Sunny Spring Fling was record breaker

GREAT weather brought out even more visitors to this year’s Spring Fling.

A record number of participants explored the 111 open studios across the region, featuring everything from painting, drawing, original printmaking and photography to woodwork, metal-smithing, ceramics, textiles, glass, and more.

Reflecting on the weekend, Natasha Kinsella, from organisers Upland CIC said: “Spring Fling 2026 felt full of energy, conversation and discovery.

“Across the weekend there was a real sense of people engaging not just with individual studios, but with the wider creative ecology of Dumfries and Galloway, travelling through the region, discovering new artists and spending time in venues, cafés and communities along the way.

“It was especially encouraging to see younger audiences and new visitors connecting with the event alongside Spring Fling’s long-standing supporters and members, and to feel that sense of curiosity and openness across the weekend as a whole.”

Among the popular spots to visit were metalsmith Adam Booth’s forge in Kirkpatrick Durham and the walled garden at Barwhillanty Estate where Flock, a display of 1000 ceramic birds made by the region’s schoolchildren was on show.

Visitors also enjoyed seeing a multitude of other studios such as Sarah Ross-Thompson in Portpatrick and From Tree to Sea, Gail McGarva’s site-responsive art installation created from wooden boats in the gardens of Galloway House.