So, the Artists’ Open Houses are now over for 2009 and 75 venues will be putting away the Art, getting ready for Christmas, and beginning to think about the run-up to the May festival. My weekend was less busy than the first two. With the Dragonfly House not open all three, there was no invigilation [...]

My name’s Harriet, and I have a jewellery problem. So it has been, is and will be for time immortal. For me, anchored happily in my magpie-like state, the highlight of the festival so far has been catching the work of silver jeweller Gil Stark at workhaus (18a Arthur Street, Venue 7). Using cotton and [...]

New England House (AOH venue 49) has some of the best views in Brighton – a cynic might say that’s because you can’t see New England House from there! It may not be the prettiest 1960s towerblock building, but it houses no end of artists, makers and craftspeople on its many floors. The Open Studios [...]

Gary Goodman will be reading poems among his paintings and drawings at 6 Clifton Street (venue 24). This is the last weekend of the Christmas Open House and features the work of Gary, Judy Stevens, Ingrid Plum, Lizzie Thomas, Carola del Mese, Jonny Hanna, Joy Fox, Helen Cann, Peter Chrisp and Lisa Wolfe, etc – [...]

You may think you have to wait a whole week for the Open Houses to open again, but this week sees a real treat in the New England House Open Studios (venue 49). This is not just one Open House venue, but lots and lots, in this multistorey workshop of artists and makers. Insiders will [...]

Now we’re back with the wind and rain, it’s hard to believe that Sunday was actually a really nice day. So, a week after my planned excursion to Hove, I was on my way. First stop was just before the border controls and Embassy Court (venue 18) to check on my print being displayed there. [...]

What a difference a dry day makes, and all those other cliches! Saturday was once again dreary with drizzle, but it didn’t seem to keep the crowds away. Sunday, however, was a different and kinder kettle of fish, as we shall see…
After the early stint at The Dragonfly House (venue 47), made all the more [...]

First to Blank Gallery (Venue 1), approached via a particularly unprepossessing Portslade road; we filled ourselves with Much Courage and Plenteous Fortitude – and it was worth it. There’s not a lot on sale but it was a great glimpse of what is evidently an innovative and warm community of artists and makers. I loved [...]

Hopefully, the weather this weekend will be a bit more sympathetic to the Open House festival. I must confess on Sunday I only managed to visit Tina Davies‘ award-winning house (venue 50) – I had intended to head towards the sea and thence to Hove, but was beaten back by the wind and rain (well, [...]

Day one of the Artists Open Houses went off with a bang, despite the drizzle. We started off in Ditchling at the Handmade House (Venue 69, 98 Lewes Rd), which, quite apart from having some of the most cosy-looking bedrooms I’ve ever seen, offered some beautiful jewellery from Emma Willcocks, local paintings (and a nice chat) [...]