Pop-up studio for Cowal Open Studios

For the first time, POP shop members and Dunoon-based artists, Walter Newton and Stephanie Connelly, will transform our workshop into a pop-up studio and gallery for Cowal Open Studios from Friday 26 to Monday 29 September. 

Cowal Open Studios is an annual four-day event that gives artists and makers around Cowal the opportunity to open their studio doors and for local people to meet the artists and discover their work in person. There are over 50 artists taking part, and two of the POP shop’s members are on the event's Central Route. 

“Not all artists have a studio space where they can display their work and open to the public,” says Hannah Clinch, director of the POP shop. “That’s why we’re excited to have Walter and Steph turn our workshop into a studio and gallery space, so they can showcase their work at Cowal Open Studios.” 

Illustrator Walter Newton has already used our workshop space, including building installations for the Dunoon Community Development Trust West Bay Wonder exhibition, among other projects. He’s excited to use the space to display his illustration work. 

“Pairing up with Stephanie and using the POP shop’s workshop is a novel way for me to bring my work to people of Cowal,” says Walter Newton. “I can’t wait to open the pop-up studio doors and chat to people.”

Walter Newton

“I am a Dunoon-based illustrator, who also works in animation and printmaking. I enjoy working both digitally and with physical media, often somewhere in between."

Read more about Walter’s work 

Stephanie Connelly

“I am an artist and engineer living with ME/CFS. My meditative abstract paintings and silk prints reflect memories of Cowal’s seascape skies and forest trails.” 

Read more about Stephanie’s work 

Supporting our members

The POP shop, based at 28 Hillfoot Street, is a coworking space that supports enterprising people. We have a diverse mix of members, from accountants to artists, gardeners to cooks, and they can hire one of our spaces, including a desk, workshop, shop, gallery or our drinks garden.

Our desk hire is the busiest, and we’ve hired out our spaces for tea workshops, food-growing workshops, small business meetings and other enterprising gatherings. 

“Supporting our members and collaborators through their creative and enterprising endeavours is part of our community interest ethos,” says Hannah. “Our members can hire our spaces for product launches, exhibitions, workshops and more.” 

If you’re interested in becoming a POP shop member, find out more.