Royal Albert Wharf Open Studios 2025
Saturday 26th April 2025 , 10:00am to 4:00pm
Join Bow Arts for a celebration at Royal Albert Wharf. Explore the community of artists and see inside 40 artist studios, alongside a family friendly day of activities and fun. A day filled with excitement and celebration, open to individuals of all ages. This event has something special for everyone.
Have you ever wondered what creative wonders are hidden within the 40 artist studios at the Royal Docks Pumping Station? Bow Arts warmly invites you to explore this vibrant community of artists at Royal Albert Wharf, where a diverse array of art forms awaits, from ceramics and photography to innovative footwear designs.
For the last three decades Bow Arts has worked to keep creative activity sustainable within our local communities, providing artists in London with stability and long-lasting artist support.
In addition to the open studios, engage in two interactive workshops led by local artists, celebrating Bow Arts’ dedication to the local community and World Earth Day.
Workshops
11:00am – 1:00pm Creative Bag-Making Workshop with Yuliya V Krylova
1:00pm – 3:00pm Create Your Own Ceramic Bowl with Mariana Alemany
Introduction to Yuliya V Krylova Creative Bag-Making Workshop
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm | Venue: Well Bean Co Café
Recycled Plastic is Fantastic!
Turn old plastic bags into beautiful, one of a kind creations! This hands on workshop is perfect for kids and adults who love crafting and care about the environment. -Transform plastic bags into fun and functional tote bags
-Decorate with pom-poms, sequins, and recycled materials
-Learn eco-friendly crafting techniques
Introduction to Mariana Alemany’s Ceramic Bowl Workshop
Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm | Venue: V&A East X Bow Arts Fellowship Space
Mariana Alemany, renowned for her roles as both Bow Arts’ project manager and ceramicist, will guide you through the essential techniques of hand-building to craft unique ceramic bowls. Once completed, these pieces will be fired, glazed, and returned to their creators. Wrap up your artistic journey with a complimentary community meal at the Well Bean Café, where you can share a meal with your handcrafted bowl and connect with neighbours. This gathering will be held on the last Friday of the month. This inspiring event offers a chance to reconnect with creativity and community. Immerse yourself in the art of ceramics with Mariana Alemany. Enjoy a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere as you unleash your creativity.
Map
Find your way around Royal Albert Wharf with our map, designed by local artist Halle Peters.
More studios run by Bow Arts across London will be open following the Royal Albert Wharf open studios, so visit our What’s On and make sure you’re signed up to our Newsletter to see what we have in store.
Meet the artists
Maria Stella Lydaki, Unlikely Studios, David Swainsbury/ Photoglory, Sofia Kyriakopoulou, Linda Law-Stevens, Lee Rooney, Hernan Guardamagna, Yuliya V Krylova, Annamaria Antonazzo, Stephen Guy/Fire the Inventor, Karl-Peter Penke and Ye Jyde.
Read below about some of the artists who will be opening their studios to share their work.
Maria Stella Lydaki
Maria Stella is a London-based multidisciplinary artist, born in 1996 and of Greek origin. She graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie from the Jewellery Linking Bodies department in 2022. Her creative practice encompasses sculptures, performances, public interventions, photography, art-video installations, writing, and publications. As an artist, she explores the ancient ritual of lamentation within contemporary art, the use of language as a material, the interplay between inner and outer realms, the contrast of dark and light, the concept of gentleness, cultural and natural preservation, the world soul, and the power of fairytales.
Unlikely Studios
Unlikely Studios, located in Royal Albert Wharf, London, specializes in custom props and costumes for various industries, including Drag, Cabaret, Film, and TV. Cristina Magdan, Daniele Turra and Mattia Scicluna’s work has been showcased in notable projects like the BFI x BMW film challenge with Michaela Coel, costumes for Lizzo, and props for Cannes Film Festival and The Witcher. Our dedicated team of three are all graduates of the 3D Effects for Performance Fashion course at LCF, UAL.
David Swainsbury/ Photoglory
I’m a street photographer from London; my work is characterised by its candidness and its ability to capture the essence of everyday life. I have been taking photographs for more than 10 years and one day after printing a photograph and getting it framed decided to leave the comfort and security of my career and start exhibiting and selling my own art.
I’m a passionate advocate for street photography and believe that it is a powerful tool for documenting the human condition and for understanding the world around us.
Sofia Kyriakopoulou
Sophie Kyriakopoulou creates playful, colourful compositions through drawing and painting, inspired by nature, life’s joys, and serendipity.
Her work delves into our cosmic interconnectedness, enriched by a Master’s degree with distinction from the Glasgow School of Arts and studies under the renowned painter, Professor J. Psychopaidis at the Athens School of Fine Arts. Currently focusing on a series about new beginnings, guided by dance, she runs studio based workshops to spread the joy and transformative power of creativity. Sophie invites everyone to explore and share in the excitement of artistic expression.
Linda Law-Stevens
I’m a 77 year old artist who mainly paints landscapes, seascapes and wildlife. I grew up in Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa.
I now live in the UK.
Lee Rooney
35 years working as a creative director in marketing and advertising.
Now I’m juggling many diferent creative balls, www.letuscreate.com is my own integrated agency, www.leerooneyphotography.com is my work behind the camera specialising in sports and fashion. Ludicrous is my party game business with This is Ludicrous, Roulick and Stop busting my balls. Bag a smile is my children’s charity, and The Cult of golf, a sports brand which creates golf bags and accessories from Upcycler denim, unique fabrics and leather.
Hernan Guardamagna is a sustainable London-based shoe brand founded by fashion and footwear designer and maker Hernan Guardamagna. The brand focuses on unisex handmade leather shoes defined by bold silhouettes and geometric shapes. The way the brand approaches footwear is influenced by Hernan’s background in fashion, which is why he uses some of the resources he used in the past to make garments to design shoes. Recycling and upcycling are two strong pillars of Hernan Guardamagna’s work, thus many of the materials he uses are sourced from deadstock or discarded from the fashion industry.
Yuliya V Krylova
Yuliya is a multidisciplinary artist, creating and experimenting in mediums of ecofashion, performance, painting, costume design. Her paintings are often done in the form of channeling. Her wearable art is created using recycled materials and eco friendly methods. She creates site specific performance work collaboratively with other artists
Annamaria Antonazzo
Annamaria Antonazzo, an Italian-born artist, studied Painting and Contemporary Arts at the Fine Arts Academy of Lecce in Italy.
She currently lives and works in London, both as an artist and in the field of education. Her work encompasses a variety of mediums, including painting, printmaking, and drawing, drawing inspiration from literature, cinema, and everyday experiences
Karl-Peter Penke
Karl-Peter is a multi-disciplinary artist with a drawing background and a fondness for intaglio printmaking – something he also teaches at the University for the Creative Arts and the Royal College of Art. He’s had a Bow Arts studio for ten years and loves his space.
Ye Jyde
I am a skilled portrait artist who uses acrylics to create versatile and bold pieces of art.
My work is defined by the interplay of light and shadow, and invites viewers to explore the textures and contrasts that shape our perception. This unique style allows me to capture more than just a likeness of my subjects.
In addition to creating canvas paintings, I also turn my art into prints for T-shirts and souvenir to reach a broader audience.
Access Information
The Royal Albert Wharf Open Studios will be held in our V&A East X Bow Arts Fellowship Space and artist studios. This event is suitable for all ages, and families with children are encouraged to attend.
Our studios has step-free access throughout from street level, including to the accessible
toilet, and is service animal friendly. This venue does not have a hearing loop system.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility at this event or would like to make us aware of any
access requirements that you have in advance of attending please email pandp@bowarts.com.
Transport Information
RAW Studios, Norton Quays, Royal Albert Wharf, London, E16 2QP United Kingdom
Nearest station(s): Gallions Reach (DLR)
Bus: 262, 366, 474, SL2
Parking: No parking available
Bike: Limited lockable rings bike parking available.
Free all are welcome
Join our artist community…
Royal Albert Wharf
Royal Albert Wharf hosts an energetic, inspirational community with over 40 modern and spacious studios within a creative hub, hosting events for the local community.
