They say the show must go on – and at Putney Arts Theatre this weekend, three local artists are proving it.
All taking part in this year’s Wandsworth Artists’ Open House, Yvonne Guerrier, Eileen St Julian-Bown, and Bruce St Julian-Bown share not only a passion for art but an unlikely coincidence: each has broken an arm in the run-up to their exhibition. Yvonne, an etcher, broke her arm while in Greenland. Eileen, a silk-screen printer, broke hers at home in Putney. Bruce, a photographer, cut his wrist on a saw while gardening just five days before the show began.
Despite the setbacks, all three are well enough to take part and will be welcoming visitors to their joint exhibition at Putney Arts Theatre on Ravenna Road, one of the key venues in this year’s borough-wide Open House trail.
A Putney tradition
Wandsworth Artists’ Open House (WAOH) is one of the borough’s most popular cultural events, held over two weekends each October. The festival opens the doors of homes, studios and community spaces across Putney, Battersea, Balham, Tooting, and other neighbourhoods, giving residents a rare chance to see where and how artists create their work. The event is completely free and open to all, with maps available online to help visitors plan their own local art trail.
Running for around twenty years, Wandsworth Artists’ Open House has become a cornerstone of the borough’s creative calendar, celebrating its thriving arts scene and encouraging residents to meet artists directly — whether they are seasoned professionals or exhibiting for the first time. This year’s programme features more than 200 artists across nearly 100 venues, ranging from living rooms and garden studios to libraries and theatres.
At Putney Arts Theatre, visitors can see three distinct artistic approaches side by side. Eileen St Julian-Bown and Yvonne Guerrier are both printmakers, while Bruce St Julian-Bown is a photographer. Eileen’s work is inspired by landscape, structures and people, all perceived in new and evocative ways; she exhibits both locally and nationally.
Yvonne is a South West London-based artist printmaker who also spends part of the year in South West France. A member of Southbank Printmakers, her work — often screenprints created from manipulated photographic images, as well as linocuts and etchings — can be seen at the group’s gallery in Gabriel’s Wharf on the South Bank. Bruce’s photography captures striking images of local riverside landmarks and life, montaged in imaginative and engaging ways that highlight Putney’s character and community.
Catch it this weekend
The artists’ exhibition is open this Saturday and Sunday, 12–13 October, from 11 am to 6 pm, with free entry for all visitors.
Three artists, three broken arms, and one determined exhibition — a story that captures the spirit of Wandsworth Artists’ Open House: creativity, resilience, and the simple joy of sharing art with the community.
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