Willow weaver Geoff Forrest has been welcoming hundreds of visitors to his temporary Spring Fling studio in New Galloway.
The 13th annual Spring Fling, Scotland’s premier open studios event held across Dumfries and Galloway , features some 94 artists and makers in every part of the region.
Geoff is one of three superb willow weavers taking part – the others are Trevor Leat and Lizzie Farey – who make everything from traditional baskets to figurative and abstract sculptures.
“I make baskets and anything that I possibly can from willow. Living structures, figurative sculptures, forms influenced by nature, things that hang on the wall, rest on a table or stand on the floor. Twisty, bendy, wobbly, wonderful willow,” says Geoff.
Based just across the regional boundary beside Loch Doon in Ayrshire, Geoff is taking part in Spring Fling as part of the Neighbours Scheme, which invites participants from surrounding areas including Cumbria, the Scottish Borders and Northern Ireland.
The event, which began on 23 May and ends today, is a showcase for everything from paintings, original prints, photography and sculpture to jewellery, cabinet making, glassware and textiles.
Last year it attracted around 13,400 visitors, more than half from outwith the region and overseas, and contributed around £1.4 million to the local economy.
Leah Black, Spring Fling Director, said: “I’d like to thank all our artists and makers, the thousands of visitors, and everyone else who has contributed to making this a fantastic Spring Fling weekend.
“Many studios have been very busy, with visitors arriving from all over the country – some have come from the north of Scotland and others from as far as Essex and Devon.
“The willow weaving of makers like Geoff is always very popular because of its beauty and the incredible skill it involves.”
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