This September, Celtic Harmony Camp became more than a setting for Herts Open Studios. Our reconstructed Iron Age farmstead and surrounding woodland provide a unique backdrop for exploring how artists find inspiration in the natural world, traditional materials, human stories and the landscapes around us.

As part of the 36th Herts Open Studios, we’re delighted to welcome artists Elif and Sally to Celtic Harmony Camp. Their work is very different, but both artists share a fascination with observation, nature, change and storytelling — themes that connect beautifully with the world of our Iron Age ancestors.

Elif: Finding emotion in nature and movement

For Hertford-based acrylic painter and ceramicist Elif, nature is much more than a subject to paint. It is a source of emotion, movement and transformation.

Elif draws inspiration from the natural world, with water, particularly the sea, trees and idealised landscapes appearing throughout her work. These elements provide a starting point for exploring something less tangible: the way our surroundings can influence how we feel, movement and change can be found in her creative process..

Elif is fascinated by the passage of time and how it can transform what we see. Her work explores everything from the rapid movement of a dancer to the much slower changes that take place in a person’s face over the time.

Rather than relying predominantly on traditional brushes, Elif often applies paint using palette knives, creating expressive marks and layers. She also enjoys experimenting with unexpected tools, sometimes using everyday household objects to produce textures and effects. I love connecting this to how people who live on Iron Age farmsteads were resourceful and closely connected to materials around them. Wood, clay, plants, fibres, stone and other natural resources were transformed into objects needed for everyday life. 

Elif’s willingness to experiment is an important part of her practice. Not only trying to reproduce what she sees, Elif explores how colour, texture, movement and technique can communicate a feeling. Her work invites us to pause and consider our own relationship with nature.

Sally: Turning observation into visual stories

For artist and illustrator Sally, inspiration begins with looking closely at the world around her.

Her work is driven by curiosity and a desire to keep learning. She continually experiments with techniques that allow her to interpret words, ideas and environments visually, embracing the challenge of finding new ways to communicate. In Sally’s art we find expressive landscapes, animals and intricate floral compositions, but storytelling sits at the heart of her creative practice.

A field can prompt questions about what was grown. A woodland can make us think about the plants, animals and materials that would have been important to people living where we are now but thousands of years ago.

Sally’s approach encourages us to do exactly that: look closer and discover the story hidden within the details.

Her background in textile design and children’s book illustration has given her a particular interest in visual storytelling. She continually experiments with ways to interpret words, ideas and environments through images.

More recently, Sally’s creativity has taken her into the public realm. As part of a project in Stevenage Old Town, she designed and painted BT Exchange boxes. One of her designs, inspired by Mediterranean plant life, incorporates a hidden world of British wildlife, encouraging passers-by to stop, look more closely and discover the details within the artwork.

It is a wonderful example of Sally’s approach to art: creating something that not only looks beautiful, but also encourages people to look, explore and discover a story.

Sally inspires reflection – what might we notice if we slow down and look more closely?

Two artists, two journeys, endless inspiration

Although Elif and Sally have very different creative backgrounds and approaches, their work shares something important.

Both artists are inspired by observation, and willing to experiment. Isn’t art a form of communication? Both artists share their inner feelings and cultural stories with us through their art. 

And perhaps that is one of the most exciting things about meeting artists in person. A finished painting can tell us what an artist has created, but speaking to the person behind the work can reveal why they created it, where the idea came from and how the journey unfolded.

Meet the artists at Celtic Harmony Camp! 

Every object, building and landscape at Celtic Harmony has the potential to tell a story.

During Herts Open Studios 2026, visitors will have the chance to explore Elif and Sally’s work and discover more about their individual creative journeys.

Date: Every weekend from 12th to 27th September

Time: 10am–5pm (last entrance at 4pm)

Location: Celtic Harmony Camp, Hertfordshire

The Open Studios is free to explore and no booking is required. Simply come along, discover the artwork and meet the artists.

And while you’re here, why not make a full day of it? Celtic Harmony Camp’s woodland setting offers plenty to explore, with activities such as the Faery Trail and Disc Golf available on selected dates.

Sometimes, all it takes is looking a little closer. 

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