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Brighton and Hove Artists Open Houses Christmas Festival 2018

Besi Besemar November 15, 2018

Brighton and Hove’s Artists Open Houses Festival, the biggest of its kind in the UK, announces dates for its 2018 Christmas Festival.

THE festival kicks off on Saturday, November 24th and will run over the following three weekends, ending December 9.

During this time, hundreds of artists and makers across the city will open their houses and studio spaces to the public, offering the rare opportunity to buy direct from the artists in their own homes.

The Christmas Artists Open Houses festival provides an opportunity to shop away from the High Street and buy unique Christmas gifts.  You will find a hugely diverse selection of arts, crafts, jewellery, gifts for the home, Christmas cards, ceramics and presents for children – plus much more on show.  Many of the houses also offer mince pies and mulled wine.

Along with a fantastic selection of gifts to suit all tastes, some Open Houses are also hosting child-friendly events and craft activities, making it the perfect Christmas destination for all the family.

The festival will take place in Brighton, Hove, the South Downs village of Ditchling and beyond.

The Artists Open Houses Xmas Festival 2018 will run over:

November 24 & 25
December 1 & 2
December 8 & 9


Some highlights include:

♦     Relish Arts Studio
A new studio for 2018, Relish Arts Studio presents the work of four female family members. Hand cut vinyl stencil screen prints by Clo Barrett, elegant ceramic ware by Sarah Sykes, abstract paintings by Kate Thorpe and textile menagerie by Bryony Rose Jennings at 43 Toronto Terrace, Brighton BN2 9UX.

♦     Northern Lights
Another new house for Xmas 2018, Northern Lights has a Scandinavian vibe, just a short walk from Seven Dials. Printed and woven scarves from Alexander and Crofts, DNA leather bags, Martine Jans silver jewellery and Scoffin prints, textiles and Scandinavian decorations. Freshly baked cinnamon and cardamom buns for sale at 29 Lancaster Road, Brighton BN1 5DG.

♦     11 Rugby Road
A perennial favourite and placed in the top three Best Open Houses in May 2017, 11 Rugby Road is a Winter Wonderland of a Christmas Open House – a forest of Christmas trees festooned with decorations fills the lounge (every inch of space is cleverly used). Explore the installation-like displays and discover illustrations, unique cards and custom baubles, exquisite silver jewellery, ceramic flowers and crochet sprouts at 11 Rugby Road, Brighton, Bn1 6EB.

♦     The Snug
Curated by maker Jessica Christie-Miller, whose stunning feature wreaths and wall decorations are real showstoppers, Snug has covetable contemporary jewellery from Alexa de Castilho, ceramics from Rachel Thomas, mixed media from Brionie Porter and an enticing mix of art, sculpture, craft and interior accessories at 7 Caburn Road Hove BN3 6EF

♦     New England House
New England House is home to a whole host of artists and makers studios. They will be opening their doors this Christmas to a unique glimpse inside the life of their artists. Always a party like atmosphere – pop from studio to studio with a glass of mulled wine in hand sampling the art on show and for sale at New England House, New England Street, Brighton BN1 4GH.

♦     One Day Only, Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue
For one day only, the BHPS presents superb quality fine art and craft from 12 of the leading artists and makers in Brighton. Oils and watercolours from Cecil Rice, animal figure paintings from Artist Open Houses award winner Sophie Wake, Sussex coastline inspired paintings and prints from Lisa Green and geometric abstract art from Rod Yarrow, handmade ceramics from Rarebit design, jewellery from Emma Stanton, handmade ceramic tiles from Angela Evans and merino wool scarves and gloves from Jo Cranston amongst others at BHPS, 6 Lansdowne Place, Hove BN3 1FF.

♦     Jehane
Voted in the Top Ten favourite houses in May 2018, Jehane’s Open House shows contemporary artwork in a friendly, beautifully presented space. Brighton-born textile designer Jehane Boden Spiers will be exhibiting the work of seventeen artists from around the world, including her own designs. Popular Brighton-based ceramicists Atelier Stella and Ken Eardley will be taking part alongside new artists from Canada and New Zealand. The show will include jewellery, ceramics, textiles, painting, and print-making at 89 Waldegrave Road, Fiveways, Brighton, BN1 6GJ.

♦     A Journey from Hove to Sagra
Nicholas Carrick
will be showing a collection of his paintings documenting his journey from his home in Hove to his regular destination in Sagra (Spain) to which he has travelled over the last ten years. The work will include his collections of Spanish memorabilia, tiles and other oddities that have given him inspiration for his paintings over the years at 69 Grange Road, Hove.

♦     Grace Eyre Art Studio
The artworks of the Grace Eyre Xmas Show are made by people with learning difficulties. Expect painting, print, textiles, mosaic and photography at Unit 2, Marshals Row, The Open Market, London Road, Brighton, BN1 4JU.

♦     Catarzyna
If you are on the lookout for beautiful Christmas decorations for your home or unique presents for your relatives and friends, then you should pop in to the Polish designer Cat-arzyna’s house – open only at Christmas. She transforms everyday objects with her unique blend of Polish-meets-French style of vintage chic. Expect decorations made from paper, embroidered home wares, handmade dolls, needle felted sculptures, shabby chic painted furniture and much more at 11 St Keyna Avenue, Hove BN3 4PN.

♦     Stanley Road Store
Shortlisted for Best Open House 2017, the Christmas Stanley Road Store promises to be even better. A whole host of talented artists and designers offering jewellery, fashion accessories, home interiors, Christmas decorations, sculptures, pottery and much more. It’s a unique, quirky mix of gifts with a large dollop of humour thrown in at 158 Springfield Road, Brighton.

♦     Rose Hill Rebels
Rose Hill Rebels are a group of residents who take part in weekly creative ageing activities. Funded by the National Lottery Awards for All and supported by the charity Equal Arts who bring artists in to facilitate sessions. Artists include Lanie Le Page who bases her work around nature, using wool, buttons and other mixed media at Rose Hill Court, Rose Hill Terrace, Brighton BN1 5HS.

Brighton and Hove Artists Open Houses, the originator of the Open House movement, date back to 1981 when an artist from the Fiveways area of Brighton, Ned Hoskins, opened his house to the public to view his work and that of a group of friends. Other artists in the area followed suit to form the Fiveways Artists Group. In a city full of creatives, the idea proved popular and soon Artists Open Houses sprung up all over the city.

The Artists Open Houses festival is now the largest event of its kind in the UK. Around 200 houses and studio spaces across the city open their doors for the main festival in May and around 60 open during the Christmas festival. Over 1,000 artists and makers share their work and homes each year.

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