About Us
Carshalton Artists community group started over 12 years ago, with seven artistic friends meeting in a local pub for a drink. These impromptu meetings grew with more and more local artists, gallery and craft shop owners attending.
Carshalton Artists is now a large network of 80+ local artists and businesses. We aim to celebrate and help local creatives by giving them the opportunity to network with other creatives and businesses. This includes 'arty drinks' meetings throughout the year, active Facebook, Instagram and Twitter groups, the annual Carshalton Artists Open Studios (CAOS) event in June and July and ad-hoc art fairs.
Meet the Team
The Carshalton Artists network has a huge amount of experience in creating diverse and supportive networks and events that link and help their communities. They live and work in Carshalton and are passionate about helping artists and organisations to fulfil their creative potentials.
Husband and wife team, Helena and Neal Vaughan founded the group, joining up with local artists John Stillman and Abel Kesteven and local businessman Stuart James to start the popular 'arty drinks' networking meetings. These informal meetings have grown to a 100 strong artists network and accompanying public Facebook Group of 500+ artists, businesses and followers This has now grown into the hugely successful Open Studios Event. CAOS with the Open Studios attracting 3000 visitors per year and near to 1000 followers, separately on Facebook and Instsgram.
In 2016 Open Studios event was started by Helena, Neal and Abel, with the first CAOS event running in 2017. The following years saw significant growth, and continued through the COVID years, with the event running in windows of shops and artists homes. .The trio continue to be driving force behind this now annual event with fellow co-ordinators and inspiration for the project who are listed below.
Helena & Neal Vaughan
Helena and Neal's local art collaborations go back to 2004, when they moved into the Carshalton and soon started exhibiting and running workshops at Honeywood Museum. In 2008 arty drinks started, growing local artists networks and introducing those artists to opportunities for working together with local businesses and on locally or nationally funded projects. Neal loves getting everyone involved so now focuses on community engagement whilst Helena keeps the artists in check by organising networking events and managing the CAOS trail.
Caroline Warwick
Open Studios event has Caroline to thank for engaging the local community. Caroline has always been happy to promote CAOS to the local community and is passionate about CAOS reaching as many as possible.
Allen Ives
Allen has been developing his Glass Art alongside a career in project management for many years and has great pleasure in joining the CAOS Committee to help plan & deliver another successful trail in 2024.
Jackie Smith
Jackie, a printmaker, painter and art tutor, has been on the CAOS trail since 2018 and is part of Oaks Park Printmakers at Oaks Park Studios. She is very happy to be helping out with all things website on the 2024 Committee.
Claire Chandler
Claire has participated in the Open Studios since it began in 2017 as a main point of contact with our sponsors and supporters. As an artist, art tutor and workshop leader Claire is enthusiastic about promoting the arts in our local community.
Rebecca Tucker
Rebecca joined CAOS in 2021, and enjoys hosting a variety of artists in her home for the CAOS weekends. She is now lending a hand with marketing and newsletters to ensure that we get as many visitors as possible to our venues!
Kevin Ireland
An abstract painter based at Wimbledon Art Studios Kevin got involved with participating in CAOS a few years back after being impressed by the trail - now he is back helping to organise it!
Ingrid Barber
Ingrid is an artist and a maker working from her studio Oaks Park, a popluar location on the CAOS trail. She's our main point of contact with the studios and always happy to help with our promotion.
FAQ
Who are we, how are we governed?
We are a not for profit art group, running Carshalton Artists Open Studios. For more information you can read our terms & conditions, data & privacy policy, equality & diversity policy and governing document
I am an artist, how can I exhibit or join in?
Go to our ARTISTS page to find out more.
I am interested in sponsoring Carshalton Artists Open Studios, how can I?
Any sponsorship funding goes towards marketing and running the CAOS event. A list of options is available for sponsors, please email us: carshaltonartists@gmail.com
We are always interested in talking to you regarding events, commissions, workshops, exhibitions, or fairs that will benefit our artists...please contact us.
Follow us for latest updates
use @carshalton_art to find us.