May 2013
50 posts
Dyke Road Trail: 2) Milton House
Don’t know where to start with an exhibiting at an Open House? Think you have to be a big name or have lots of work? Well, you’d be wrong. Printmaker and illustrator Sarah Jones proves that doing even just a little bit of what you love can spark something extraordinary.
Around six years ago, Sarah decided to submit just four prints, based on iconic Brighton architecture, to an Open House. In...
Sunday Sewing Session @ Knit-1
I really enjoyed my sewing and making session at the Knit-1 studio on Sunday for the Artist Open House Festival. It was a busy and fun filled morning with visitors of all ages. Thank you to everyone who made it to my session and I hope you like your new lavender bags! Knit-1 will be open again this weekend with knitted garments, illustrations by cartoonist, Harry Venning and my printed butterfly...
Interview With The Designer: Jureambox
Post By Emily Kenneally
This week I caught up with Brighton based designer, Judite, creator of ‘Jureambox’ to talk sewing, open houses and fabric shopping. Judite’s hand-made textiles are currently on display at Rattycatcat open house on The Hanover Trail. Read my exclusive interview with Judite to find out more about her work and what to expect from Rattycatcat & Friends this...
Rattycatcat & Friends
Post By Emily Kenneally
This is the first year ‘Rattycatcat & Friends’ have opened their doors for the Artists Open House Festival. Visiting with family on Sunday, we all agreed the displays in this open house were quirky and thoughtful, with little details well thought out (right down to the labels).
I adore these ceramic watch bracelets by Alice Walton and illustrated plates by Katie...
Jane and John on abstract and figurative painting,... →
martadejul:
Pop in Jane and John Weaver’s Open House and feel the energy of a young couple embodied in two committed artists as well as proud grandparents.
Jane depicts reality with (I’m sure) a deep knowledge of perspective, proportions and all that jazz, and distorting them as she pleases. Nothing…
Dyke Road Trail, 1: Quilty Pleasures Studio
If on your Open House adventures you’re inspired by the many talented textile artists, then you might fancy a pit-stop at this shop: Quirky Pleasure Studios.
As well as sewing supplies, and quilting and patchwork kits, they also have a charming collection of handmade toys, by Quirky Genius, in bright coloured patterned fabric and pleasing shapes.
I’m long out of my soft toys days, but...
Art to eat? Yes, please
Just one thing before I start: I love chocolate and I think that art is essential for humankind.
Now I can continue.
There is an unexpected spot in the lovely space of Farm Mews, in Brunswick Town Trial that made my day last Sunday. If it was not good enough to hang around with the artists who very openly chat with you about their work, there is this little stall outside the studios where you can...
Dyke Road Trail: 3) Nine by Nine
Do you know someone who scorns a Comic Sans, laughs in the face of Brush Script and can say more than one thing about the humble Serif? If so, take them to Nine by Nine, an open house full of typographic art, perfect for the designer in your life.
As you enter the house a line of wooden letterpress blocks draws the eye from the hallway into the body of the house and on to…. Richard de...
Dyke Road Trail: 4) The GlooBaah House
Enter Sandy Walsh’s house and you might not leave. With such a warm welcome from Sandy in her inviting family home, you could forget you don’t live there!
Sandy’s open attitude extends towards art. A Dyke Road Trail rep, she’s happy to tell me about the history of the area’s Open Houses, as well as her ideas about the future of the event. Sandy believes that the attraction to the Dyke Road trail...
Kate: My Third Weekend of May 2013 Open Houses -... →
katehelmer:
Fanfare! I am delighted to announce that I have finally finished my Christmas Artists Open Houses challenge and visited the one venue I didn’t manage to get to back in December. Olive Tree Artists, 16 Clifton Street, Brighton on the Seven Dials Trail.
Adam Regester’s Brighton Bunting at…
Seven Dials Part II - Houses 7, 8, 9.
Seven Dials trail, House 7, 8 and 9.
By Nathalie van Meurs
House 7
Sunday, we had a walk along the seafront and I decided to walk up and continue the Seven Dials trail. On Saturday I had done house 6, 10 and 13. Today’s agenda was St Luke’s Church, House 7, House 9 and House 8 (visited in that order).
I knew the exhibition in St Luke’s would be different from the majority of the houses and I...
Fiveways: 182 Springfield Road
vivianlord:
182 Springfield Road is a well-established tour de force in the Fiveways trail. Colin Ruffell and his wife were in fact only the seventh house to ever sign up to Artists Open Houses and are now, somewhat impressively, the longest consistently-running house in the festival. Indeed, the house is packed full of paintings from Colin, wife Fran Slade, daughter Shyama, and beautiful...
Beyond the Level House Number 10 - Jennifer...
Beyond the Level House Number 10 - Jennifer Beresford 115 Ditchling Rise
By Katharine Butcher
Introducing myself as a blogger for the Artists Open Houses has been really fascinating as many of the artists have been very helpful when describing their work and the way they make it. One such artist is Debbie Green who hand builds ceremics. She explained to me the process that she uses for her slab...
Kate: My Third Weekend of May 2013 Open Houses -... →
katehelmer:
I had so many plans for this weekend - I was going to visit loads of houses but unfortunately I had been coping with a stinking cold all week so only managed a few and all fairly close to home. All worth visiting though!
2 Knoyle near Preston Park is an Independent venue run by five sisters…
ond the Level House number 11 - 99 Ditchling Rise
Katharine Butcher
“Any discussion of English conversation, like any English conversation, must begin with The Weather.” So starts the book ‘Watching the English’ by Kate Fox. Well what can I say about the weather on Sunday - it was just ghastly! So to be honest, I did not venture out until late in the afternoon and then panicked when I realised...
Kate: My Second Weekend of May 2013 Open Houses -... →
katehelmer:
Sunday morning was very quiet at our house as our youngest child was away on a birthday sleepover and wouldn’t be returning home until late afternoon. So Mr. Helmer and I decided to take advantage of a child-free trip to some out of town open houses. We began with a visit to Blind Veterans UK, No….
229 Ceramics, Kings Arches Road: An Open Studio On...
Post By Emily Kenneally
Arch 229 is a studio shop located right on Brighton beach, just by the pier. Once a fisherman’s workshop and at the heart of the Artist’s Quarter, this open studio offers heaps of character and a selection of unique handmade gifts. I found it super exciting venturing off trail to discover this gem. I love the fact that as a working studio, it’s not just open at the...
The Hummingbird Studio - Beyond the Level House No...
Like a magpie, I am drawn to shiny, sparkly things so on entering The Hummingbird Studio my eye was caught by Vanessa Pease’s ethic inspired sterling silver jewellery. It was displayed on small pieces of artificial turf which was really effective in showcasing how beautiful her jewellery is.
Jane Davison is also exhibiting here and she uses vintage fabrics to create bags and cushions that...
Lisa's Open House: Fun Cartoons For All the Family
Post By Emily Kenneally
I like to think all the open houses involved in AOH are usually family friendly, but I love the fact that illustrator Lisa Holdcroft has made a real effort to involve children in her open house - for £2 you get a ‘Where’s Wally?’ style quiz with prizes to entertain the little ones. I thought this was very in keeping with the spirit of AOH, making art accessible and...
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Art at 23 (Fiveways area, 23 Harrington Road)
I went along with my blogging friend to see a beautiful house and was greeted very warmly and enthusiastically by owner and artist Marie-Anne Ganpatsingh. House at No 23 is very close to number 24 on the trail map, in fact just round the corner with a big sign outside the leafy front garden. Anne-Marie below with a few of her vibrant paintings
We couldn’t resist the warm cheese scones...
49a Hova Villas (House 3, Hove Arts Trail)
If you’re planning to take your kids (or some that you’ve borrowed) along with you to Artists Open Houses this May, you simply must visit 49a Hova Villas. From the magical, whimsical, umbrella-filled entrance to the flying fox mobile spinning in the breeze by the door, I can promise you that young people and the young at heart will be enchanted by the wonderful work of Andrew James...
Collectors' Selection (House 5, Hove Arts Trail)
I arrived at 43 Hove Park Villas with a battered umbrella and rather soggy shoes, thanks to the weather taking a turn for the worse. Entering the hallway, painted a stunning sunflower yellow, was like stepping into a welcoming ray of sunshine.
My favourite pieces inside the house were the intricate and amusing wooden carvings of John Baldwin, and this amazing bust by Jackie Summerfield with a...
Kate: My Second Weekend of May 2013 Open Houses -... →
katehelmer:
As I had to make a trip into Brighton town centre on Saturday morning I grabbed the chance to pop into the Friends’ Meeting House to check out The Lee Miller Archives Print Room Sale. It was really nice to meet the team responsible for setting up the exhibition of Lee Miller Prints. Anthony…
Brighton Sculptures: The Church, Washington Street
Post By Emily Kenneally
The Church on Washington Street opens its doors again this year to showcase the work of nine different sculptors from around Brighton and Sussex. This hidden away church, clinging to one of the steepest hillsides in Hanover was founded by the Revd. Arthur Douglas Wagner on 15 August 1864 as ‘a little church for the poor’. Describing the parish in 1877 an observer...
The Wolf at the Door (House 6, Hove Arts Trail)
The first thing I noticed on arrival at 49 Hove Park Villas, after the giant wolf sculpture in the front garden, was a room full of smiling faces. The Wolf at the Door is brimming with friendly artisans all too ready to welcome in visitors (umbrellas and all, in my case) and explain the inspiration behind their crafts.
I fell head over heels for the stunning silver and glass jewellery creations of...
My First Weekend of May 2013 Open Houses - Sunday...
post by Kate Helmer
On Sunday morning the weather was glorious so I changed my plans to visit local open houses and decided to go to Ditchling with my sister and her family to see a few there.
Sculpture Garden at Skelton Workshops, Streat Lane, Ditchling
It was almost lunchtime so we took a picnic with us to the first venue, Skelton Workshops in Streat Lane, near Ditchling, where they have a...
My First Weekend of May 2013 Open Houses -...
post by Kate Helmer
My weekend began with a dash to get to the Children’s Parade to watch my youngest daughter, dressed as a soggy sheep (it rained), bang a tambourine on her leg for 2 hours (she complained). It was, as usual, an amazing parade and great to see Michael Rosen leading the children with Bill Randall, Mayor of Brighton and Hove.
Once we dried off back at home, I headed out to...
Seven Dials trail – Part I: AOH 6, 10 and 13
House 6
The small venue on 24 Chatham House has a blue façade with bright green chairs outside. It was still quiet when I came to visit the NHR Organic Oils shop. What immediately caught my eye were the colours of the bags with Liberty style prints, butterflies and cushions that were displayed in the main area of the shop floor. Here you have a choice: Go upstairs to view Kai’s photography or...
Seven Dials Trail: If you see one house...
One of my favourites from the first weekend, The UK Contemporary Open House. Not only a chance to see work from icon street artist, Cassette Lord, but also an opportunity to view an eclectic mix of work from talent as young as 16 years old.
A man who really knows how to doodle, Sam Hacking’s experiments with the mind and creativity result in colourful geometric art, created entirely from...
Seven Dials Trail: Leaving a legacy
How many of us will leave a legacy after we’re gone? Perhaps, we hope that through great work, we’ll leave something noteworthy behind to inspire, challenge or even change the people around us.
At Olive Tree Artists, Rose Kigwana is leaving a legacy, but one which is not based upon personal gain or glory of her work. Rose is donating proceeds of her African inspired children’s...
Seven Dials Trail: Penned with passion
Venture further into Olive Tree Artists house, and into the back garden (a delightful suntrap if you’re lucky enough with the weather), you’ll find Ian Lewis busying over a lathe, turning wood.
Perhaps the phrase ‘turning wood’ is under-egging it a little. What Ian is actually doing, is hand turning small pieces of oak, in a forest of shades, into beautiful pens, right...
36 Cobden Road, The Hanover Art Trail
Post By Emily Kenneally
36 Cobden Road is home to printmaker Janet Brooke and Sculptor, Bryan Ellery. I would go as far as to say it’s the best open house I’ve visited thus far and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone embarking on ‘The Hanover Trail’.
Janet’s prints are inspired by urban environments such as architecture and graffiti. She has created iconic prints from the...
Jamie McCartney's cold breakfast and pussycats
I have found Jamie in his studio, in one of the most charming lanes in Brighton. He was sorting out what seemed to be another chapter of his vast portfolio.
He is busy and his breakfast is lying cold on the shelf.
It is his studio, not his house, I may not be invading his own private space, I feel like I am breaking in with my naive and profane presence, instead.
He speaks with confidence, and I...
The Yellow House
Having changed my flip flops for pumps & my pashmina for a paca mac, I set out with 5 friends to visit The Yellow House on the Beyond the Level Trail (www.beyond-the-level.org.uk). Having visited The Yellow House in Cuthburt Road previously, I was interested to see how Jehane Boden Spiers would ‘colour’ her house now she is in a conservation area! Fantastic - colour co-ordinated from the front...
Susan Evans: Cloudscapes, Seascapes and Landscapes
Post by Emily Kenneally
Cityscape painting by Susan Evans (located in the hallway as you approach the attic). This is one of her most recent paintings she tells me.
Number 4 on ‘The Hanover Art Trail’ and page 40 in the Artist Open House brochure, don’t miss this exhibition of oil paintings by Susan Evans. Evans looks to the skies and landscapes of Great Britain for inspiration. Truly...
Beginning of May 2013 Artists Open Houses
post by Kate Helmer
I first wrote for the Artists Open Houses blog in December last year when I challenged myself to visit all the Christmas Open Houses (54) which I did with the exception of one. Luckily the venue I missed (Olive Tree Artists) is open this May so I will definitely be going to visit them at some point over the next few weeks.
Just to let you know - I have no intention of...
Knit-1: A studio offering world renowned design...
Richard and Sue have successfully produced textile designs for many top fashion companies across the globe since 1992. They have worked with high street brands such as Topshop and Gap for many years as well as high end fashion houses. Becoming experts in their field, Knit-1 keep their finger on the pulse of what’s on trend and innovative within the realms of knit, jersey and print.
Previously...
Interview with the Artist: Michelle Cobbin,... →
ek-hanover88:
Meet Michelle Cobbin from the BareFoot ArtHouse, her home is a tranquil place, filled with beautiful abstract paintings and a selection of sea inspired ceramics by Megan Griffiths. Number 1 in ‘The Hanover Art Trail’, BareFoot ArtHouse has a wonderfully clam and laid back atmosphere in which…
Polish and Pin (House 7, Hove Arts Trail)
Polish and Pin was top of my Must See list this year, which meant I was waiting eagerly outside the front door of 23 Wilbury Gardens at 10.59 on Saturday morning, having spent 10 minutes sheltering from the rain at a nearby bus stop trying to quash the urge to peer in through the letterbox to catch a sneak peek of the art.
The atmosphere at Polish and Pin is incredibly warm and welcoming;...
Seven Dials Trail: Get your scissors out!
The houses around West Hill prove that buying something from an Artist Open House doesn’t have to be expensive. Just pop down to Peggy Poppleton’s Shop and Sixes & Sevens. These houses are like an Aladdin’s Cave, full of glitzy trinkets and unusual gifts, as well as creative kits to make up yourself Blue Peter style - dig out those scissors and Pritt Stick!
Highlights from Peggy’s include:
A...
Blogger intro: Hello from Seven Dials!
Hello there, I’m Claire, the Artist Open Houses blogger for Seven Dials, Kemp Town and Dyke Road area.
Isn’t it funny how you can live for years in a place like Brighton but the ebb and flow of festivals, workshops, events, talks, and the like, can pass you by, even though they were the very reason you moved to a ‘vibrant’ city in the first place. After meeting people...
Photos and Furnishings... and cookies and a two...
When I read about Photos and Furnishing Open House, a question came to my mind: how come the artists decided to exhibit them together? Well, as soon as you walk in this warm space, it becomes a rhetorical question. They match perfectly.
More when you listen to Toby and Zoe talk enthusiastically about their work.
On the one hand you have a photographer in love with the old school photography,...
AOH Artist of the Year 2012: Vanessa Conyers
The May 2013 cover features the work of the 2012 winner of the AOH Artist of the Year Award, Vanessa Conyers. As well as winning the May 2013 cover artist slot, Vanessa also won the opportunity to exhibit her work at the Old Market throughout the festival.
We caught up with Vanessa to find out more about her work.
What is your work about and what are your processes?
My work is about my...
Blogger intro - Katie
Hello! I’m Katie. Nice to meet you :)
I’m a Sussex-based blogger leading a double life; spending my days in an office doing Admin Things for the NHS, and my nights at home covered in glitter and PVA glue crafting up a storm.
When I heard about the opportunity to do some voluntary blogging for Artists Open Houses I couldn’t wait to get stuck in. I can’t enthuse enough...
Volunteer Blogger
Hi, my name is Katharine Butcher and I am going to be blogging about some of the marvellous Artists Open Houses. I love the concept of ‘Artists Open Houses’ and have spent many delightful weekends in May visiting as many as I can and buying ‘cushions, prints, jewellery, cards sculptures, fairies…..’ that I have admired, not to mention eating and drinking lots of ‘coffee...
Central Brighton and Brunswick Town blogger says...
Hello there,
My name is Marta, a happy Brunswick Town dweller. I have a background in theatre, and a passion for all disciplines of arts. I cannot wait to discover what the local artists want to share with the city… and with me!
Jane Denman
I loved my first time blogging for the Open Houses, it was for the 2012 Xmas AOH, I visited Hove and Portslade area. Scooting around on the bus I ended up eating and drinking my way round, buying Xmas pressies on the way, a very justifiable perk of the task I thought. It was an area that I have never managed to reach before and I loved it. As a local artist (painter) myself, it can be tricky...
About me: Nathalie
Hello,
I am very excited to visit the Artists Open Houses this year. I aim to have a curiosity-fuelled perspective and look forward to being inspired!
In my day job, I am a Senior Lecturer in Cross Cultural Management and the research leader for the Business and Management department at Middlesex University Business School in London.
I gained my Ph.D. from the University of Sussex looking at...
The Future Of Great British Design
By Emily Kenneally
During tough times creativity can flourish; we saw this happen with the punk movement in the 70’s and it’s beginning to happen again. In our very city bubbling away in the homes of artists and designers, who aren’t backed my big business or funding, a passion to create the next new fresh innovative idea or product is under way. Often driven by ethics, sustainability and...
A festival for everyone
The Artists Open Houses festival is a festival for everyone. It is open to all, which means that anyone can take part, regardless of their professional standing. This isn’t to say that if you’re not professional, you’re not a ‘real artist’ and there are several open houses that act as a case in point.
Here are three Open House venues, taking part for the first time this year, which demonstrate...
