This summer, Binnel Studios, in deepest St Lawrence, prepares to welcome visitors once again for their exclusive annual showcase.
The artistic retreat, now in its eleventh year, continues to pulse with understated elegance and effortless cool.
The Summer Exhibition takes place on Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th and Monday 25th August 2025 – open daily between 11am – 4pm.
Seven resident artists will open their studio doors for the only public exhibition of the year, offering art enthusiasts a rare glimpse into their creative world.
An exclusive annual showcase
The Summer Exhibition offers a great opportunity to see new work by the resident artists; Molly Attrill, Matthew Chambers, Jane Cox, Sue Paraskeva, Sadie Tierney, Amanda Wheeler and Celia Wilkinson.
Sponsored this year by property specialists, BCM Wilson Hill, the Summer Exhibition remains a precious gem, offering a behind-the-scenes look into the vibrant and progressive world of these imaginative creatives, many of whom are internationally revered.
Molly Attrill – International commissions continue
Molly Attrill has been a potter for over 30 years. Inspired by Bernard Leach, she initially trained as a repetition thrower with his son, Michael, in North Devon before gaining a place at the prestigious Farnham Art College. She then worked in potteries in France and Canada.
In 1982 Molly established her own pottery at Mersey Farm, Newchurch (now the Garlic Farm). In 2014 she moved to Binnel Studios.
Molly works in stoneware as well as maiolica (tin glazed earthenware) and brings fresh excitement to this year’s exhibition following the recent completion of a prestigious commission. The accomplished potter has just finished creating a set of plates and soup dishes for a customer in Morocco, showcasing the international appeal of her distinctive work.
Art lovers will have another chance to see why The Gallery St Ives, Tokyo has invited Molly to exhibit with them for a second time later this year.
Her figurative decoration using brushwork, wax resist and sgraffito continues to captivate collectors worldwide.
Find out more about Molly’s work by visiting her website, or following her on Instagram.
Matthew Chambers – New work and international exhibitions
Award-winning ceramic sculptor, Matthew Chambers, began his ceramics career in 1993 as an apprentice potter, which eventually led to an education finishing at the Royal College of Art in London in 2004.
Matthew has been working on the Isle of Wight ever since then and has had his work represented by galleries in the UK, as well as internationally in Paris and New York.
Matthew’s works have been purchased for several museum collections including The V&A London, National Museums Scotland, and The Sevres National Ceramics Museum in Paris. He has also worked with Spanish fashion House, Loewe, who house a permanent display of his ceramics in their Rome boutique.
Matthew will have some new sculpture and vessels made especially for the summer exhibition.
The award-winning ceramic sculptor’s busy schedule includes preparing for several high-profile international shows ahead: Art[s] Gallery, Netherlands, group show opening September 2025; Collect 2026 art fair at Somerset House London, with Cavalierofinn; and Galerie de l’Ancienne Poste, France, solo show May 2026.
Matthew’s website is regularly updated, and you can follow him on Instagram.
Jane Cox – Prestigious recognition and online presence
This year, award winning artist, Jane Cox, has exhibited at ‘York Studio Ceramics’ Fair and more recently at ‘Celebrating Ceramics’ at Waterperry, Oxford.
She has also been selected for the prestigious ‘Oxford Studio Ceramics’ and now sells online via OnlineCeramics, one of the key online ceramic websites.
Jane specialises in earthenware combining slip decoration and sgraffitto with translucent glazes in three main colours: “Aquitaine” a rich vibrant turquoise, “Loire” a deep green, and “Carcassonne” a resplendent blue purple.
Jane says,
“If we think of precedents like William Morris at Kelmscott and the Red House, the designs were created in his garden, as close to the source as possible,
“Working at Binnel, surrounded by green leaves, summer blossom and the sea, I couldn’t be closer to my inspiration. It’s always the dream I had.”
Jane will also be exhibiting a range of sculptural tableware inspired by Constructivism.
Jane is a Fellow and former Council member of the Craft Potters Association (CPA) and Past Master of The Art Workers Guild (AWG).
From 2019 to 2021 Jane Chaired the Outreach Committee of The Art Workers Guild coordinating teams running projects across various institutions such as the V&A, Courtauld Institute, Watts Gallery and Imperial College and contributed to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Craft (APPG) set up by the Heritage Craft Association.
From 2021 onwards Jane helped set up, organise and run the successful annual ‘London Craft Week’ event “The Art of Making” at the Guild, involving Demonstrations, Exhibitions, Talks and architecture tours of the Art Workers Guild’s stunning building.
Jane has recently updated her website, and you can follow her on Instagram.
Sue Paraskeva – Porcelain artistry and new dimensions
As a graduate of Middlesex University, Sue Paraskeva has spent the past 30 years immersed in the traditions of firing fine thrown porcelain using real flame kilns.
Her practice has evolved to encompass a range of disciplines, including creating one-off pieces, installations, and live performances, exhibiting nationally and internationally.
An exciting addition to this year’s exhibition: she will be introducing her new two dimensional work using the medium of fire to create canvases and works on paper.
Clients and exhibitions include: Calvin Klein Home, Turner Contemporary, Design Museum, V&A Museum, Make Hauser & Wirth, Saatchi Gallery, Design Miami, London Craft Week, Arts Council Public Arts Commission 2004, Quay Arts Terrace.
Earlier this year Sue created another installation for Mountbatten Isle of Wight. Her medium was origami and she chose to make one thousand paper cranes as a tribute to Claire Callender and all those whose lives are touched by illness. Sue is continuing to recover herself from long Covid and uses the slow meditative process of folding as a solace to create whilst healing.
Senbazuru ( 1000 cranes ) is a Japanese prayer. Initially installed as part of the Binnel Artists’ exhibition at the hospice this has remained for visitors, staff, and patients to experience.
Her work combines artistry and functionality, offering beautifully crafted pieces for daily use.
See Sue Paraskeva’s website for more information, or follow her on Instagram.
Sadie Tierney – Island perspectives and impermanence
Sadie Tierney works with painting and traditional printmaking to respond to objects and places emotively. She says,
“I love exploring our multi faceted Island through my art. In these works I spent time drawing in places I would normally pass through quickly, revealing new perspectives on the familiar.”
Her latest series of paintings, “Mono no aware” – a Japanese phrase for an awareness of the impermanence of things – explores the temporary spectacle of cherry blossom in bloom. Sadie found trees to paint in full bloom, sometimes in unexpected locations, such as beside the ambulance station in Newport.
Alongside the cherry blossom paintings, she took her paints to the grounds of Osborne, focusing on the large Cedar of Lebanon trees – by contrast, symbols of nobility, strength and permanence.
Visitors can expect to see expressive landscapes, seascapes and sunsets, in paint and a range of printmaking techniques.
Sadie has an MA from the Royal College of Art in London and her work is held in collections including The Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York, The National Museum, Gdańsk, Eton College, Imperial Health Charity, The Royal College of Art and The Royal Navy.
Find out more about Sadie’s work by visiting her website, or following her on Instagram.
Amanda Wheeler – Nine years of creative evolution
Amanda has enjoyed another fruitful year in her creative endeavours.
She has attracted growing interest from international clients and has seen her work featured in notable gallery exhibitions. Amanda said,
“Well this is my ninth summer at Binnel and I still love my space. Playing with new ideas and techniques to move forward.
“But I find it fascinating when artists are asked the question ‘What inspires you?’ So, I’ve been on a bit of a creative exploratory quest to understand what it is for me.
“It can come out of anywhere really, and not always natural but mostly it’s seeing the beauty in things, dramatic or subtle, a flash of turquoise through the trees, the way that you can be in the same place, but it changes constantly, an indigo sky one day, a cobalt sky another – and throw in some heat, wind, cold – the bits you can’t see…. it makes me want to get my paints out.”
Amanda explains that she often has no idea what the finished result will be, because there’s always a touch of unpredictability, which she loves.
The diverse landscapes of the Isle of Wight serve as an endless source of inspiration for Amanda.
The Island’s natural beauty, from its rugged coastlines to its serene countryside, provides a wealth of material for her art. This environment not only fuels her creativity, but also plays a crucial role in shaping her artistic identity.
Her art reflects a deep connection to the place she calls home, bringing a piece of the Isle of Wight to viewers everywhere.
You can find out more about Amanda by visiting her website, or following her on Instagram.
Celia Wilkinson – Exploring new artistic territory
Isle of Wight Landscape painter, Celia Wilkinson, graduated from her BA Hons at St Martins College of Art in 1989. Celia comes from a long line of artists in her family and primarily works with acrylic on canvas.
Her unique style incorporates the design influence from her father and painterly influence from her mother, amongst others.
Her paintings are semi-abstract, vibrant, energetic, and colourful, and although they depict the landscape, they are very much about her representing a visual diary and life events. Some of her most recent paintings are a response to climate change. Sometimes brooding, sometimes optimistic, they always reflect her mood.
This year Celia has turned her focus away from landscape slightly. She needed some quiet in her head so has really enjoyed doing some still life painting. It allows her to completely concentrate without all the background noise, ie world events etc which can take over her thoughts.
She has still been exhibiting with her usual galleries and art fairs, but has enjoyed a slower pace. She will be showing a mixture of still life and landscape painting at this year’s Binnel summer exhibition.
As well as exhibiting regularly with galleries and art fairs on the mainland, Celia’s paintings have been discovered by the world of TV drama. Her paintings are being used on the sets of ‘You’ a Netflix series and ‘Fear’ a Wild Mercury production starring Martin Compston.
Find out more about Celia’s work by visiting her website, or following her on Instagram.
A mélange of styles and mediums
Reflective of the diverse talent housed within its walls, Binnel Studios promises an exhibition bursting with a broad array of styles and mediums.
Whether you’re a fan of traditional techniques or modern twists, there’s bound to be something that speaks to your artistic preferences.
Visitors can embark on a unique sensory journey this August Bank Holiday weekend, where every corner holds a new discovery.
Where and when
The Summer Exhibition takes place on Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th and Monday 25th August 2025 – open daily between 11am – 4pm.
If you are unfamiliar with St Lawrence, from Ventnor continue on the A3055 past Ventnor Botanic Garden until you reach Old Park Road (on your left) and then follow the signs for Binnel Studios.
Entry is free, but don’t forget to visit the cash-point first, because you might just fall in love with what you see. Credit/debit cards can also be used.
See the Binnel Studios Website for more information.
Our thanks to BCM Wilson Hill for sponsoring this event feature. They and other businesses taking paid promotion enables you to continue reading OnTheWight for free
