Discover the Creative Heart of Plymouth: Devon Open Studios 2025

Written By Bracken Jelier

From 6–21 September 2025, Devon Open Studios once again opens doors across the county, celebrating the work of nearly 400 artists in over 170 studios and venues. It’s the county’s biggest annual showcase of creativity, inviting visitors to meet makers, see behind the scenes, and discover the diverse artistic talent thriving here in the South West.

Plymouth is playing a big role in this year’s festival. From large, buzzing creative hubs to intimate galleries, the city offers visitors a chance to experience everything from sculpture and ceramics to illustration, painting, and glass.

At the centre of it all is Flameworks Creative Arts Facility, a hub of artistic energy in Devonport.

Flameworks Artist Studios – The Beating Heart of Plymouth’s Open Studios

📍 7 Richmond Walk, Devonport, Plymouth PL1 4LL
🕙 Open: 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21 September (10:00–16:00)

Step inside Flameworks and you’ll find a hive of creativity. This large studio complex is home to artists working across basketry, ceramics, furniture, glass, jewellery, metal, sculpture, textiles, wood, and more.

Visitors can:

  • Watch silver take shape, admire stained glass, and see clay and canvas transformed.

  • Meet the makers and hear first-hand about their techniques.

  • Pick up unique, handcrafted works to take home.

Flameworks has built a reputation as a space where traditional skills meet contemporary practice, making it the perfect place to start your Plymouth Open Studios journey.

Nighthunt at Café Momus Manor Street

📍 14–17 Ground Floor, Manor Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth PL1 1TL
🕙 Open: 6–21 September (10:00–18:00)

A collective of 12 artists transform the whimsical Café Momus into an exhibition inspired by the Art of Hunting, drawing on themes of mythology and the goddess Artemis. Expect drawing, illustration, painting, photography, and printmaking in a richly varied group show.

Highlights include:

  • An opening evening on Friday 5 September, featuring ArtTour International – Artist on the Go.

  • The chance to view and buy works ranging from graphic illustration to surrealist painting.

Open daily from 10am until late, this is one of Plymouth’s most eclectic DOS venues.

45 Southside Gallery – Ceramics & Glass on the Barbican

📍 45 Southside Street, Barbican, Plymouth PL1 2LD
🕙 Open: 6–21 September (10:00–17:00)

This long-established gallery is known for supporting contemporary South West artists, and this year features new work by Emmy Palmer and Mathias Landwehr.

  • Emmy combines knitting and glass, creating playful, colourful blown-glass forms.

  • Mathias produces slab-built ceramics, decorated in vibrant, mid-century inspired designs.

Located in a bright yellow shopfront in the heart of the Barbican, 45 Southside Gallery has been championing local artists for over 15 years and is always a must-visit.

Sarah Chapman – Drawing & Painting in Colebrook

📍 3 Orchard Villas, Orchard Lane, Colebrook, Plymouth PL7 4AJ
🕙 Open: 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 21 September (11:00–16:00)

Sarah’s practice explores the fluid boundaries between memory, mythology, magical thinking, and the natural world. Her paintings and drawings have been exhibited nationally, including at the prestigious Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize.

Visitors to her Plymouth studio can see how these intricate and dreamlike works come together, set within a peaceful garden studio in Colebrook.

Plan Your Visit

  • Download the Devon Open Studios 2025 Guide for full listings.

  • Use the interactive map at Devon Artist Network to plan your art trail.

  • Build a Plymouth route around Flameworks, before branching out to explore the Barbican, Stonehouse, and Colebrook.

Why It Matters

Devon Open Studios is about more than art on display – it’s about connecting with the people who make it. In Plymouth, you’ll find artists who challenge ideas, celebrate tradition, and invite you into their world. Whether you’re seeking a hands-on creative experience or simply a chance to enjoy the city through a new lens, this September is the time to explore.

Mark your calendar: 6–21 September 2025. Plymouth’s artists are opening their doors – step inside.

Plymouth Art Trail: Your Devon Open Studios Guide

Looking for the perfect way to explore Plymouth during Devon Open Studios? Follow this simple trail to discover four unique creative spaces across the city.

Start: Flameworks, Devonport (PS1)
Plymouth’s buzzing creative hub. Explore open studios, watch demonstrations, and meet artists working in ceramics, glass, metal, textiles, and more.

Next Stop: Café Momus / Manor Street, Stonehouse (PS2)
Dive into a group exhibition themed around mythology and the goddess Artemis. Expect bold drawings, surreal paintings, and photography.

Third Stop: 45 Southside Gallery, Barbican (PS3)
A long-established gallery in the Barbican showcasing colourful ceramics and blown-glass forms by Emmy Palmer and Mathias Landwehr.

Final Stop: Sarah Chapman’s Studio, Colebrook (PS4)
Round off your journey in Colebrook, where Sarah Chapman’s dreamlike paintings and drawings explore memory, mythology, and magical thinking.

Tip: Spread the trail across the festival dates, combining visits with Plymouth’s waterfront cafés, historic streets, and local green spaces.

Bracken Jelier
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