A Landscape That Tells a Story 🌿🎨
More than 2,000 years ago, people living on Iron Age farmsteads were deeply connected to the landscape around them.
The seasons dictated when crops were planted and harvested. Woodlands provided materials, fuel and food. Animals, plants, water and weather were not simply part of the scenery — they were part of everyday life.
There was no real separation between the natural world and daily life in the way there can be today. Our modern lives can, perhaps more often than we realise, leave us feeling increasingly detached from the natural world around us.
At Celtic Harmony, our reconstructed Iron Age settlement offers visitors the chance to step into that landscape, slow down for a moment, and imagine how people lived, worked and created within it. And it is this same connection with nature and place that can be found in the work of our visiting artists.
Look closely at their artwork and you may find yourself transported somewhere else — into a woodland, sitting by the sea or among leaves and branches, into imagined worlds, ancient patterns and natural forms. Their work reminds us that inspiration often begins with simply looking around us.
🎨 Meet the Artists This September
This September, Celtic Harmony will become a meeting place for art, nature, imagination and creativity as part of Herts Open Studios 2026. We are delighted to welcome artists Elif and Sally, who will be bringing their work, ideas and creative processes to the Iron Age settlement.
And this is more than simply an exhibition. It is an opportunity to meet the artists, discover what inspires them and have a go yourself!
🌿 The Launch Party — Saturday 12 September
Come and celebrate the opening of the exhibition with us! Both artists will be on site from 10am, with our launch party taking place from 2pm–4pm.
This is a lovely opportunity to meet Elif and Sally together, chat with them about their artwork, discover the stories and ideas behind their creations, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with a slice of cake while soaking up the atmosphere. Whether you are already passionate about art or simply curious to see what happens when creativity meets the landscape, everyone is welcome. And the launch is only the beginning…
🖌️ Get Creative with Sally
From Sunday 13 September, Sally will be helping little ones let their imaginations run wild with fun Dragons & Dungeons-inspired activities.
Crayons will be provided, but budding artists are very welcome to bring along their own watercolours and get creative. It is a wonderful chance for children and adults alike to explore their imagination, experiment with colour and create their own little worlds — all while being inspired by the beautiful surroundings of Celtic Harmony.
And from time to time, you may also find Sally demonstrating her techniques as she creates and paints something new on site. So take a moment to stop by, watch her work, ask questions and perhaps pick up a little inspiration for your own creative journey!
🌱 Explore Techniques with Elif
Elif will also be sharing some of her artistic techniques throughout the exhibition, with opportunities for visitors to roll up their sleeves and have a go themselves. For adults, there will be opportunities to experiment with leaf printing and linocut printing, using prepared lino designs inspired by trees, Celtic knots and natural forms. Visitors can combine these with leaf prints to create their own unique compositions.
Elif will also demonstrate simple techniques using palette knives, acrylic paints, leaves and flowers, showing how surprisingly expressive these everyday natural materials can become.
🎨 And for younger artists…
Children can experiment with acrylic paints and plastic palette knives, creating their own colourful artwork and trying leaf printing. There will also be opportunities to explore oil pastels and crayons, including experimenting with image transfers using leaves and linocuts. Don’t worry about getting everything perfect — these activities are all about experimenting, playing and discovering what happens when you put art and nature together.
Materials will be provided, so visitors can simply come along and enjoy getting creative.
📅 When Can You Visit?
Here are the important dates and times:
Launch Party: Saturday 12 September, 2pm–4pm
Exhibition: Every Saturday and Sunday, 12–27 September
Elif
Saturdays: 1pm–5pm
Sundays: 10am–5pm
Last entrance: 4pm
Sally
Saturdays: 10am–4pm
Sundays: 1pm–5pm
Last entrance: 4pm
Location: Celtic Harmony Camp, Hertfordshire
The Open Studios exhibition is free to explore and no booking is required. Simply come along, discover the artwork and meet the artists. Kids and teenagers must be supervised at all times.
🌳 Make a Day of It
And while you’re here, why not make a full day of your visit? Take some time to explore the woodland surroundings and discover some of the other activities available at Celtic Harmony, including the Faery Trail and Disc Golf on selected dates. Come and see where nature, history and creativity meet. 🌿🎨
Look a little closer.
Get creative.
Explore the landscape.
And perhaps discover a little bit of your own artistic inspiration along the way.
#HertsOpenStudios #HertsOpenStudios2026 #CelticHarmony #MeetTheArtists #HertfordshireArtists #LocalArtists #ArtInHertfordshire #VisualArt #AcrylicPainting #Linocut #LeafPrinting #ArtActivities