It’s been one crazy May in Brighton & Hove. Theatre, dance, music and art have invaded and invigorated the city. Sadly, it will soon be time to take down the bunting and the bright blue posters featuring Marion Brandis’ cheeky seagulls will disappear.  Don’t despair, there is still one more weekend to see some great […]

Sunny days, warm weather – a perfect combination for wandering the Artists Open House this past weekend.  So many great houses to see and explore.  Here are just a few highlights from the Kemptown and Fiveways side of things.  It’s hard to see everything and even harder to pick just a few – both trails […]

The weather cooperated for most of the bank holiday and made wandering around the first weekend of Artists Open Houses rather pleasant.  It’s just the start and with four weekends to go there is time to see a lot more.   Here are few highlights from the first weekend: ARCH Angels – # 12 Kemptown Trail – […]

Grab a cup of tea and highlighter because it’s time for the 2016 AOH festival Brochure.  With close to 200 Houses listed this year and over 1000 participating artists, there is a lot to choose from.  Where do you start. Over the last remaining weeks before the start of the festival the AOH Blog will […]

Feature House:  The Dreamliner Arts Club – No Roadside Assistance Required The Talbot Dreamliner Vogue:  icon of the camper van world.  At home in cozy campsites in forests or along hillsides, or traversing the country side or sitting happily at a festival or by the seaside.  And now – a new page can be added […]

Making an event the size and scale of Artists Open Houses happen twice a year could not happen with out these elements:  the massive talents of the artists and artisans involved, the hospitality of the open house hosts and the participation of sponsors from the business and arts community.   ARCH angels is one of […]

Nestled in the hills of Hanover is the historic Church of the Annunciation, built in the mid 1800’s as a place of worship for the poorer labouring families of rail workers and nearby farmers and fishermen.    For a number of years now, this community church has been home to the Brighton Sculptors: 8 or […]

  Behind the Costa Coffee on London road is Atelier 51 – creative home to a number of artists and artisans.  It was here that I met Elaine Bolt at Christmas Artists Open Houses Festival last December.  As we were chatting, she told me about a fascinating collaborative project she is working on with fellow […]

Going Behind the Scenes – the 2016 Artist Open Houses Brochure Photo Shoot Featuring the work of Marion Brandis “Very pleased and utterly surprised” was how Marion Brandis described how she felt when she found out her work had been chosen for this years cover design for the Artists Open Houses Brochure.  Marion is based […]

The winds of storm Clodagh may have blown wildly this weekend, but it didn’t keep Christmas Artists Open House explorers getting out and discovering more great art and craft this weekend.  @handmadebyhippo reported on twitter that Salon Des Sources in Seven Dials had queues outside before opening as did Studio Loo (no 5) in Hove. […]

Number 10 in the fresh-off-the-presses Artist Open Houses Christmas Festival brochure is Bailey and Daughter in Grand Avenue in Hove.  Geoff is an accomplished photographer and his daughter Samantha is an emerging visual artist, working in painting, drawing and sculpture. Goeff had some of his photography on display at last spring’s Artist Open House Festival […]

Exiting Shoreham-by-Sea train station and heading towards the sea there is a bright store front, home to Shoreham Art Gallery.  Inside this friendly shop is a great selection of original art and photography as well as gifts and home items.  Upstairs is the studio of Elizabeth Anne Norris, jeweller and Christmas Open House Artist.  This […]

 Resin bangles by Kathie Murphy at Salon des Sources le (left) The first weekend of the Artist Open Houses is complete.  So many spaces have been transformed into magical places celebrating the best of creativity in their community. The festival continues for with new houses opening this weekend.  Here are some highlights from last weekend. […]

Just one more feature open house post before the festival gets under way this Friday.  The Cicada Christmas Cracker is hosted by Nick Osborn & Moira Macfarlane. As a watercolour artist and jewellery maker, Nick has had great success.  The open house is named for Cicada Jewellery, a line Nick developed in the seventies.  After […]

After a busy summer of pop-up shops and growing online sales, 11 Rugby Road is back for Christmas Open Houses with some new products, great gift ideas and a room full of Christmas Trees. Dan and Adam and co. are looking forward to the flurry of Christmas, but took the time to answer a few […]

Any story about Artists Open Houses wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Ruffells.  Fran Slade, Colin Ruffell and their daughter, Shyama have been enthusiastic participants of both the Fiveways and now, Seven Dials trails for years.  Fran and Colin were one of five or six of Open Houses originals.  They were welcoming hosts for over […]

Exiting Shoreham-by-Sea train station and heading towards the sea there is a bright store front, home to Shoreham Art Gallery.  Inside this friendly shop is a great selection of original art and photography as well as gifts and home items.  Upstairs is the studio of Elizabeth Anne Norris, jeweller and Christmas Open House Artist.  This […]

THE OPEN HOUSE HOST: the planning, the guest artists, the event!  In this series of interviews we ask experienced Open House Hosts what they love about taking part in the Christmas Festival. In the second part of the series we visit Martha Mitchell of Martha Mitchell Design in Hove. A drizzly, grey day did not […]