertiser)
Members of all sections of Stonehouse’s Girlguiding and Scouting groups have been busy creating a vibrant art display, which will be on show at the Scout hall on Lawrie Street, with visitors on both days also able to find out all about the groups’ busy programme of adventure, teamwork and fun.
Returning favourites include artist John Young with paintings and garage creations including a full-sized shark; Kith and Kiln potter Lesley Yule; Glassford trio Alan, Louise and Hazel Mairs who create jewellery, linocuts, paintings and prints; Peter Ramsay who will demonstrate picture framing and allow visitors to have a go; and artist Roda Young who will offer the chance to try pyrography.
Stonehouse’s historic bandstand will once again host children’s art workshops; while there will be creative exhibitions by Sally Pyper’s weekly craft group at their Auld Stanehoose Cross cafe base; garden and workshop sessions with Stonehouse men’s shed highlighting their range of activities from growing vegetables to 3D printing; and an exhibition at the Brewbarn cafe featuring the work of photographer Les Hoggan and artists Jenny Parry and Garry Owen.
Mental health charity Trust Jack foundation, located at King Street where their community garden features a colourful rainbow wings installation, will show the work of their young people and the Knit and Natter group will this year be creating a woollen “picnic in the garden” creation.
Pupils from both Newfield and Stonehouse primaries are taking part in an art competition, with entries being displayed in the windows of Castle Letting Agency throughout the weekend and the winners having their pictures professionally framed; while the trail’s annual photography competition for all ages is already in full swing.
More details of the weekend event are available on the trail’s Facebook page; with this year’s event realising the ambition of the inaugural for the event to become an annual fixture – with organiser John saying them that it “aims to increase awareness of community organisations providing creative opportunities in our village, encourage greater awareness of artists working in our communities”, with the hope of “inspiring visitors to discover new talents they didn’t know they had”.
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