may is always one of my favourite months in the Stroud valleys, the hedgerows billow with clouds of cow parsley, and drifts of buttercups light up the common. it is also the month of open studios, where artists, designers, potters and makers open their doors and welcome visitors.

Kate Loveday is one of my favourite local artists, her paintings are very popular and there is always a queue outside her door on the first day.

Kates paintings appeal to the textile designer in me I think, the colour and composition and mark making are just beautiful.

The inspiration for Kates paintings can be seen all around her beautiful home. I have been going to Kates open studio since we fist moved here over 10 years ago and I have always been inspired by her beautiful home. Pale walls are a foil for colourful collections which appear here and there in the paintings - a spotty jug, a tile tray or a row of pebbles.

Everything about kates exhibition is a feast for the eyes, open the big pale green wooden gate and creep down the narrow high walled passageway into Kates beautiful walled garden, where her lovely wisteria clad house stands with the door open to welcome you into the exhibition. Kates paintings are displayed in all of the downstairs rooms which is such a lovely way to view paintings as you can get a real sense of scale and how they look in a real room setting.

for information or directions please see the stroud open studios website here

there are a plethora of super talented artists in the stroud valleys so you could make a day of it! its the farmers market on a Saturday where you can feast on some fabulous food - my top tips are salt bakehouse pop up in the foyer of John st SVA and the wonderful felafel people in the market - I promise you , you won't leave hungry! happy weekend!