This year’s Brighton’s Artist Open House 2024 and other creative ventures!
As the summer draws to a close, and I start to think ahead to next year’s artist open house, I have been reflecting on this year’s artistic ventures and what exactly made them special.
This year was our 4th year of opening for Artists Open House and each year it becomes more apparent why this has become such an important part of my life.
I’ve sometimes learnt this the hard way, by having long periods when there’s been no creative outlet in my life. The last few months are a prime example, where I’ve been focused on my consultancy work, which at times has felt like an uphill struggle. It’s not until I pause to reflect, I remember how much my mood is affected by imbalances in my life. When I say imbalance, what I really mean is spending too much time in front of a laptop focusing on one area of my life. Whereas, when I’m balancing the things I love, i.e creating, running, exploring and spending time with those that give me positive energy, I smile more often and feel the weight fall off my shoulders. It also helps me to tackle/process emotional challenges with a greater sense of gusto and resilience, which has also been much needed this summer.
Almost a year to the date I lost my Dad, I lost another hugely important person in my life, my life coach, friend and mentor. Dave was such a special person, who I will never forget, he gave me so much support and guidance, during times when frankly I was so confused about life. It wasn’t his time, I know he had so much more to give, but for those who had the pleasure of knowing him and I know I can speak for all of us, that he gave something very special to the world.
Apart from helping me through some of the most confusing times of my life, Dave also helped me to rekindle my passion for creativity. Without him, I’m not sure I would have got involved in Artists Open House. Who knows, maybe it just would have just taken longer to get here. But thanks to him, and the tools and guidance he gave me, I can now say ‘I’m an artist’ and have forged so many great connections and friendships because of it.
So, whilst I’m on the subject of special people, I wanted to shout out to all the wonderful artists who exhibited alongside me this year, during Artists Open House, as well as the Exhibition at Colonnade House. People are why I keep opening my home each May, and what gives me the most energy to find new ways of exploring this passion.
This year’s open house was yet another exceptional one! As a special thank you, I will leave the details of these talented ladies below, as a special record of this year.
So lastly, I wanted to thank David Kemp, of DK Architects, who is using the shop front of his business to showcase local artists. You can see some of my floral collection brightening up his window in Hove, (as pictured in the main image), until 30th September.
However cheesy this may sound, I wanted to say a huge thank you to all the people who keep reminding me of all the good in the world. What ever the size of the gesture, it means a lot.
All of my work has an uplifting feel, inspired by living by the sea and my love of flowers.
Some of the mediums have been mixed for the first time this year, combining spray paint and oil paint for my new works. (A section of which is featured above)
In the 2024 festival, I will welcome back Holly and Julie from last year and 6 new artists whose work I also love. Check out the information below for a quick sneak peek!
Onneke Northcote-Green is a Dutch Illustrator and designer, from Seaford
She moved from Amsterdam to the UK when she was 30 and realised to her own surprise that she was a real country bumpkin. She now owns a gift shop with a design studio in Seaford and spends all her spare time roaming the beautiful countryside around her, with her dog Obi. During the first lockdown, she started drawing the local beach, the cliffs, the fields, the forest and the rivers near her and never stopped.
Onneke’s cards, prints and calendars are for sale in shops across Sussex and the UK.
I absolutely love Onneke’s style and highly recommend visiting her shop in Seaford, it’s full of beautiful things you’ll not be able to resist!
Claire Wilson is the textile artist behind Incey Wincey Studio, from Worthing
With her love of pattern and colour and inspired by nature, Claire brings a collection of work combining stitched and printed textiles and paper in a muted colour palette.
Claire’s ink drawings are made into screens which enables her to print her own cards, prints and textiles in her home studio in Worthing.
Alongside her botanical artwork, Claire has created a collection of textiles which includes brooches and bookmarks made with wool felt and Liberty fabric.
I personally love Claire’s collection of birth flowers, the perfect gift!
Holly Swain is a children’s book illustrator from Hove
Holly likes nothing more than creating new characters – quite often wearing knitwear! Her work traditionally uses dip pen and ink and watercolour. She works in a studio in her house, which is very cold in winter, hence why many of my characters are wearing woollens!!
Her characters tend to start in her sketchbooks and many of them take on a life of their own. Bears and badgers appear quite often, both usually wearing jumpers!
Many of her products feature her quirky ink and watercolour characters. These can be found on a range of products from greetings cards to badges to colouring-in posters.
Holly’s quirky illustrations will guarantee to make you smile, whilst her imagination will bring out the inner child in you!
I can’t wait to welcome Holly back for a 4th year, ‘Life Love and Me’. Artist open House wouldn’t be the same without her.
Flo Woolgar-Barrington is an Illustrator & Designer from Saltdean
Flo works on a variety of projects and commissions incorporating playful designs and characters
for Children’s stories and Picture books, as well as Sea inspired imagery.
Her work uses coloured tissue paper, creating vivid, textured illustrations.
She also enjoys illustrating local scenery, often with a Sea or Pool Swimmer. In Vintage retro swim hat or by an Art Deco landmark, in her own unique style.
Many of Flo’s creations can be found on various products. Such as greeting cards, prints, coaster’s and wash bags.
My personal favourites are the lady sea swimmers, in their colourful swimming hats!
Alex Owen is a Brighton based artist and printmaker behind MegaLilyDesign
Alex works from her studio in Hove, creating original linocut prints inspired by Nature and Nurture.
Her nature prints feature flowers and wildlife. She is also fascinated by the meanings and folklore around flowers and plants.
The nurture-inspired prints are a response to working with the themes of the inner child and attachment.
Alex hopes that these prints help the viewer to connect to their inner child and our need for love and connection.
All of Alex’s work is hand-printed and ranges from limited editions and complex reduction prints to open editions.
I’m delighted that Alex is going to be part of ‘Life, Love & Me’, and hope that visitors enjoy her prints as much as she enjoys creating them.
Julie Ingham is a Worthing based illustrator, who designs a range of Coastal inspired prints and gifts
The range includes giclee prints, tea towels, coasters and cards. Her range has been developed with every customer in mind and so her price points reflect this to.
Julie is expanding her Coastal range this year to include a wider geographical area. If you have any ideas of where she should draw next, let her know!
She is also developing the commission side of her work, so if you have a favourite building you would like her to draw, please let her know that as well.
I’m excited that Julie is returning to ‘Life Love and Me’ for a second year, I’m sure her work will be as popular with our guests a second time around!
Lisa Barrett is a fashion designer, from Hanover, Brighton
Designing with the conviction that responsible fashion does not have to compromise style or quality, exploit people, or harm the environment.
Lisa strives to prioritise customers and garment workers in everything she does, engaging the maker and wearer in a creative conversation through timeless, beautifully realised designs that empower women to be their best selves every day and a determination to drive long-term positive change in a damaging industry.
Lisa designs with longevity in mind, producing timeless pieces in simple, versatile, and feminine silhouettes. Dresses and blouses that can be personalised to your specifications are ethically made to order using eye-catching fabrics that weave tales to make garments that become storytellers.”
I personally love the gingham dresses. Especially as you can have them made to specific lengths. I have a feeling the collection will be as popular with the resident artists as they are with guests.
Hilary Phillips is an Art & Textiles educator working in her garden studio and venues around Sussex
Hilary creates mixed media and printed textiles. Her inspiration is nature, texture, colour and organic shapes. Her work is usually linear in style, with a harmonious colour palette.
Her Textile work uses images, transfer printing, screen printing & stitch. No two pieces are the same.
A silver jewellery maker for several years Hilary also creates her signature pod rings that are hand stamped, handmade, and completely unique.
Regular visits to The Isles of Scilly have resulted in her exploring the use of beach findings with her silver to create unique and beautiful pieces.
I love how natural products create organic lines and beautiful patterns. I think the bags are going to be super popular with our guests!
