Hundreds of artists join The Artists Open Houses Festival 2021

The Artists Open Houses Festival, the largest event of its kind in the UK, will take place across Brighton, Hove and villages beyond over five weekends, starting on the Bank Holiday weekend of May 29 and running through to June 27.

The Artists Open Houses festival dates for 2021 are: May 29 and 30, June 5 and 6, June 12 and 13, June 19 and 20, June 26 and 27. Full listings can be found at www.aoh.org.uk

Judy Stevens, festival director, said: “The Artists Open Houses gives festival-goers an exclusive snapshot of how artists live and work.

“There is a hugely diverse selection of artworks on show, from original paintings, prints, ceramics and textiles to photography, sculpture, crafts, jewellery and more.

“The houses are grouped into one of 14 trails around different areas of the city and beyond, each with its own unique character and atmosphere – from the beautiful Regency houses in Brunswick to the colourful fishermen’s houses of Hanover to the urban warehouse spaces of the North Laine and cottages of the South Downs village of Ditchling.

“In our new June slot, alongside Brighton Fringe, the Artists Open Houses will be a central part of the cultural recovery for our city.

“Following on from the May Brighton Festival, the AOH Festival will offer the first glimpse of brilliant new work from artists and makers emerging from the months of lockdown,” Judy added.

“Brighton-based artist Becky Blair is the artist chosen to create a piece of artwork for the 2021 AOH brochure cover and winner of the AOH Brochure Cover Artist’s Award. Her lively and eclectic style, combined with her vivid use of colour and dream-like reflections, has seen her highly-sought-after work sold through exhibitions and private commissions internationally.

“Her latest paintings are derived from her sketches from the Sussex coast, collages of rememberings, expressing the joy of living. From her own experience of darker times (Becky had to give up painting for 12 months after being diagnosed with Lupus), she feels that as an artist it is her desire to share joy.”

Becky will be exhibiting at 66 Brading Road, Brighton, BN2 3PD. Instragram @beckyblairartist

Some of the festival highlights for 2021 include:

Milton House- Winner Best Open House 2020 – Beyond the Level. An eclectic line up of over 14 artists of varying media curated by illustrator Sarah Jones, including prints, jewellery, lighting, and more. Sarah Jones was recently commissioned by Royal Mail to design a stamp featured on their recently published series celebrating classic science fiction novels by British writers. Sarah’s stamp was an illustration of Shikasta by Doris Lessing.

Robertson Yard Studios. Built on the site of a derelict Victorian Soft Water Laundry, Robertson Yard studios is home to 15 arts and crafts practitioners including ceramics, glass blowing, painting, violin making, jewellery, lapidary, metalwork and more. Artists include nationally renowned artist metalworker Jon Mills (www.mrwatt.biz) who has a 3 yearlong exhibition of his children’s book works – the metal characters and props that are used to illustrate the stories, going on show at Ironbridge Museum in May. Other artists include painter Katie Brookes, illustrator Marine Gentils (clients include Tru Thoughts and the NY Times) and jewellery maker Vivienne Ridley, whose work incorporates carefully selected antique and vintage finds.Robertson Yard, 42a Robertson Road, Brighton BN1 5NG www.robertsonyard.co.uk

66 Brading Road (Becky Blair): - Hanover Trail - New House for 2021. Becky is a highly prolific artist, whose professional career as a fine artist started in 1993. Her vibrant and joyful paintings are exhibited and collected worldwide. This past year has seen her work with a local potter Rachel Mary Entwistle and Australian fashion house Gorman, taking her vibrant style in to handmade homeware and beautiful garments. You may have seen her collaboration in 2018 with Habitat, when they relaunched the Brighton flagship store. The Habitat design team transformed her pastel drawing into a giant hand tufted and carved wool rug. Working out of her studio at Phoenix Art Space, Becky creates work for galleries throughout the UK and art fairs in London and Europe; she has had seven sell out solo shows over the past 10 years with galleries in Australia as well as being commissioned by private collectors worldwide. 66 Brading Road, Hanover, Brighton, BN2 3PD.

Faye Bridgewater - Kemptown Trail. International, multi award-winning contemporary artist Faye Bridgewater will be opening for one weekend with the exciting launch of her new expressive Summer Collection, featuring her latest original paintings alongside her brand new Limited Edition prints. 2021 started off with a bang for Faye with a sell-out exhibition, Ritual and Repetitions, at Glyndebourne’s Gallery 94. She has also been featured in Artist & Illustrator magazine, Coast magazine, Sky Arts, BBC South East and BBC Radio Sussex.

10 Dawson Terrace, BN2 0EL

Art at 21. 7 Dials Trail. Sat 19 and Sunday 20. Returning for a second year for one weekend only, this strong group of artists will be showing together in a pop up venue in Hove. Paintings by Kate Scott (whose work was recently featured on in ITV’s Grace), Nick Gardner, Kate Strachan, Gary Goodman, photography by Milena Deparis and missed media Jo Delafons. 1 Rigden Road, Hove, BN36NP

Open Studio at The Cowshed: New for 2021. Take a trip out to the beautiful Sussex countryside and join Jane Johannsen for her first open studio event at The Cowshed. Jane’s semi-abstract, colourful horse paintings and horse prints, plus a chance to see work in progress and a glimpse her process. Joined by jeweller and storyteller extraordinaire Julian Warrender and figurative painter Tina Balmer with her beautiful flower and dog paintings. www.janejohansson.com. The Cowshed, Upper Wellingham Barn, Wellingham Lane, Lewes BN8 5SN

Glyndebourne – Saturday 19 June. An online ‘In Conversation’ between artist Tom Hammick and Glyndebourne art curator Nerissa Taysom. The talk will take place at 3 pm on 19 June. There will also online exhibition on June 19th titled Forces of Nature, which will be Glyndebourne’s first all-women art show.

East Side Print: New. East Side Print is a new and exciting venue to AOH. They are community interest company promoting the love of screen printing, fabric printing and photography through courses from a studio in Kemptown. See demonstrations of techniques, book a have- a go workshop, browse unique screenprints, t-shirts, cards and photographs for sale. www.eastsideprint.org

The Box House: New House – Dyke Road Trail – New for 2021. A striking modern house with the yellow front door displaying work spanning painting, sculpture, reliefs and printmaking. The house features work of abstract artist John Goodison whose textured colourfield paintings, monochrome reliefs and sculpture have been exhibited in several London galleries, notably a special exhibition at Paul Smith Interiors, Albemarle Street in 2019.

His painting featured in an article on a Sydney apartment designed by Jonathan Adler which appeared in Vogue Interiors Australia (Oct 2014). Anna Harvey has had a successful career as a painter, printmaker, teacher and mentor. They will be exhibiting alongside abstract artist Damian Toal, artist/craftsman Tom McGill and the plantswomen Huntress and Forager.

Friends of St Ann’s Wells Gardens Hove – New Venue., 27 & 27 June. 25 local artists will be showing their work each day in the beautiful gardens. Live music, a lovely cafe and plenty of space to picnic. 11am – 4pm.

Stanmer Creatives: New for 2021. Nestled in the beautiful woodlands of Stanmer Park is a treasure trove of eclectic creativity. Come and meet the artists and makers working in their dynamic studios within Stanmer Craft Museum. Stanmer, Brighton