ERICA LUKE SELECTED FOR DEVON OPEN STUDIOS EMERGING ARTIST BURSARY
We're delighted that Grow studio holder Erica has been selected as one of the Devon Open Studios 2026 Emerging Artist Bursary Award recipients.
The Emerging Artist Bursaries support artists who are taking their first steps into professional arts practice, returning to their practice following a career break or change, or taking their work in a new direction.
As part of Devon Open Studios 2026, Erica will move from her studio into Grow Plymouth's ground-floor project space for a dedicated residency, giving visitors the opportunity to encounter both her finished work and the creative process behind it.
Opening hours and more information about Erica's residency can be found on the Devon Open Studios website.
INSIDE ERICA’S PRACTICE
Erica's practice begins with drawing in her sketchbook, with ideas then developing into paintings and gel-plate prints.
Devon Open Studios provides an opportunity to see more than the finished artwork. Visitors can look through Erica's sketchbooks, see works in progress and discover some of the experiments and processes behind her paintings and prints.
Erica draws inspiration from nature, gardening and green spaces, although her work will often contain a manmade element - perhaps a bridge, a house or another structure within the landscape.
Her colourful and expressive work explores our place within nature, without drawing a firm distinction between people and the natural environment. Colour is an important part of this process, with Erica often exaggerating the colours she observes to capture something of the feeling and experience of a particular place or moment.
ABOUT DEVON OPEN STUDIOS AT GROW
For Devon Open Studios, Erica's project is a dedicated residency in the ground-floor project space. The other Grow Plymouth studios will not be open as part of Devon Open Studios.
There will, however, be another opportunity to explore more of Grow Plymouth during Plymouth Art Weekender 2026, from 16–18 October, when we'll be opening up more of the building as part of the weekend's programme.
ABOUT #DIYRESIDENCIES AT GROW
Our #DIYRESIDENCIES give artists and collectives the opportunity to take over Grow Plymouth's project space to experiment, develop work and test new ideas.
The residencies support artistic exploration across areas including sustainability, food and drink, inclusion, grassroots culture, music and heritage - all with the aim of nurturing Plymouth's creative scene and providing space for ideas to develop.