Artist Studios
Our studios are currently full, but we are accepting expressions of interest to go on the waiting list.
We have 9 studios / offices at PLP available for local visual artists and organisations from any discipline. Each studio has:
Mains power outlets
WiFi
Wall mounted ceramic heater
Access to small communal kitchen
24 / 7 access to studios
Access to a range of facilities & resources in the building
Studios vary in size from 95 to 195 sq/ft
We accept applications from emerging or professional artists looking for a space to develop their own personal practice as well as organisations looking for a base. One of our ambitions is to support independent creative practitioners who have an interest in and / or commitment to socially engaged participatory practice so we encourage artists who have at least an element of their practice that is collaborative and outward looking in its nature. We especially welcome artists who may have their own personal based practice but are also interested in exploring ways in which this could benefit the community and provide creative and inspiring opportunities for local groups with the aim of building a more sustainable and resilient way of working of their own.
All of our current studios are full. We are imminently working on freeing up some new spaces in the building, so don’t hesitate to fill out the form below as we hope there will be some new spaces available soon. Want to know who the current studio holders are? Check out our ‘About’ page here.
CURRENT STUDIO HOLDERS
-
Hello there! I’m Hannah, a freelance artist living and working in Exeter, Devon. I graduated from Falmouth University with a degree in Drawing and have since become an independent small business-owner. I’m primarily a pet-portrait artist, creating paintings of all sorts of pets, ranging from dogs and cats to ravens and hedgehogs! This is a very important part of my work as an artist, as animals have always held a special place in my life. They are companions that offer unconditional love, and the conversations I have with their owners are very precious. I work mainly in watercolour, but am currently enjoying experimenting with gouache, creating some of my own original pieces inspired by the wilder side of nature. You’ll usually find me in my studio juggling paintings, with my headphones on. Yorkshire tea is practically part of my bloodstream now, and I can never fit enough plants into my room.
-
What is The Pelican Project?
On leaving school, learning-disabled young adults face a devastating drop-off in support and opportunity and enter a gruelling process of transition to adult provision. The social networks, passions, interests, identities, wellbeing and opportunities for individuals to grow that were once nurtured by a familiar school environment are lost. The search for a new place to belong becomes punctuated by scrutiny and rejection. Families endure this process on top of the already pressured experience of supporting the complex needs of their loved ones.
The Pelican Project (TPP) aims to change this story. Our current members enjoy a program of groups and social activities, run in collaboration with Exeter’s key cultural spaces. These include art, digital design, drama, caravan holidays and gatherings at the pub. Our team of facilitators includes qualified SEN teachers and industry professionals, making sure our members diverse needs are understood whilst immersing them in mainstream activities and networks. Exhibitions and performances are amongst the ways that our facilitators promote our members as equal and valued citizens.
What change is The Pelican Project trying to achieve?
Our membership of young people (fondly known as Pelicans) includes individuals with a host of physical and cognitive disabilities, including profound, severe and moderate learning disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, downs syndrome and a range of mental health conditions. Some Pelicans are augmented and alternative communication (AAC) users. These young people typically arrive at TPP with low self-esteem, exhausted and mistrustful of a community that has failed them.
The overarching aim of TPP is to improve quality of life for the Pelicans and their carers. Our program offers the opportunity for members to try, learn, fail and succeed and in doing so, build an identity that goes beyond their disability. Previously marginalised individuals feel a greater sense of belonging as they take ownership of spaces, build relationships with peers and make connections across the community that thrive beyond TPP activities. Stagnated members can grow again, with powered wheelchair users walking lengths in swimming sessions, Pelicans who rarely leave the city feeding the pigs and AAC devices being put to use at bustling city bars.
Our program is not just about giving our members something to do, it aims to change the wider community. We work with future generations of carers, offering rare experience programs to Exeter College’s Level 1 Health & Social Care and NEETS programs. Linking our members with mainstream students is unique to the Pelican Project and provides opportunities on both sides.
-
Erika Cann is an artist whose home lies between the granite tors of Dartmoor National Park and the dynamic cliffs of the Jurassic Coast. She is a recent graduate from the Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford. Her work investigates place through accounts, both historical and contemporary, within the guides and maps of an area. The work takes the form of photography, and printmaking, which is often imbued with language. She hopes to engage local communities with the landscape in a position of care and enjoyment through exploration, which is ecologically considered yet adventurous.
-
We love watching people flourish and grow when they start to believe in themselves. Hi, I’m Jeanette and showing people there is life after domestic abuse is my passion. Every project we take on is embraced wholeheartedly, and with total dedication. Whether we’re writing books and eCourses or delivering sessions, we invest our hearts and souls in ensuring that you feel empowered and believe in yourselves. We provide personal development training, online and in person, for people who have experienced domestic abuse to help them break the cycle, feel empowered, move forward and live more positive lives. We recognise the long-term effects of domestic abuse and its impact on self-esteem and self-worth. We work to rebuild that self-belief. We see time and time again, when this improves then lives improve. We believe in the journey from Victim, to Survivor to Thriver. Our goal? To make sure that anyone impacted by domestic abuse finds the strength and skills within them to lead fulfilled and happy lives. We have over 10 years experience in the field working with individuals and teams, helping people find their voice and enabling them to move forward.
-
Charlie Lewis Marffy (B.1989, England) is a painter, writer and researcher from Exeter, Devon. Charlie attended Plymouth University and The Royal College of Art and has held residencies in Holland, Cuba, France and Singapore (Most notably at The Institute of Contemporary Arts). More recently Charlie had his debut solo show entitled ‘No Man’s Land’ at Fabien Fryns Fine Art, Dubai in 2023.
-
Run by illustrator and graphic designer Melissa Lockhart, Tankerville Press is a small letterpress studio that specialises in modern wedding invitations with a focus on dynamic and classic typography. The designs are printed on a 70 year old cast iron printing press.