Spring Fling

This year's Spring Fling took place on 27-29th May 2023

One hundred studios across Dumfries and Galloway threw open their doors for the 21^st Spring Fling. 

All were specially selected, and included contemporary visual artists of every kind – including painters, illustrators and original printmakers. 

There were also jewellery-makers, potters, willow artists, glass-makers, woodworkers, textile artists and even two blacksmiths. 

Many of the participants would be familiar to regular Spring Fling visitors, but as ever, organisers Upland CIC were keen to introduce fresh participants. 

For 2023 there were 18 new artists and makers such as ceramicist Abbie La Rooy (exhibiting at the Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries); and visual artists Sally Jennings in Kirkpatrick Durham, Erinclare Scutton in Port Patrick and Katy Quinn in Kirkcudbright. 

Among those returning for 2023 were jewellery-maker Lisa Rothwell-Young in Langholm; potter Sam Sparrow at Thornhill; furniture-maker Ian Cameron Smith in Kirkcudbright, photographer Kim Ayres at Castle Douglas and visual artists such as Lisa Hooper in Port William and Joanna Shennan in Dumfries.

You can visit the dedicated Spring Fling website for more information.

SAVE THE DATE - next year's Spring Fling will take place Sat. 25th - Mon. 27th May 2024

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Spring Fling is a vibrant visual art and craft open studios event covering the length and breadth of Dumfries and Galloway in South West Scotland. It is highly regarded as one of the UK’s most successful contemporary visual art and craft events.  

Dumfries and Galloway - inspiring, vibrant and buzzing with creativity - is well-recognised as a haven for artists and makers, and Spring Fling has helped put the region on the national and international cultural map.

Between 90 - 100 professional artists and makers throw open the doors to their studios over the late May bank holiday weekend, offering visitors the chance to get behind the scenes of artistic practice, experience artists and makers demonstrating and explaining their processes and inspirations and to have the opportunity to buy a piece of art direct from the artist. Each studio experience is unique, every artist is different but each will offer a meaningful insight into the inner workings of an artist’s life.e

In its first 15 years Spring Fling attracted over 140,000 visitors who made around 420,000 studio visits. Over £2.6 million of art and craft was bought in studios and the event brought over £13 million to the local economy.

We commissioned D&G-based photographer and filmmaker Colin Tennant to produce a short film for the 2022 event to mark and celebrate Spring Fling's 20th year. It showed as part of the SF at 20 Exhibition at the Gracefield Arts Centre, and can now be seen here:

In addition to the core event, over the Spring Fling weekend visitors can enjoy a number of extra events and happenings such as public artcommissions (see WaterOrgan, Edge and SFRM), exhibitions, performances, workshops and events. And visitors can studio hop the green way on one of the Spring Fling Bus Tours.

Spring Fling 2019 from Upland on Vimeo.

For more information on Spring Fling Open Studios visit the dedicated SF website.