Emma and Matt explain how their new Land and Sea gallery grew out of their shared Open House experience

Would you like to tell us about your new gallery and how it came into being?
At the end of the May ‘25 Open Houses we were talking about how much we enjoyed it and how it would be good to have a more consistent presence across the year. As luck would have it, Emma then happened on a space that was up for rent, interesting location, right between Hove and Brighton.  We went to have a look and instantly saw the potential.  It has a lovely frontage of big windows that stretch around two sides allowing for excellent natural light. We got to work clearing out the space, repainted, changed the flooring and added gallery spotlights – we love the result and those who have visited have been impressed with how we’ve set it up and displayed our work.

The gallery is called Land and Sea, how did it get its name?
Very simple really. Emma paints water and large, dramatic seascapes, full of energy.  Matt paints mainly landscapes (or what exists on the land!) trying to capture the essence, light and spirit of place. So, Land and Seaseemed like a simple, reflective name for the gallery. It also celebrates Brighton’s wonderful positioning between the beautiful landscapes of the South Downs to the north, and the expansive sea to the south. As Brighton-based artists we feel so grateful to be surrounded by so much inspiration for our work.

Would you like to tell us a bit more about your own practices?
Matt uses both oils and watercolours to create artworks in various sizes.  What unifies the work, whether a landscape, or a flora-based subject, is a vibrant use of colour, layering depth and enhancing points of light.  Painting predominately from memory and imagination both small and large works aim to evoke happiness and hopefulness.
Emma is a seascape painter, capturing waves or swimmers caught frozen in a moment in time, drawing attention to the beautiful fleeting moments we enjoy when we consciously remind ourselves to slow down and notice them. The paintings are a celebration of our experiences being in or by the water.

What has being a part of the Open Houses festival meant to you and how has it impacted your plans?
Being part of Open Houses has connected us with the local community and we’re so pleased to now have a more permanent space which allows us to maintain and strengthen these relationships, even in the months between the festivals. We’re grateful to be part of the festival going forward as it’s a valuable platform to meet and connect with more people through our paintings.Have Heart -Matt James Brown

What future aims do you have for the gallery?
Our aim is to provide a welcoming environment that showcases both of our work in an attractive way. We want to make visiting galleries and enjoying art an accessible experience, not something that is reserved for particular places like London or the lanes, or just at certain times of year. We love the idea of people being able to pop in and have a dose of colour and joy on their way to do their food shop, or as they make their way down to the beach. We plan to keep changing our exhibitions every month or so, so that visitors keep seeing something fresh. We’re also looking to have some guest artists involved too as our presence becomes more well known.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
We’d love to welcome you to our gallery soon!

Visit: Land and Sea Gallery
18 Bedford Place, Brighton, BN1 2PT