Creative Courses & Workshops
Open Studios & Art Trails
plus art galleries & exhibitions
live music, theatre & dance festivals - spring & beyond books, flash fiction & poetry
south downs and high weald : issue 47: spring 2025
spotlight on: creative courses spotlight on: art trails & open studios visual arts & contemporary crafts performing arts festivals – spring and beyond poetry, prose & illustration coda
Greetings dear readers, and welcome to the Spring issue of your favourite arts & culture magazine!
Well I'm not usually overly bothered by the cold wet weather that we're subjected to during the winter months, I guess I'm used to it after all these years. But lately I've noticed a yearning for Spring that is markedly stronger than usual. So imagine my relief at the first glimpse of blue sky through thinning clouds and the gleam of longed-for sunshine, and my delight at crocuses starting to appear and the first catkins dancing merrily in the breeze as the days grew tangibly longer. But I'm guessing you don't have to imagine it, I expect we have all been feeling the same!
As the seasons turn and dormant life re-awakens, so too does the activity of the hundreds of artists and makers across the region, feeling more energised and starting to accelerate towards summer. The hours spent in icy studios and workshops, or with numb fingers painting or sketching en plein air are rewarded as the fruits of those labours are prepared for the myriad of art fairs, art trails and open studios events that pepper this richly creative corner of our green and pleasant land.
who’s who & what’s what
creative talent revealed contents editor
Gill Kaye editor.ingenue@gmail.com sales & marketing Roger Kaye roger.ingenue@gmail.com 07583 944546 subscriptions subscribe@ingenuemagazine.co.uk online www.ingenuemagazine.co.uk
https://www.
Sh!t Theatre: Or What’s Left Of Us
Rebecca Biscuit and Louise Mothersole perform a true crime show about folk music and grief at The Old Market, Hove in early April as part of the theatre's Reigning Women season. More about this on page 62-63.
As usual for our Spring issue we direct our spotlight to some of those art trails and open studios. It is impossible to feature all of them, with 147 artists at 112 venues in the Chichester Artists Open Studios alone to a whopping 200 plus artists and makers in South East Open Studios – even the relatively small Steyning Art Trail has around 50 artists participating –we would need an outright tome to include everyone. Our feature, however, selects a smattering to represent each area within our region, and whether you plan a full-on expedition or just the odd day out, there will be plenty of beautiful work to see, interesting artists to chat with and opportunities to take home a piece of art that has caught your heart.
This year, however, we have broken with Spring issue tradition. As our Winter issue was published solely online (due to me being ill, much better now thank you ) we are giving our Creative Courses & Workshops feature another outing under the spotlight. To use a trainspotting idiom, it is a double header! There is a plethora of courses and workshops to satisfy a range of creative learning urges, from sculpture to musical theatre and Japanese calligraphy to enamelled jewellery, and now is the time to book for summer workshops, both home and abroad.
As ever we take a look at the upcoming festival season, kicking off with Shoreham Wordfest's Celebrating Shakespeare, the annual fiesta of all things Bard-ish, which launches with This Is My Theatre's stripped back production of The Tempest on 25th April (see p.51).
"if it's not in ingénu/e
Add to that a full gamut of music and theatre, from the intimacy of the International Interview Concerts and St Leonards Concerts to the majesty of Ellen Kent's classic opera plus a raft of other genres, and the question “what shall we do tonight” is easily answered!
–Gill Kaye, editor
Friday 9th May, 5.00pm–8.00pm: Preview Evening
Saturday & Sunday 10th & 11th May, 11.00am– 5.00pm
Returning for a sixth event at the world-renowned Goodwood Racecourse in the heart of the picturesque Sussex Downs, 90+ exhibitors, each of whom you will be able to meet, will be situated throughout the main hall of The March Stand with 3000+ artworks for purchase.
The event has been curated by the SAF team to include established and emerging independent artists specialising in: Painting, Digital Art, Photography, Sculpture, Mixed Media Art, Glassworks and Ceramics. Spread over three days and starting on Friday 9th May at The Preview Evening, visitors will be the first to view the collections of artists' work along with a glass of fizz before the event opens at the weekend to
the general public. Prices of art start from as little as £50 for prints and smaller works to over £3,000 for outstanding masterpieces, so there will be something to suit every budget.
This year Sussex Art Fair will turn into a ‘Wine, Dine & Art’ event. Book a table in the Double Trigger restaurant and enjoy a wonderful Saturday or Sunday lunch before or after browsing the art on display by our exhibiting artists. Weekend facilities also include a first floor bar and café / restaurant serving teas, coffees and light snacks throughout Saturday and Sunday. The venue is wheelchair accessible. Being one of the largest art fairs within the
pictured: photos from 2024 Sussex Art Fair, by Tim Hills Photography, www.timhillsphotography.co.uk, apart from inset painting by Dr Martín Raskovsky, who will be exhibiting in 2025 Sussex Art Fair
Sussex counties, Sussex Art Fair is the perfect place to begin your art collection, or indeed add to your collection if you are already an art enthusiast. All exhibitor details will be available within the limited edition brochure available at the event as well as in our online version after the event.
Organiser and exhibiting artist Fraser Renton says: “I believe that buying original art direct from the artist is a great way to invest in the future of the arts, and I hope Sussex Art Fair makes this an easy and friendly process for exhibitors and visitors. We look forward to welcoming you in May.”
For up to the minute updates check out on social media @Sussexartfair and go to www.sussexartfair.co.uk for full details and to find information about the exhibitors. And for special complimentary weekend entry, enter the promo code: ingenue
Are you looking for a new activity to take your mind off all the craziness going on in the world today whether it be world news headlines or just to escape those mundane daily tasks? Perhaps we have the answer. We run weekly ongoing sculpture and life drawing courses all year round that you can join anytime.
But in July, our exciting Summer School consists of a variety of short intensive courses.
For example, five-day workshops in figurative and portrait sculpture tutored by professional sculptors Mark Longworth and Hazel Reeves working directly with the life model.
Fancy large scale drawing? The Draw Big Life Drawing bonanza aims to complete life size studies from the life model over four days.
From figurative to abstract subjects, painter and sculptor Michael Joseph is offering an exciting two-day workshop in acrylic painting techniques stemming from his own practice as an abstract artist.
Looking for an interesting feature for your garden? Learn to create, make and take home a sculpture of your own design in five days. Join us in collaboration with Michael for a week of fun creating a tough longlasting sculpture. We’ll take you through all the steps. Only four places so be quick to sign up.
Further details can be found on our website www.artjunction.uk/in-studio-courses or contact us: info@artjunction.uk. We would love to hear from you.
below: Life Modelling in Clay session with tutor Mark Longworth
Welcometo our beautiful studio, set in a lovingly converted oast with charming exposed beams and peaceful views across rolling farmland.
The air is filled with the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked treats from The Oast Bakery, where Alison prepares delicious refreshments. It’s the perfect place to escape the everyday, unwind, and immerse yourself in creativity.
We offer a wonderful selection of craft workshops, including sewing, crochet, needle felting, basketry, paper flower making, painting and drawing, stained glass, lampshade making, enamelled jewellery and block printing.
Whether you’re looking to try something new or refine your existing skills, there’s something to inspire everyone. With a hot cuppa and a slice of homemade cake, you’ll have the chance to relax, learn, and connect with like-minded people in a friendly and welcoming setting.
We also host bespoke craft days for special occasions such as hen parties and birthdays—visit us at www.oaststudio.co.uk, and we’d love to help make your celebration extra special!
above: paper flower making workshop
Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced potter, discover the joy of creating with clay at Chisel Pottery. We are passionate about sharing the art of the potter, to inspire creativity and celebrate the process of making.
Our diverse offerings cater to all skill levels, from one-off taster sessions to in-depth multi-week courses.
Pottery Throwing Taster (2 hours) £90. Perfect for beginners; the basics of pottery wheel-throwing.
Day of Clay (5 hours) £150. Spend a full day mastering the potter’s wheel; shape and decorate your own tumblers, bowls, or vases.
Perfect Date Night: Couples Pottery Throwing Class (2 hours) £150. A unique date-night experience for two. Enjoy a romantic, creative evening.
8-Week Adult Ceramics Courses £350 per term. A comprehensive course covering hand-building techniques like slabbing and coiling, as well as wheel throwing, glazing, and finishing.
What makes us special are our intimate class sizes and personalised attention from our experienced tutors, while our workshops include all materials, professional firing and glazing. And your finished pieces will be ready for collection within four to six weeks, with optional postal delivery available.
First Time Potters Discount: WELCOME10
Our studios are in Selsey and Chichester, for addresses and all details visit www.chiselpottery.com
Like many Scottish painters Catriona Millar is a true colourist. Colour and pattern define her work but beneath the surface they portray the full spectrum of the human condition – joy, hope, longing and melancholy –and often alongside an animal companion.” –Elspeth Bray, former V&A London Curator, Deputy Editor of the Apollo Magazine.
There are very few opportunities to learn the traditional techniques of painting, particularly from an acclaimed artist, which makes Catriona Millar’s art class very special. “We’ve had art students coming to the class to learn the basics of painting that their college no longer teaches,” said Catriona, “these techniques are centuries old and can be applied to oils and acrylics. It’s a pleasure to pass them on and help people develop their work.”
Catriona’s art class runs every Tuesday, 11.00am to 1.00pm, in the newly restored Meads Village Hall, Eastbourne, and is ongoing. The workshop space is large and airy and on the ground floor with disabled access. There is free street parking. Drawing materials and easels are provided along with tea, coffee and biscuits. Ten classes cost £150 and you can join at any time subject to availability.
You can learn to paint in oils, acrylics and multimedia, and how to draw in pencil, pen and charcoal, all in a friendly, creative environment. Students of all abilities are welcome, from absolute beginners to advanced painters, all of whom will benefit from Catriona’s individually tailored advice and encouragement. Catriona is assisted by her husband Roddy, who as a portrait artist counted many celebrities and public figures as his clients including the late Margaret Thatcher.
Interested? Email catrionamillarpainter@gmail.com or call her on 07758 367479. catrionamillar.com
Roz is based in East Sussex where her art practice has a Natural History focus – she takes part in Open Houses regularly and will be exhibiting artwork on Sussex Folklore with other artists at the Crypt gallery, Seaford in June.
Roz is a popular and very experienced tutor and continues teaching her weekly courses in the Eastbourne area at Polegate Community Centre, with a warm, light room, great facilities and free car park outside.
Running on a Monday morning is the creative Print, Collage & Mixed Media course, experimenting with various exciting media and semi-abstract techniques, including Gel Print, Collage and Collagraph.
Roz’s other class at Polegate is Personal Projects on a Tuesday afternoon, when you can make progress with your own work, receiving guidance in developing your ideas and skills, and have practical help in making and selling cards or prints of your work.
Roz is also now teaching fortnightly sessions in Langney at St Barnabas, also with its own car park, where she is running three Watercolour and Mixed Media courses and a new Water-based Paint and Mixed Media course.
She also teaches live Zoom courses which include demos, discussions and relaxed project working, and supportive feedback within small, friendly groups –this Spring is Natural History Watercolour, Mixed Media Landscape, and Gouache & Mixed Media Portraits.
Roz often works with local art groups and societies, delivering demos, workshops or regular teaching –please check the website or email to enquire: www.roznathanart.com roz.nathan@hotmail.com and find her on social media: FB & IG @roznathanart
Award-winning performing arts school LCA Stage Academy, based in Oxted (Surrey), provides a range of performance classes and workshops in singing, acting and dancing, including technique training, one-to-one sessions and a range of performance opportunities for young performers aged 3-18.
LCA Stage Academy, established in 2015, teaches students who are successful in their auditions for a place at several universities studying areas of Performing Arts and in leading drama schools such as The Brit School, Arts Educational, Performers College, Bird College, Urdang, Central School of Speech and Drama and The National Youth Theatre.
BOOK YOUR FREE TRIAL SESSION!
Contact us by emailing info@lca-stage.com for information about classes or holiday workshop times and prices. Join the LCA Family today!
“Amazing teachers who work incredibly hard to get the best out of the young people they work with! The passion and commitment they bring to every session is reflected in each and every youngster up on that stage!!! So glad we found our LCA family!” –Parent of LCA student. www.lca-stage.com for further information.
The
Collaborative Canvas is situated in the heart of Eastbourne, at The Enterprise Centre. We are a Community Interest Company providing ‘art for wellbeing’ workshops to individuals and small groups. We don’t expect our customers to be professional artists and if you haven’t picked up a pencil or paintbrush since school, it really doesn’t matter. We encourage individuals to come along to learn the basics of a variety of water-based media and make connections, with informal instruction from our resident Art Facilitators.
Workshops can be in small groups or can be offered as one-to-ones. As a registered centre for Arts Award, we support children and young people, aged between 11 and 25 years old, to complete their Trinity College, London accredited courses through guided, one-to-one tutorial support. Arts Award’s mission is to support children and young people to enjoy the arts, to connect with and take part in the wider art world and develop creativity, communication and leadership skills.
During 2024 we have been working with a variety of Sussex-based artists and makers, such as Liv & Flo, Lynn Watt, Vicki Disney, Graham Matthews, Sharon Randall, Kay Hilton, Alan Pearce and Emma Bennett, through their teaching and their creative output. We also offer ‘art hot desking spaces’ for artists and makers to work with others in order to combat creative isolation in daily crafting and making. More information at collaborativecanvas.org or contact: collaborativecanvas.art@gmail.com T: 01323 552733 FB: The Collaborative Canvas IG: e.bennett_artwork
pictured above: Liv & Flo Ceramics
Announcing our 2025 programme of exciting Art Weekends at Jessops Farm Studios.
Join us in our studios set in the picturesque countryside of rural Kent for a friendly but intensive workshop experience to set your creative juices flowing. This year we are exploring some new and inspiring themes. Cathy Bird and visiting tutors will encourage you to try out some processes you may not have used before, along with re-visiting old friends afresh.
Loose and Free – walking the edge of abstraction; Pastels and Oil Pastels – exploring the potential of these media;
Painting Dancers – inspired by Degas or Lautrec; Ink Painting and Drawing – the excitement of pen, brush and ink;
Mixed Media Creative – let your inner artist loose; Drawing – the Basics and the Adventures;
The Flower Room – experience being surrounded with flowers;
Picasso on Paper – Discover what you can learn from the master.
For dates and further course details, please visit www.weekendarting.com or call Cathy Bird on 01892 870067 or email weekendarting@gmail.com.
Jessops Farm Studios, Tonbridge Road, Bough Beech, nr Edenbridge TN8 7AU.
Jessops Farm Studios, the flower room
From29th May to 3rd June in Quinta Galegas, Portugal, Julia is running a botanical and herb inspired art retreat along with daily herbal talks and walks with herbalist Vivienne Campbell. A mixed media sketch book is provided as well as delicious nutritious food, with a group evening meal each day.
The five-day retreat starts with a buffet lunch, settling in and an evening meal. The following days are filled with art practice and sketching, art workshops, observational drawing, plant studies, mark making, meditative drawing exercises, and Qui Gong practice. There are herbal walks and talks with Vivienne, foraging for plants, composition and printing with plants, art meditation practice and demo, plants and inks workshop, watercolours and pen and ink, composition and designing a box canvas art piece along with a demo and priming board, and lastly painting and printing the final art piece using methods explored. There is also plenty of free time to enjoy the grounds during the week.
More locally, on Sunday 27th April Julia is running a Cyanotype Workshop at Petworth House Spring Festival and a creative two-day workshop at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum on 28th and 29th June.
Visit www.wealddown.co.uk/courses and www. nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/ sussex/petworth/events for further details. Also visit www.juliawhiteart.co.uk where prints of her work are available, and follow on Instagram @juliawhite. (See adverts on p.13)
above: Lake House; below: box canvasses
Abarn on the Artelium wine estate in East Sussex is now home to a creative haven: Skelton Workshops. Being close to Ditchling, Lewes and Streat with panoramic views of the idyllic downland, it provides a marvellous learning environment.
Here students of all ages and from a wide range of backgrounds bring enthusiasm for a hands-on experience. By working at benches, with chisels and mallets on a range of stones, and with the guidance of expert and friendly tutors, students learn the tradition of hand carving and the skill of letter cutting. The atmosphere is always supportive with students sharing ideas and problem solving together. Their creativity results in impressive work.
The roots of the workshop have their origin in the life of celebrated sculptor, letter carver and educator John Skelton (1923-1999). His talent and skills have been passed down through his daughter Helen Mary Skelton, who established Skelton Workshops along with colleague Paulien Gluckman over twenty-five years ago to educate and develop students' ability. Classes have been taught continuously since the Millenium and the development of students is reflected with the current tutors, all of whom were one-time students at Skelton Workshops.
For more information about all the workshops visit www.skeltonworkshops.co.uk
Have you ever wanted to learn more about working with natural dyes? Susan will be teaching at the beautiful Sussex Prairie Garden studio, set in acres of prairie style planting – relaxed workshop retreats for nature lovers, suitable for beginners or those with more experience. Here's what to expect:
Friday 25th April: Introduction to Batik with Plant Dye Extracts. An introduction to the wax resist technique of batik; experiment with a range of tools and dyes to hand paint colour onto paper, silk and cotton.
Saturday 5th July: Stitched Mini Landscapes. Select a range of naturally dyed fabrics, make a landscape inspired textile with hand-stitched details.
Saturday 25th to Sunday 26th July: Batik Weekender. A two-day workshop; produce a larger wax resist wall hanging or scarf, either hand painted or natural indigo vat dip dyed.
Saturday 2nd August: Natural Dyes and Inks. Explore natural dye extracts for painting on fabric and botanical ink for drawing on paper. Create your own colour charts.
Courses run from 10am to 3pm; £75 day, £120 weekend workshops. All materials, tea, coffee, biscuits, and garden entry are inclusive. For more information visit www.susandsouzatextileartist.com or www.sussexprairies.co.uk. Contact Susan to book on info@susandsouzatextileartist.com. Susan will also be at Firle Garden Fair from 18th to 20th April with new natural dye sewing kits and textile artworks. Batik weekend workshop
WestDean was founded with a mission to preserve traditional crafts in the face of an era of rapid industrialisation. Fifty years on from its inception and this institution continues to uphold this foundational commitment. West Dean’s Japanese week scheduled for the last week of May is not just an opportunity to explore calligraphy, woodblock printing, pottery and more, it will be at the forefront of saving traditional papermaking techniques from extinction.
Amongst the varied programme of Japanese influenced arts and crafts is a unique opportunity to learn the art of Japanese papermaking from a master craftsman flying in direct from Tokushima, Japan. Awagami paper factory, run by visiting tutor Yoichi Fujimori, is one of four remaining facilities in the world which still produce high quality Japanese papers in the traditional way.
West Dean tutor Akiko Fujikawa, a key organiser of the event, hopes that Mr Fujimori’s course and the students that attend will play a pivotal role in protecting this beautiful paper making technique for generations to come. “I wanted to invite Yoichi to come and teach in person out of respect for his craftsmanship and the accolades he has acquired. Once he has taught at West top: Rie Takeda, Japanese calligraphy above: In the Awagami paper factory pto _
West Dean continued/...
Dean I hope to continue teaching this special technique to ensure its continued survival.”
This landmark event has only been possible with the generous support of The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and promises to be another important contribution to the preservation of craft at West Dean.
Japanese Week:
Traditional Japanese paper making, Yoichi Fujimori, 25-28 May
Japanese calligraphy and ink flow, Rie Takeda, 25-30 May
Exploring Japanese pottery techniques, Rie Tsuruta, 25-28 May
Japanese woodblock printed landscapes, bound in a hand scroll, Lucy May Schofield, 25-30 May
The art of imperfection in painting – wabi sabi, Helen Turner, 25-29 May
Japanese hammer chased and inlayed moon dish, Wayne Meeten, 25-30 May
Indigo dye artworks on Japanese paper, Mieko Fujimori, 28-30 May
Full details can be found at westdean.ac.uk
Sunday 27th April
Botanically inspired artist/printmaker and art facilitator Julia White is running a Cyanotype Workshop at Petworth House Spring Festival, details at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/ sussex/petworth/events
From March to May
Julia’s work is on display and for sale at BN5 Gallery, Henfield
28th & 29th June
Julia will be running a creative two-day workshop at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum www.wealddown.co.uk/courses
More info at: www.juliawhiteart.co.uk where prints of her work are also available. Follow on Instagram @juliawhiteart
Art and Herb Retreat
Quinta Galegas-Portugal
ARTretreat with Artist and Printmaker
Julia White botanical and herb inspired
Mixed media sketch book provided @juliawhiteart Instagram
29th May-3rd June
LCA STAGE ACADEMY’S MUSICAL THEATRE 2025 Summer Workshops
Performers who join us for our 5-day summer workshop are wrapped up in a wonderful world of all things musical theatre, learning songs, scenes and dances from different musicals, ending the week with a demonstration performance for friends and family on the final day. The workshop is suitable for ages 6-18 (split into age groups) and is a perfect way to spend a week of the summer holidays! Performers will learn new techniques, build confidence, meet like-minded people, and work as part of a team in a fun, creative, safe and professional environment. Please note places are limited.
WHERE: OXTED SCHOOL, EDEN HALL
WHEN: MONDAY 28TH JULY - FRIDAY 1ST
AUGUST 2025 | 10-4PM EACH DAY*
PERFORMANCE ON THE FRIDAY!
COST: £140PP
SUITABLE FOR 6-18YRS (split into age groups)
*Early drop off time available. Please enquire regarding fee
Looking for something different to do?
We are a friendly open studio where all levels of experience are welcome, running ongoing courses in life drawing, figurative and abstract sculpture.
Casting service, bisque kiln firing available, studio space for rent.
Any questions? Contact Marji at: info@artjunction.uk
Visit www.artjunction.uk
Natural History Artwork / Courses / Demos
Regular studio courses in Polegate & Langney
Creative Print, Collage & Mixed Media / Personal Projects
Watercolour / New – Water based paints & Mixed Media
Live, fun, group Zoom courses
Mixed Media Portrait and Landscape / Watercolour Natural History
Art Societies – demos / workshops / regular teaching 1-1 or small groups – private studio / home sessions
For details and testimonials: www.roznathanart.com
Contemporary Craft Painters, poets, weavers, welders, gardeners, gilders, calligraphers, conservators…
Whatever your craft, whatever your level, there is a short course for you at West Dean. Learn from expert tutors in state-of-the-art studios, or study in your own time with distance learning.
Be inspired at westdean.ac.uk
Provides ‘art for wellbeing’ workshops to individuals and small groups
Studio/gallery space showcases the work of Sussex based artists and makers
Art hot-desking spaces for artists & makers
Enterprise Shopping Centre, Eastbourne, BN21 1BD collaborativecanvas.art@gmail.com 01323 552733
The Collaborative Canvas e.bennett_artwork
South East Open Studios (SEOS) is one of the most established annual artist open studio events in the UK and has been running since 1996. It takes place during June, showcasing creative talent, and strengthening visual arts in our corner of the South East.
SEOS brings together the work of hundreds of contemporary artists and makers around parts of Kent and East & Mid Sussex. Each year in June, artists and makers open their working studios to welcome the public. Every type of work is on show – sculpture, glass, jewellery, painting, wirework, woodwork, photography, textiles, and more – for visitors to view, purchase or commission. Plus, it’s a fantastic opportunity to meet makers and artists, as well as discover some of your favourite local artists; follow their work and exhibitions on the SEOS website all year round, and enjoy being part of your local artistic community!
SEOS brings the creative talent of Kent and Sussex artists to you and invites you to discover and learn about their inspiration and ideas behind the work. There will also be the opportunity to watch the artists at work, if they have indicated that they will be demonstrating their skills.
You can explore who’s taking part by picking up a
guide in the many outlets, cafes, libraries and local venues, as well as visiting the website. There you can find artists by their medium, which is especially exciting if you’re an enthusiast for a particular medium of art or craft. This allows you to plot your own trail of discovery. In addition to a map of each studio, the new features on the website also show you which other studios are taking part nearby. There will also be art trails for some of the areas available to download on the website to help plan your visits and days out in a particular area.
Quoting one of our artists, Bill Gowans of Ashdown Pottery shares his experience of being an SEOS artist and what visitors can expect to find when visiting his studio:
“As a potter, I have been part of SEOS for several
years and have enjoyed the many encounters, new connections and sharing of ideas that the event has brought me. We make, exhibit, sell and teach here in the idyllic surroundings of Ashdown Forest and specialise in classical stoneware ceramic forms with a modern twist for house, table and garden. Colour is at the heart of our work, and I develop and mix all our glazes with a palette that reflects our life in the forest.”
Find out what members of your communities
are up to. You never know, it might inspire you to have a go yourself and start a new hobby or discover a hidden passion. Many of our artists offer taster workshops and tuition in their studios, some even teach online. Start your journey of discovery this June!
South East Open Studios runs from 6th to 22nd June. To find out more visit www.seos-art.org and follow @seopenstudios on social media.
below: Gaynor Pattle, mixed media artist; left: mixed media painting by Gaynor Pattle; right: glass vessel by Beverley Bunn, glass artist
opposite page – top left: Scarlett Woodman, fine artist; top right: Katie Brinsley, ceramics; bottom right: Bill and Anthea Gowans, Ashdown Pottery; bottom left: Pot and mugs by Ashdown Pottery
this page –below: Heidi Laughton, contemporary artist; left: Alistair Payne, sculptor
below: Sarah Bourne, mosaic sculpture; bottom: Charles Dickinson, artist blacksmith
The Artists Open Houses are here again this May, stretching out across the city of Brighton and Hove to the surrounding villages, including Ovingdean, Ditchling and Hurstpierpoint.
You can find out where all are situated by taking a look at our online guide at: aoh.org.uk, or picking up an AOH brochure at local stations, libraries and museums, as well as at all the Open Houses themselves.
Highlights this year include Kate Jenkins, AOH brochure cover artist and creator of extraordinary crocheted food art; the Regency Town House, where No Hard Shoulder offers music, performance and screenings alongside great sculpture and painting; and Darker with artists working across media to explore the subconscious and the provocative.
At Pioneer Arts, talented artists with learning disabilities and/or autism, present powerful and expressive works across a range of media. At Gallery Lock In two photographers challenge conventional lens-based photography in new and thought-provoking ways. And don’t miss Adelaide Salon’s twenty-fourhour performance artists’ pop-up.
While for more traditional art lovers, visit 1 Rigden Rd
to view beautiful painting, sculpture and jewellery; or Hygge, where Scandi-inspired artists and makers offer a range of ceramics, lighting, textiles and wood work – alongside home-made cakes in the garden.
For a special treat, make sure to visit two Open Houses celebrating twenty-five years of taking part in AOH this year; Fiveway’s ceramicist Frances Doherty at 61 Sandgate Road and renowned Hove painter Dion Salvador Lloyd.
Have a great day out – be inspired by art, meet the artists and makers and enjoy tea and cake in an artist’s home or garden – and maybe buy some art to take home! Visiting the Artists Open Houses is an experience like no other.
Weekends throughout May, 3rd to 26th.
For more information visit www.aoh.org.uk
left: Frances Doherty, Lily-hybrid; below: Mario Antoon, Pioneer Arts, Black Ink Jar With Flowers
It’s the start of Spring and Dianna’s botanical works have taken root at The Affordable Art Fair in Battersea Park once again with Will’s Art Warehouse, on a stand dedicated to botanical artists. She has taken her large works, including Paeonia ‘Coral Sunset’, Composition with Lupin, and Hydrangea I, along with works from Marie Robinson and Rose Sanderson. The Affordable Art Fair runs from 13th to 16th March.
Dianna will also be exhibiting at the Artists Open Houses Festival, Brighton, each weekend in May at the Sussex Nightstop House, supporting the Sussex Nightstop Charity which provides overnight accommodation and support to young people aged 16-25.
Homelessness is a subject close to Dianna’s heart and aligns with her belief in Light in the Darkness; how dark times can lead us to into the light times again. Sussex Nightstop opens that door to Brighton’s homeless youth.
There will be an online auction of donated artwork by the participating artists with all sales going to Sussex Nightstop. For all information please see http://www.sussexnightstop.org.uk/artwithheart Visit www.mybotanicalheart.com to see more of Dianna's work, and find her @my_botanical_heart top: Dianna Jazwinski, Hydrangea I
VeePease designs and makes beautiful jewellery in her West Sussex studio. She finds inspiration in her daily walks on the Downs, and also from her travels to India and Morocco. Vee works predominantly in silver with semi-precious stones and beads.
She is taking part in Brighton Artists’ Open Houses this May, in the village of Ditchling. Vee will be exhibiting alongside painter Penny Sanderson, ceramicist Claire Scott and mixed media artist Ruth Waters.
Vee, Penny, Claire and Ruth will be at The Annexe, 82 East End Lane, Ditchling, East Sussex BN6 8UR. The Annexe will be open every weekend in May from 11am to 5pm. Visit www.vpjewellery.co.uk to see more of Vee's jewellery.
right: Vee Pease, Sterling silver pendant necklace with turquoise, carnelian, garnet & peridot beads below: Claire Scott, Stoneware jugs
right: Penny Sanderson, Lily; below: Ruth Waters, Coastguard Cottages, Seven Sisters
Oyez, oyez, oyez! Calling all art lovers and history enthusiasts! The Steyning Art Trail 2025 is promising to be a fabulous day out.
Explore beyond the streets of medieval Steyning and visit some amazing venues which will be showcasing our talented local artists and makers.
A new addition this year is The Hall at Penns Cottage. This grade 2 listed property was used in the 1600’s by the Quakers. Other historical treats include Old Timbers, a 15th Century home with Jacobean additions, and the 500 year old Brotherhood Hall. The Museum will be open for information on the history of Steyning, and the all-important Art Trail maps.
A short distance from the main streets, you’ll find artists’ own homes, studios and workshops showcasing work in ceramics, fine art, textiles, jewellery, furniture making, photography and more. You will be able to meet the artists as well as purchase unique pieces at affordable prices.
Two special additions to our 2025 trail will be the work of Steyning Grammer school students on display at the school, and the artists from Making It Out showing in the ancient barns they have carefully restored. What a treat! But don’t take our word for it, come and see for yourself.
Open daily from 11am to 4pm on 23rd, 24th, 25th May, 31st May and 1st June. www.steyningarts.co.uk
Imagine a world without art, one where we lived in identikit homes and towns. A world devoid of joy, colour, and commentary. A world where ways to understand and express ourselves were limited.
Imagine how awful it would be.
Art is important, not just for our local economies, but for our souls.
That’s why visiting a local art trail or exhibition is crucial this year.
You might not like everything you see in an art trail venue but, hunting down the artwork you do eventually fall in love with is all part of the fun.
Other fun bonuses of Art Trails – they’re free, you get to look inside other people’s homes, it makes artists really happy and there’s usually tea and cake involved.
This year I’m taking part in my local Art Trail with Steyning Arts.
I’ll be showing prints of my colourful South Downs landscapes. Each view is painted to encourage you appreciate the familiar views of the South Downs anew.
Jim says, “Sarah has transformed the landscapes of the South Downs creating magical images that the viewer really wants to become part of”.
Treat yourself to a day out at an art trail this year, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
The Steyning Art trail takes place in Steyning on weekends from 23rd May to 1st June.
Find out more about my Art Trail venue and exhibitions at www.sduffieldart.co.uk.
We are 25 in 2025!
7/8th, 14/15th & 21/22nd June
Let's make this a very special year for the Adur Art Collective and the Art Trail! It's twenty-five years since the first Adur Art Trail was launched and to celebrate we have more new venues and artists than ever to visit, alongside old favourites such as Houseboat Verda, Shoreham Airport and St Mary de Haura to mention just a few.
Look out for exciting new venues, The Circular Space and the Ropetackle Centre which will become a 'hub' for the duration of the Trail, offering an overview of the artistic offering for 2025 and some relaxed workshop sessions.
The Circular Space will display a cross-section of work by the various creative groups that use the space over the three weekends of the Trail. It's a great opportunity to see the work they do and peek inside the Scrap Space if you haven't been there.
Brochures will be available in many outlets across the area and at the various Saturday markets in Shoreham during May.
We'll also be launching our new improved website around this time.
Watch out for updates, more details and information on our website and social media pages. www.adurartcollective.co.uk
Facebook and Instagram: @adurarts
from top: Gill Dixon, On the Pitch, acrylic on canvas; Amy Frankie Smith, Porcelain Lamps; Catherine Whiteoak, Useless Bag, assemblage – Adur Art Trail
17/18th and 24/25th & 26th May
Thinking of Spring, yes please! After the Autumn and Winter we had, Spring is definitely needed. I write this in February; the days are getting longer; lighter days to paint. My oil paints are unearthed from their winter slumbers and palette knives cleaned. Wonder what size I will paint today? Will it be landscape or seascape? Hmm. The landscape is not Spring awake in February, perhaps it will be a seascape from near my home. The sea never hides from view and is always changing its face, always interesting and awake.
You may view my vibrant, contemporary sea and landscapes during late Spring, part of the Open Studios Trail. Finding me is easy at PO22 8NJ, two minutes off the A259 between Littlehampton and Bognor (Hoe Lane, Flansham). A delightful barn with easy access, ample free parking. Other artists will be close by. Please put in your diary five days, 17, 18, 24, 25 & 26 May; choose your timing to see over 100 paintings in my spacious surroundings; maybe visit new areas of West Sussex? Colour brochures available late April. chichesteropenstudios. org. My e-mail: smoart@btinternet.com.
below: Susie Olford, Turbulent Rocks, oil on panel.
17/18th and 24/25th & 26th May
Spring is on the horizon and as I write this we are all hoping the rain will stop and let us get out into the countryside and visit the coast. Another year has flown
by and spring finds the artists preparing for the local art trails.
Multi-media artist Linda Foskett, manager of the little art gallery in West Wittering, will be taking over the gallery space again, displaying her own work for Chichester Art Trail. Linda has exhibited for over twenty years and is proud to know her work can be found in collections not only in the UK but also across the world.
There are currently quite a few new paintings in progress in her
studio, and smaller silver and enamel items in her workshop.
Linda says “As well as the paintings, I have also made new enamels including flowers and some silver and anodised aluminium jewellery, I will do a big reveal nearer the Trail. Then, for the summer, the gallery will again be filled with work by our other artists. We always enjoy seeing what new work they bring in and working out how to display it.”
The gallery's opening hours are flexible so please check the website before you visit; they are always happy to open at other times by appointment. And Linda is happy to show people her studio, which is the ethos of the trail, so visits would need to be arranged outside gallery opening times. Please contact Linda on linda@thelittleartgallery.online, 01243 512218 or via https://www.thelittleartgallery.online/
and 24/25th & 26th
Katherine Lawrie creates work inspired by her love of the natural surroundings found in West Sussex. The flora, fauna, and wildlife of the South Coast are a constant source for creativity. From ancient woodlands to the Sussex Downs, this region is home to an incredible diversity of species, while changing seasons bring colour and textures, making the area a truly special place to cherish.
She crafts her pieces in silver and gold, infusing each design with symbolism and meaning for the wearer. Her work is characterised by rich textures, gemstones and a rustic elegance, creating jewellery with depth, character, and a timeless feel. Every piece tells a story, blending artistry with personal significance.
As an established jeweller Katherine believes it is important to pass on craft skills. Through teaching, and sharing her knowledge, she hopes to inspire others to appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship behind handmade jewellery. Katherine offers jewellery making workshops at her studio near Arundel.
West Sussex, held on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year.
Katherine’s studio/workshop will be open as part of the Chichester Open Studios at the end of May and the Arundel Gallery Trail in August.
She will also be participating in the Steyning Arts Trail in May/June (see page 22) www.klawriejewellery.co.uk @katherinelawriejewellery
Art
lovers, collectors and the creatively curious are invited to explore the Chichester Open Studios Art Trail, returning for two inspiring weekends: 17th & 18th May and 24th & 25th May. Some venues will also be open on Bank Holiday Monday 26th May.
This year's much-anticipated annual event showcases 147 talented artists across 112 venues, offering a rare opportunity to step inside their working studios, gain insight into their creative processes and purchase original works directly from the makers.
From painting and printmaking to ceramics, sculpture, textiles, metalwork and beyond, the Art Trail celebrates a diverse range of artistic disciplines. Whether you’re drawn to contemporary abstraction, traditional landscapes or cutting-edge mixed media, you will find something to spark your imagination.
A free printed Art Trail Guide is available to help visitors navigate the trail, and clear signage will be in place to direct you to each studio. Plan your route, meet the artists and experience the vibrant art scene of Chichester and its surrounding areas.
For full details, including an interactive map and artist previews, visit chichesteropenstudios.org. Don’t miss this chance to engage with art in its most authentic setting – where creativity happens!
Taking place over two weekends in June, the Horsham Artists Art Trail has venues in artists’ homes, gardens, studios and retail locations. Chat to artists in a relaxed environment with work on display ranging from watercolours, acrylics and oils, to ceramics, glass, jewellery, textiles and sculpture.
Venues are spread around Horsham District, so whether you can only spare a morning to visit your nearest one, or challenge yourself to visit them all over two weekends, there’s a wealth of inspiration and relaxation for art lovers.
If you are looking for a unique piece of art for your home or office, or for gifts, there will be a wide choice of items for sale with prices to suit all budgets. And whether you’re looking to buy – or just looking – all are welcome.
A brochure and map to help visitors plan their visits will be available from venues across the district nearer the time and a downloadable version will be on the Horsham Artists website. For up-to-the-minute information, visit https://horshamartists.org/ where you can sign up for the Horsham Artists’ newsletter and follow them on social media @horshamartists.
It’s that time of the year when yellow bikes, banners and posters appear all around the Sevenoaks and Eden Valley areas. Each bright bicycle indicates a studio nearby (see photo above). It’s the season of the arts and your opportunity to dive into the creative life of this area of outstanding natural beauty.
The Art in June experience brings you up close to the makers with a rare opportunity to talk to the makers and artists themselves, maybe watch them demonstrate (see photo below), maybe take a workshop with them and find out how to do it!
Visit our website artinjune.org for information about the event and the artists participating. You can make your choice based on the art that attracts you. You can design an outing with a friend. If you’re energetic, there are bike trails and even a walking trail. Refreshments are offered at many of the studios. We look forward to welcoming you!
For a foretaste of what is on offer, visit ‘Dialogues and Connections’ group exhibition, at Kaleidoscope Gallery in Sevenoaks from the 21st to 31st of May.
All information at artinjune.org
A contemporary gallery space between city and sea showcasing work by local artists.
Gift vouchers available. Core opening times may vary, check website for details. We are always happy to open at other times by appointment.
West Wittering, West Sussex PO20 8LT 01243 512218 • www.thelittleartgallery.online
Chichester Open StudioMay 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th, 26th
Jewellery Making Workshops Commissons taken
7-8 and 14-15 June
Open over two weekends from 10am to 5pm - Entry free
Sat 17th May – Sun 18th May
Sat 24th & Sun 25th May
Bank Holiday Monday 26th May
Opening hours 10.30am - 5.00pm
Sat 18th & Sun 19th May
Sat 25th, Sun 26th & Mon 27th May
Opening hours 10.30am - 5.00pm
Preview the Chichester Open Studios Art Trail at the ‘Snap-Shot’ Exhibition April 15th to 27th at Oxmarket Contemporary, Chichester. The Exhibition offers a glimpse into the diverse artworks that will be featured in the 2025 Art Trail
Free Entry
A celebration of 80+ artists and makers across Sevenoaks, the Eden Valley, Kent and Surrey border 6-22 JUNE 2025
From solo studios to those exhibiting together, there is nothing more magical than being able to enter the world of an artist. Come meet us. Chat and see us demonstrate and, if you so desire, take part in one of our workshops. Look out for our FREE guide or visit our website to learn more about our artists and plan your visits.
If you spot a yellow bike, that means there is an artist or studio close by!
Fri 16 May – Sun 18 May: 10am–4pm
Meet over 50 makers at Standen, showcasing their heritage craft and contemporary design skills. Demonstrations throughout the day in a marquee on the Croquet Lawn.
Normal admission applies
nationaltrust.org.uk/standen
Gallery North’s first art exhibition of the year ‘Material World’ opened on the 15th February, offering visitors an intriguing selection of contemporary textile art from 34 resident, guest and emerging artists.
After a terrific response to the ‘call for entries’, over thirty new exhibiting artists from all corners of Sussex and beyond showcased their ingenious creations demonstrating the versatility and craftsmanship found in the world of fibre arts. Textile practices include traditional and contemporary embroidery, weaving, quilt-making, knitting, hand and machine stitching, crochet, fabric printing, macrame and more!
Material World runs until 22nd March before the Gallery closes to rehang their Springtime Open Call exhibition titled ‘New Beginnings’ which opens on the 29th March. Interested artists are invited to enter the Open Call and can find out more at https://artgallerynorth.co.uk/2025/01/13/call-for-artists-spring-opencall-2025-new-beginnings/
Further details are at www.artgallerynorth.co.uk or by following the Gallery on Instagram and Facebook. Alternatively, please email Exhibitions Manager Emma Donovan at artgallerynorth@gmail.com.
Two artists inspired by East Sussex
Francesca Duffield and Glenys Ruane are two artists from Lewes who will be opening their exhibition 'Ultra Marine' at Marine Works, Newhaven from Tuesday 23rd April to Sunday 27th April (10am to 4pm); they will also show their work at the Quaker Meeting House, Friars Walk, Lewes on 6th and 7th June.
Gallery opening hours: Tues & Weds 10am–1pm, Thurs to Sat 10am–4pm
above: Elda Abramson, woven panel; Gill Ford, Egg sculptures
Francesca is an artist and poet who has lived in and around Lewes for the last ten years. She has worked as an illustrator and now creates paintings and prints in her central Lewes studio. Her oil paintings, handmade prints and drawings are inspired by imagination and dreams, fairytale, legend and history.
Glenys is an artist who, having grown up in Lewes, returned to join her family after spending time in France. Her watercolours focus on the distinctive landscapes of Sussex, and also include images from her time further afield.
They are both inspired by the natural beauty, picturesque towns and villages and layers of history to be seen and felt in and around Lewes and throughout East Sussex, and love living in such a creative and friendly place.
francescaduffield@instagram glenys_ruane_art@instagram
far left: Glenys Ruane, River Ouse, Lewes; left: Francesca Duffield, The Magician's Assistant
Friday 16th to Sunday 19th May, 10am to 4pm
The Maker's Fair at Standen in East Grinstead, West Sussex, is an eagerly awaited event, highlighting the finest creative talent in the South.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of one of the country’s finest examples of an Arts and Crafts house with Morris & Co interiors, Standen enjoys an idyllic location with views across the Sussex countryside.
The Maker’s Fair will return to the historic croquet lawn and be housed under a large marquee with further displays and makers situated on the idyllic Goose Green. The Fair is
Exhibition of Drawings & Paintings weekends 18th April to 11th May
Mother and Son, Lindy Dunbar and Joseph Davey are pleased to be exhibiting their drawings and paintings together in the Birley Centre, Eastbourne.
Artist and musician Joseph Davey is
a celebration of contemporary craft, handmade wares and art. Expect to find luxury knitwear, ceramics, basketry, printmaking, textiles, contemporary jewellery and more. Visitors can enjoy the opportunity to shop directly from the artisans themselves and discover unique pieces. Throughout the event, visitors can immerse themselves in artist demonstrations where they can witness the magic of willow weaving, wood carving, and other captivating crafts first hand. Dogs are welcome too and after visiting the Fair visitors can enjoy not only a visit to the house to check out the special interiors and Philip Webb design, but also footpaths leading out into the woodlands, Ashdown Forest and wider High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There’s no need to book ahead for this popular event and entrance to The Maker’s Fair is included in the house and garden admission. (Please note no dogs are allowed into the house.) For more information about the Fair and Standen please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/standen-house-and-garden
The Maker’s Fair will also return in the autumn from Friday 19th until Sunday 21st September, so keep an eye on Standen’s website and socials @StandenNT for further updates.
from Frösön, Jämtland, Sweden. His creative practice is a contemplation and documentation of poignant instances within his life. His oil paintings reflect a visceral desire for quietude. Joseph is represented by Galleri Helle Knudsen in Stockholm. Previous exhibitions include, Galleri Ekdahl, Karlstad, Sweden, Härke Konstcentrum, Frösön, Sweden, Härnösands konsthall, Sweden. Joseph also works as an art educator in Sweden.
Local artist Lindy Dunbar is a visiting tutor to Eastbourne College and some of her exhibitions have included: The Mall Gallery, London; Glyndebourne; London Art Fairs; Gallery Holt, Norfolk; Härke Konstcentrum, Sweden, and prints of her work in John Lewis. Dancers, acrobats and performers are often the basis of her lively mixed media work. Discover more about both artists at www.instagram.com/josephbryandavey/ www.instagram.com/lindydunbar/ www.lindydunbar.co.uk/
left: Joseph Davey, Counting Birds on a Wire; above: Lindy Dunbar, Dancer
Bustamante Artist and Art Tutor
exhibiting at the Crypt Gallery, Seaford 12th to 23rd March
www.gillbustamante.com www.facebook.com/GillBustamanteArtist www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SussexPaintings
artgallerynorth.co.uk 70 High Street Hailsham, BN27 1AX
Varied Exhibitions Programme
Wellbeing Through Art Workshops
School Arts Outreach Programme
Linked with Hailsham Arts Festival
Painting
Printmaking
Photography
Sculpture
Ceramics
Textiles
Mixed Media
Best Art Gallery in Kent Winner Contemporary gallery in beautiful Smarden. A glorious mix of artworks at all prices from artists near and far
Water Lane, Smarden, TN27 8QB, 01233 770261 email: girls@westendhousegallery.co.uk
SPRING OPEN CALL 29.03 - 24.05
A selection of work spanning a range of mediums that responds to our Open Call on the theme of ‘New beginnings’.
INTO THE WILD 01.06 - 26.07
A thematic body of work inspired by the beauty of the animal kingdom and our natural world.
ALTERITY 02.08 - 30.08
A contemporary exhibition of painting, poetry and installation by The Material Collective.
OF SUBSTANCE 06.09 - 01.11
A wide-ranging, exploratory exhibition of contemporary sculpture and ceramics.
CONGREGATION 08.11 - 17.12
An exhibition of figurative and still life work that explores people, place and the connection between the two.
Enquiries & Artist Submissions to Emma at artgallerynorth@gmail.com
artist Gill Bustamante muses...
Continuing a former article I wrote regarding AI (artificial intelligence) vs real art made by humans, I want to mention inspiration.
Inspiration is when you get an idea followed by the urge to communicate it to others via a chosen medium. Any piece of art or music begins this way. Usually, this communication will be aesthetic but not always (as in the recent case of a banana taped to a wall which sold for 5.2 million dollars).
Artists have ideas. They learn some skills, find their medium through trial and error and finally they instil their idea into their chosen art form. They create a piece of art which has a palpable life in it. Some do it better than others but all pieces of art have some kind of life. Anyone who has actually managed to stand in front of the Mona Lisa has seen an example of this life. She emanates it!
All paintings, music, literature etc emanate some kind of life or concept. It may be amateurish or expert but it is nevertheless there.
The point being that the only life an AI unit creates was programmed by humans and ripped off by the AI from looking at the millions of art examples online made by humans. An art collector who wants art made by machines would not be buying art from a grubby old artist in a shed anyway so let us glorious mucky artists continue without fear of replacement for a while yet. (Read a further view on this hot topic on p.81 –ed)
Finally, because articles need an illustration, here is a photo plus the resulting painting I made after a walk
Do you love the idea of building your business on social media but don’t know where to start? Feel overwhelmed at the thought?
Hi, I’m Steph, and I’m a social media mentor. What does this mean, I hear you ask? I’m here to help you understand the right platforms for your business and use them as your digital shop window. The start of the year is the perfect opportunity to make a fresh start on your social media, and I offer a range of services to support you.
Get your marketing ducks in a row with a social media audit – I’ll do a deep dive into your profile, analyse your bio, posts and the overall appearance of the page, then provide recommendations for content ideas, hashtags, post layout and much more.
I’ll take the mystery out of marketing with easy-tounderstand language, and explain some of those words you always hear, but never know what they mean – like,
near Old Heathfield in August. It is an example of inspiration made real by a human being wearing a silly hat, tramping through nettles and talking to cows. Beat that AI.
Thank you for reading and long live humans and art made by them.
–Gill Bustamante www.gillbustamante.com
just what is a reel?
It’s not just the captions you need to think about – they say a picture paints a thousand words, and it’s certainly true in this case.
To help you with the images you’ll need, I’ll create a bundle of templates for you that are on brand, smart and efficient. Drop in your photos and text and you’ll make the most of your precious marketing minutes. I love to chat – get in touch to see how you can thrive in 2025! Visit www.highwealdmarketing.co.uk or via social media @highwealdmarketing
Set in the heart of beautiful historic Smarden, West End House is a contemporary gallery showing original artworks including paintings, prints, ceramics and sculpture. There is something to suit every budget, along with a fabulous collection of cards.
The gallery holds two to three themed exhibitions a year and at all other times has an eclectic mixed display showcasing work by gallery artists and makers. The space is warm and friendly with inspiring work at all prices. Everyone is welcome and the gallery is fully accessible to people with disabilities, including wheelchair users.
It has been run since 2011 by two local artists, Karen Papworth and Patricia Hawkins. Fourteen years on they are still passionate about what they do and still share the delight of selling artworks on behalf of their wonderful artists to equally wonderful customers.
West End House was once again selected to exhibit at the prestigious Affordable Art Fair in London, which took place in Battersea Park from 12th to 16th March, and they were extremely proud to be one of 110 national and international galleries taking part – waving the flag for Smarden!
West End House Gallery, Water Lane, Smarden, Kent TN27 8QB. Thursday to Sunday, 10am-4pm. email: girls@westendhousegallery.co.uk website: www.westendhousegallery.co.uk instagram: @westendhousegallery facebook: @2westendgirls
Annie Waring, Dandelions, Bluebells and Cowslip
There is nothing quite like Spring in the beautiful county town of Lewes, and Chalk Gallery is pleased to announce our upcoming featured artists whose work will be displayed in our splendid bay window.
From 9th March to 6th April, Linda Lethem will be exhibiting her collection 'Earthly Delights'. The show will include paintings, prints and drawings inspired by nature, particularly the Sussex countryside. This body of work demonstrates how the artist is influenced by the varied mediums that she uses to tackle such a wondrous and plentiful theme.
Alan Taylor’s recent paintings and prints of landscapes and woodlands of the South Downs will be showcased from 7th April to 4th May. Alan paints and draws directly from life, immersing himself in the landscape; this is as important to him as the process of creating the artwork.
Caroline Smith, featured artist from 5th May to 1st June, makes paintings based on moving through the landscape, observing and recording her responses to different environments. On recent travels to Costa Rica she created new work inspired by the rich and diverse vegetation of the tropical rainforests.
We look forward to welcoming you to the gallery, where a range of affordable and original art awaits you. www.chalkgallerylewes.co.uk
Craft In Focus will be staging a Contemporary Craft Fair at Hever Castle from 15th to 18th May.
Exhibitors, selected from the UK’s finest professional contemporary craftmakers and artists, will be showing and selling their unique work across various disciplines including ceramics, woodwork, jewellery, metalwork, glass, textiles, artwork and more.
Renowned as one of the most popular craft events in the Southeast, the Contemporary Craft Fair provides an opportunity for visitors to meet, engage with and purchase from these talented UK designer makers.
Craft Fair entry is included in normal garden admission and visitors booking before Friday 9th May can save £9.50 on the adult admission using discount code CRAFT25 (valid on the dates of the craft fair only). RHS members have free admission (weekdays only).
Held in semi open-sided marquees within the award-winning gardens which, in May, including stunning displays of wisteria, azaleas and rhododendrons, the event boasts a picturesque backdrop of the historic castle. To enhance the visitor experience, the fair will feature live music and various options for food and drink. This unique day out offers a beautiful setting and the opportunity for visitors to explore exceptional craftsmanship amidst the enchanting surroundings.
Craft In Focus maintains a commitment to showcase the highest calibre of exhibitor, not often seen at other craft fairs. With a strict policy against bought-in or imported work, exhibitors have been chosen for their individuality, innovation in contemporary design, and exceptional technical ability.
The UK has a wealth of individual and talented professional designer makers and artists who produce wonderful original items that simply cannot be found amongst the mass-produced and imported goods on the high street. Some of the exhibitors will be providing live demonstrations, offering insights into the intricate skills involved in creating their work.
A visit will make an interesting day out for everyone as visitors can also explore the magnificent gardens and enjoy family-friendly attractions, such as the fabulous adventure playground, the water maze, and the iconic 100-year-old Yew Maze.
For further information contact Craft In Focus 01622 747 325 or visit www.craftinfocus.com.
Hever Castle, Hever Road, Hever, Edenbridge, TN8 7NG. For more about Hever Castle, including admission prices see www.hevercastle.co.uk.
below and top: Craft Fair, Hever Castle
Come and browse beautiful paintings
Studio Gallery open every 4th Saturday of the month, 9am to 1pm, in support of Petworth’s Community Gardens
Corner Cottage, 2 The Mews, High Street, Petworth, GU28 0AU https://www.pictureplace.co.uk
Will be exhibiting at The Lansdowne Hotel , Eastbourne
Showing our regular artists and new joining artists
On the first weekend of every month in the Martelo Room
From 10am until 5pm With our own entrance
The Lansdowne Hotel
King Edward’s Parade, Eastbourne BN21 4EE info@newart-gallery.co.uk www.newart-gallery.co.uk Tel: 07970 549873
“Everybody is an artist in their own way.”
We have known Erika for a while and recently had the pleasure of interviewing her at her home in Sussex; here is her own introduction:
“I'm Erika Sharp, a fine artist living in East Grinstead, West Sussex. It's a great pleasure to be a part of this magazine, and of a community of artists who can spread beauty around the world, and help to make it a better place.
When I'm looking around or going somewhere, I always try to find something nice around me. It could be art but it can be so many other things: a smile, a tidy area, a nice conversation, people respecting each other, etc.
If we would focus on the beauty and goodness in the world, we could change it for the better. As an artist, I consider it to be my responsibility to encourage everyone to do this, and this inspires me to make more and more art. Actually, I believe that each of us is an artist, at heart.”
Erika welcomed us into her home, showing us around the house and her bijou studio. Then after viewing some of her artwork hanging throughout various rooms we sat down with coffee and snacks to explore her inner world as an artist.
Have you been creative since a very early age?
I always loved to draw since being a baby, and singing and reading as well.
When did you decide to start painting? Was it gradual or did you just suddenly decide?
It was one day. My grandfather was a painter but I never wanted to paint – somehow I was afraid of something, I don’t know what.
Then one day I just realised I am an artist and I have to start to paint. So two years ago I just started, learning different methods from different artists and YouTube videos; I can’t stop myself from exploring all the many styles! I did a drawing course in Hungary and a course with Gill Bustamante, whose work I really love. There are so many beautiful things I want to do. I love to experiment and discover different styles, different colours – I’m finding out what I’m good at.
From a very young age I thought singing came first and drawing second. Now I feel singing can be for fun, but drawing and painting is something different, now more in focus.
I think everyone is an artist in their own way, whether it’s designing a room or a hairstyle – or anything really.
Do you have a favourite medium?
I started with oils, now I’m working with acrylic and gold leaf.
And are you now a full-time artist?
Yes, I started two years ago after leaving the job I had. During that time I have stockpiled my work while I worked out how to promote my artwork. My website is just now coming live and I am planning an exhibition soon.
Step by step I’m beginning to learn how to promote myself. I’m looking into what people like. (At this point we discussed different styles of art and taking part in art trails and open studios, perhaps joining with other artists, and other methods of making one’s work known)
Tell us about your new website.
It’s very exciting! People can see and buy my work from my website and I also post regularly on social media: Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn and Instagram. I am also thinking about getting some prints made and I am looking to find a good photographer to get this started.
How do you see the future?
I hope to be a successful artist and people will know my name.
Visit www.artbyerikasharp.co.uk to discover more about Erika and her work, and go to 'Coda' on page 83 for a further mention of Erika, and where you can see more examples of her paintings.
left: Erika Sharp, Roots of Radiance #1
Take part in a new festival of making
Sussex’s geographical location, with its chalky coastline, rolling Downs and fertile lands has for centuries provided both the natural resources and inspiration for a thriving craft scene.
In the mediæval period crafts like pottery flourished, particularly in Lewes and Hastings, where local clay was used to produce decorative ceramics and practical items such as pipes. The region was also home to skilled weavers and glass makers, with many towns having local markets for these goods.
The 18th and 19th centuries saw the rise of more industrialised craft production, including clock making and the Penny Farthing. Then Sussex played a role in the reaction against growing industrialisation: The Arts and Crafts Movement of the late 19th century saw makers, inspired by the ideals of William Morris, producing hand-crafted furniture (including Morris’s famous ‘Sussex Chair’), textiles and metalwork in line with the movement’s defining principles of quality and truth to materials. Making in Sussex flourished in the 20th century, becoming home to the Ditchling Artists, Graffham Weavers and the Bloomsbury Group, as well as being an important place for the Modernist and Surrealist movements.
This rich legacy inspires innovation today. Sussex is the location of national craft centres West Dean College and Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft, it’s a hotbed of contemporary craft, and the hub of the current craft revival. To showcase this extraordinary talent to wider audiences, Review of Sussex Arts,
publishers of the Sussex culture magazine ROSA, has launched Sussex Craft Week (14-22 June 2025). The festival coordinates a programme of exhibitions, courses, events and open workshops across East and West Sussex and Brighton & Hove. Professional makers, galleries, curators, historians and course providers are invited to take part. The deadline to submit your event is 30th March. Find more information at www.sussexcraftweek.com.
www.nicolaroseartist.com nicola.rose@zen.co.uk
Studio visits by appointment
Commissions welcome
£4.50 to £9
Free for Towner Members & Under 25s ‘Pay what you can’ selected dates
Shake off the long, dreary winter and celebrate the coming of Spring – here at the Lighthouse Gallery we are bursting with colour and inspiration.
Inside you'll find a warm, friendly space filled with affordable work by local artists and makers where you can linger over an excellent cup of coffee and homemade cake and drink it all in. “There's so much to look at!” is a cry we frequently hear.
Fused glass artist Jazz The Alchemist is a long-standing member of the gallery, and an established glass artist and teacher. Taking inspiration from an abundance of Spring flowers, Jazz has developed a popular range of vases, candle holders, window hangers and dishes. She regularly holds workshops and demonstrations at the gallery and at her own workshop in Wartling.
Claire Graves is a prolific textile artist, not only teaching textiles at secondary school, but also creating a myriad of free-motion embroideries, bags, cushions and more. We have some wonderful pieces inspired by vintage china and all things floral, as well as some amazing appliqued cushions.
Ceramic artist Barbara Butterworth goes by the name of Clay Lady in a Pinny, and produces a fabulous range of ceramic ladies sporting pinnies of their own. Available as vases, wall plates and brooches, each has a unique and individual character and charm.
We have a wide range of creative work on offer, with many of our artists taking inspiration from the stunning Sussex scenery and the beauty of nature that surrounds us. If you're looking for a unique gift for a Spring birthday, Mother's Day or Easter, pop in and have a browse. We will be taking part in the Eastbourne Artist Open House Trail, running over two weekends, 7/8 and 14/15 June 2025. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @lighthousegalleryeastbourne for more details.
from top: Barbara Butterworth, Ceramic lady and Susie Ramsay-Smith, Ceramic vase; Claire Graves, Floral free-motion embroidery; Jazz The Alchemist, Bluebell panel
Nicola Rose is a professional artist whose wild landscape paintings can be found in galleries in the south of England and also as far north as Shetland.
She has been painting the land, the sea and the weather for over thirty years. She travels extensively to remote locations, in recent years focusing on Scotland's northern and western isles.
Her working method involves making charcoal and ink drawings and plein air oil paintings on board, on-site and in all weathers. These initial responses to her surroundings are the source material for her powerful and emotionally intense paintings on canvas, which are made back in her studio. She frequently works on several paintings simultaneously, capturing the energy and the spirit of these dramatic locations and wild weathers.
More recently, on several visits to Spain, Nicola has been working with Andalusian dressage horses interacting with exotically dressed flamenco dancers. She works directly, drawing at speed as the horse and dancer move in front of her.
Nicola’s studio is a fertile space filled with both finished paintings and works in progress and can be visited by appointment.
Nicola is also a professional teacher and is happy to work one-to-one with anyone wishing to further explore their own creativity.
Visit www.nicolaroseartist.com to see more of Nicola's work, or contact her at nicola.rose@zen.co.uk
above: Horse and Dancer 3; below: The Light Must Follow
HEARTFELT 13 February to 13 April FRAMED & UNFRAMED 24 April to 22 June
Listen!’
‘Our pets mean so much to us and a portrait celebrates the unique bond between us’ –Pennie
visual arts & contemporary crafts Gallery@42 vibrant art at the heart of Little Chelsea presents two stunning exhibitions this spring & Gallery@42, the home of Pennie’s Pet Portraits South Street, Eastbourne, BN21 4XB Open: Thursday 12–8pm; Friday to Sunday 12–6pm www.galleryat42.co.uk | @galleryat42 www.penniespetportraits.co.uk | @penniespetportraits penniespetportraits@gmail.com | m: 07703 452554 t: 01323 724229
We hear from some of the artists showing their work.
Colin Knapp: Doorway and Oculus
I have always been attracted to very bold colours and simple forms. I'm unsure if 'unabashed joy' is exactly the correct term to describe the response produced when encountering these elements skilfully deployed in pictures, but for me at least, it often comes close. The technique of acrylic underpainting and application of tissue paper scrim introduces another source of personal delight, in this context: chance and unpredictability. The attributes and properties of different tissue papers vary enormously. This in turn means that the outcomes in the pictures are frequently somewhat unexpected but nonetheless pleasing. Occasionally, a picture's title is intrinsic to its conception but more often than not, especially for wholly abstract work, it comes as a slightly self-indulgent afterthought, or a reaction to other people's initial comments.
Michael Morland: Quiet! Listen!
Often in Alicante with his Spanish wife, Michael finds the surrounding landscape a constant inspiration.
However it was the cluster of gossiping rubbish bins moved by the beach cleaners that caught his attention. He comments – upon catching sight of the rubbish bins –“The joy which comes out of ‘What are they saying?’ aroused my curiosity.”
Alan Taylor: Times Square, New York
This is one of the few paintings where I have tried to experiment with mixed media. Though many artists have tried it is almost impossible to capture all the details of the buildings, electric signs and the busy traffic.
I have added beads to represent the thousand lights, torn pictures from magazines, and gold leaf for reflections. I hope my painting captures some of the hustle, bustle and noise of this world
Pennie Cunliffe-Lister: Waiting for Sam
This painting is joyful moment – a moment in time. It shows a young mother-to-be gazing out to sea in anticipation of what the waves will bring.
See advert for dates and times, (gallery closed 11th-29th May) and visit www.galleryat42.co.uk for full information.
clockwise from top: Michael Morland, 'Quiet! Listen!'; Colin Knapp, 'Doorway + Oculus';
Pennie Cunliffe-Lister, 'Waiting for Sam'; Alan Taylor, 'Times Square, New York'; Pennie Cunliffe-Lister, 'Phileas', a rescue from Ukraine, Variety Golfing Society silent auction winner
On 9th May Liz Grand presents her one-woman show Where Is Mrs Christie?
Agatha Christie was one of the greatest thriller writers of all time and certainly the most prolific.
In 1926, she was at the centre of a mystery as perplexing as any of her fiction, a series of events which sparked one of the biggest and most extensive police hunts in history. Her crashed car was discovered in Surrey and the famous author was missing, presumed dead by many, for eleven days. However, she was eventually found at a luxury hotel in Harrogate. Did she suffer from amnesia? Was it a publicity stunt? Or was there a darker secret involved? In true thriller style, all will be revealed.
On 12th April cult hit event Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote returns to Crawley.
Jessica Fletcher is invited to the remote island home of a famous artist, but soon there’s a murder that only she (or you!) can solve!
Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote is a unique and hilarious night featuring games, prizes and audience participation.
And on 24th May Degrees of Error bring back their multiple sell-out show for your sleuthing pleasure, Murder She Didn’t Write.
Don your deerstalker, grab your magnifying glass and get your ‘finger of suspicion’ at the ready as a classic murder mystery evolves on-the-spot in this ingenious improvised comedy. You, the audience, become the author as the cast act out your very own Agatha Christie-inspired masterpiece live on stage. At each show this extraordinarily talented company use audience suggestions to create a unique, original and extremely comical murder mystery just for you!
Visit www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/the-hawth for all that’s on at the theatre.
below: Solve-Along-A-Murder She Wrote bottom: Degrees Of Error, Murder She Didn’t Write
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
“All for one and one for all!”
When young D’Artagnan travels to Paris to join the Musketeers he uncovers a plot to discredit Queen Anne in the eyes of King Louis XIII and the country. With Athos, Porthos and Aramis, D’Artagnan must help to defeat the evil Cardinal Richelieu and Milady de Winter, but their quest will not be easy...
Join us as we bring this action-filled adventure to life in a dynamic and hilarious staging of the muchloved novel, packed with song, suspense and plenty of sword fights!
The Tempest by William Shakespeare
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here…”
Following This Is My Theatre’s previous touring productions of The Comedy of Errors and A Midsummer Night’s Dream we are delighted to be back this year with another Summer Shakespeare. Our adaptation of William Shakespeare's much-loved story – packed with music, magic and plenty of mischief – will be sure to warm hearts and spread joy.
For twelve years Prospero, the rightful duke of Milan, has dwelt on an island after his brother Antonio betrayed him and cast him adrift in a small
boat. For twelve years he has plotted revenge on those who overthrew him...
Classical language combines with live music and choral sea shanties to bring what is thought to be the Bard’s final play to life. A tale of revenge, love and forgiveness.
Sarah Slator, director of This Is My Theatre said “We are very much looking forward to our Spring/Summer tours this year. We have created this adaptation to be fun and vibrant to capture imaginations and engage audiences of all ages. This will offer our audiences a magical telling and bring to life these well-known characters for the stage.
Visit www.thisismytheatre.com for dates, venues and full information.
pictured – the cast of This Is My Theatre in previous productions of The Three Musketeers (top and above) and The Tempest (left and bottom left)
Sunday
New Sussex Opera Chorus, St Paul’s Sinfonia with Anthony Flaum, Sky Ingram, Arshak Kuzikyan, Lucy Farrimond, Harun Tekin and Namiko Gahier-Ogawa
A poor, tormented artist, consumed with passion and ambition, is given a silver bell that will provide all his heart desires. But in this story from the librettists behind Faust and The Tales of Hoffmann things could never be so simple. It’s a fantastical and compelling tale, illuminated by a sumptuous and sensual score: NSO presents an unmissable first chance to discover this masterpiece by Saint-Saëns.
After The Dragon of Wantley in 2024, NSO’s same team has created this UK première production in a newly commissioned English translation by Paul Featherstone.
Conductor Toby Purser, Director Paul Higgins, Designer Molly Cheek, Dramaturg Ben Poore, Lighting Designer James Harvey
“Jaw-droppingly
Classical Opinion - (The Dragon of Wantley)
Mon 24 March
English Touring Opera’s gritty reworking of Bellini’s Romeo & Juliet is a tale of two households at war and of two lovers in over their heads, doomed by the conflict between their families.
Sun 6 April
Escape to the countryside and experience the wonder of nature through music with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Including works by Vaughan-Williams, Beethoven and Grieg, you will leave feeling renewed and uplifted.
Fri 11 April | Studio
Join international multi-awarding winning Cabaret super-star Velma Celli for an evening celebrating the best of London’s West End and Broadway musical hits. Come Hear the People Sing the Sound of Music worthy of royaty or Hamilton himself in the greatest of Cabaret shows.
Mon 14 April
One of the most romantic operas ever written. It tells the tragic tale of the doomed, consumptive Mimi and her love for a penniless writer. This classic opera of Parisian love and loss features many famous arias including Your Tiny Hand is Frozen, They Call Me Mimi and Musetta’s Waltz.
Fri 25 April | Studio
In a closed park at night, a security guard finds a young woman sitting on a bench making paper swans. As he tries to find out what she is doing, he locks them in a continuous loop. However, each time they meet, there is a slight change from before.
Tue 29 & Wed 30 April
Michael Morpurgo’s compelling sequel to War Horse returns to the stage in this delightful, family-friendly show combining drama, storytelling, and original music. A moving account of the changing face of the English countryside and a beautifully crafted reminder that stories really can reach out across the generations.
Sat 3 May
Prepare to hear Aled Jones as you’ve never heard him before. He was the boy treble who captivated the world with his angelic voice. After 40 years in the business, he’s looking back on a remarkable career.
Fri 9 May I Studio
In 1926, Agatha Christie was at the centre of a mystery sparking one of the biggest police hunts in history. Her crashed car was discovered and the author was missing, presumed dead until she was eventually found. She claimed that she remembered nothing. Neither the press nor police believed her. Did she suffer from amnesia? Was it a publicity stunt? Or was there a darker secret? In true thriller style, all will be revealed.
Sat 24 May
A classic comedic murder mystery improvised on-the-spot. The audience become the author as the cast act out your very own Agatha Christie-inspired masterpiece. All you have to do... is solve it! But will you guess whodunnit before the killer is revealed?
Mon 11 - Sat 16 August
CHICAGO, the “sexiest musical ever” (Metro), comes to The Hawth for one week only starring Strictly Come Dancing professional and TV Star Janette Manrara (It Takes Two, Burn The Floor, Glee) as Roxie Hart.
St Leonards Concerts was founded in late 2020 by virtuoso violinist Max Baillie to bring world-class live music to St Leonards.
Since then he has curated twenty-five concerts collaborating with other international star musicians and embracing a range of music from classical to folk, jazz to experimental.
The events bring music old and new to audiences in an up-front and intimate setting, whether the magical acoustic of Christ Church, or the speakeasy feel of Crown House, a converted bar and venue on the St Leonards Marina.
The combination of Max’s welcoming presentation style and his collaboration with guests who frequent major concert halls across the globe have helped build up a strong local following for the events. Max’s innovative programming has also been a central feature: alongside classical concerts he has brought guests who are masters of less familiar instruments— Suntou Susso on West African kora, Argentinian bandoneon player JP Jofre, Slovakian cimbalom player Marcel Comendant, and Scandinavian folk musicians Erik Rydvall and Olav Mjelva with their traditional Nordic
folk instruments. Classical guests include top soloists such as cellist Laura van der Heijden, violist Maxim Rysanov, and other leaders in their fields including Hélène Clèment, Alice Zawadzki, Fred Thomas, and many more.
Visit www.stlconcerts.co.uk to join the mailing list and to hear of upcoming shows.
opp top: Max Baillie, photo Hannah Tottle; top right: St Leonards Concerts Trio.
below, New Sussex Opera, clockwise from top: Namiko Gahier-Ogawa; Sky Ingram, photo Victoria Cadisch Photography; Lucy Farrimond; Arshak-Kuzikyan; Anthony Flaum
After the “jaw-droppingly stupendous” (Musical Opinion) Dragon of Wantley, NSO’s same team has created the UK première production of The Silver Bell (Le Timbre d’argent) by Camille Saint-Saëns, in a newly commissioned English translation.
A poor, tormented artist, consumed with passion and ambition for a mysterious woman (played by a dancer à la Death in Venice), is given a silver bell that will provide all his heart desires. But in this story from the librettists behind Faust and The Tales of Hoffmann things could never be so simple.
It is a fantastical and compelling tale, with numerous spectacular elements. The work feels incredibly modern, and it is illuminated by a sumptuous and sensual score: NSO presents an unmissable first chance to discover this masterpiece by Saint-Saëns, one of the greatest French composers of his time.
New Sussex Opera Chorus is joined by St Paul’s Sinfonia; Conductor Toby Purser, Director Paul Higgins, Designer Mollie Cheek, Lighting Designer James Harvey, Dramaturg Ben Poore. The outstanding international cast includes Anthony Flaum (Paris in La Belle Hélène, Tremolini in The Princess of Trébizonde) as Conrad, Australian soprano Sky Ingram as Hélène, Armenian baritone Arshak Kuzikyan as Spiridion, Lucy Farrimond as Rosa and Harun Tekin as Bénédict. The central role of Circé/Fiametta is performed by our French/ Japanese danseuse chorégraphe Namiko Gahier-Ogawa.
Performances in May/June in Lewes, Blackheath, Eastbourne, Worthing and Winchester.
Visit www.newsussexopera.org for full details.
SATURDAY 15 MARCH
Causeway Barn 7.00pm BAROQUE ALCHEMY the Extraordinary Electro-Baroque fusion Duo PIERS ADAMS recorder virtuoso with keyboardist LYNDY MAYLE ‘this programme is a winner .. a definite crowd pleaser’
` LIVE MUSIC IN HORSHAM Spring 2025 presented by Horsham Music Circle for the 83rd Season
SATURDAY 10 MAY
St Mary’s Church 7.00pm ONYX BRASS
Monteverdi, Rameau, Bach, Shostakovich, Arnold, Bernstein ‘stunningly crisp brass-playing’ BBC Radio 3
TICKETS Phone: 01403 252602 email: horshammusiccircle@gmail.com online from www.wegottickets.com/HorshamMusicCircle www.horsham-music-circle.org.uk Not enough music in your life?
For just £15.95 per year you can have your own copy delivered to your door each quarter and discover what’s on in your area. To subscribe just email subscribe@ingenuemagazine.co.uk More info: www.ingenuemagazine.co.uk
Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
Directed by Ellen Kent, this brand new production is traditionally staged and features beautiful sets and costumes.
Award-winning producer Ellen Kent returns with the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv presenting stunning classical productions of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and La Bohème, along with Verdi’s La Traviata.
A spectacular new production of one of the world’s most popular operas, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly tells the heart-breaking story of the beautiful young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant – with dramatic results. Highlights include the melodic ‘Humming Chorus’, the moving aria ‘One Fine Day’ and the unforgettable ‘Love Duet’.
Directed by Ellen, La Bohème is another brand new production traditionally staged, featuring beautiful sets and costumes. It is the story of Rodolfo and Mimi, two young lovers in Paris, and whether they overcome their problems of poverty and ill health.
La Traviata is a tragic tale full of searing passion and memorable music about Parisian courtesan, Violetta, who attempts to leave the life she knows behind to try and finally find true love. When she meets romantic Alfredo, the hypocrisy of upper-class society threatens their love –and someone must pay the ultimate price.
Visit www.ellenkent.com for full information and see the advert on opposite page for dates and venues in our area.
Two examples of fabulous music that Ropetackle offers all year round.
Damn Tall Buildings are a folk-bluegrass band celebrated for their soulful melodies and intricate instrumentals. Fuelled by the musical prowess of Max Capistran, Sasha Dubyk, and Avery Ballotta, this seasoned Brooklyn-based trio with eleven years of dedicated touring and recording experience, weaves heartfelt lyrics into a tapestry of masterful fiddle, guitar, banjo, and bass playing.
Embodying a blend of Americana roots and contemporary finesse, Damn Tall Buildings’ musical journey transcends borders. From intimate local venues to global stages, their magnetic sound captivates audiences, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of listeners worldwide.
Rachel Newton & Lauren MacColl (Heal and Harrow) – 13th April
Rachel Newton (The Furrow Collective) and Lauren MacColl (Rant) are firmly established as two of the country’s most
celebrated folk musicians.
They collaborated on each other’s solo projects for many years before co-producing their award-winning project Heal & Harrow, based on the Scottish Witch Trials. The 16th and 17th Century Scottish Witch Trials were one of the darkest periods of Scotland’s history. An estimated 2500 people were executed, 80% of which were thought to have been women.
They are delighted to be offering a duo show that encompasses their vast back catalogue of shared material, both from their solo works from albums such as Haar, Landskein (Lauren), Sealladh and To the Awe (Rachel) and acoustic versions of music from the Heal & Harrow live show.
Visit https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk for all on offer at the Arts Centre.
Heal & Harrow, photo Elly Lucas
Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham – 10th April
Duo Niepold/Cutting
This duo brings together two great musicians and friends. Two strong personalities in the small world of the diatonic accordion. A meeting to challenge, to be inspired. To bring together two very particular musical universes with intelligence and mischievousness. Because the accordion is not cheesy. Because the world definitely needs mixtures.
Anne Niepold (Belgium) is an extraordinary accordionist and composer. As a performer she is a true force of nature; brash, adventurous and phenomenally skilled.
Andy Cutting (England) is a soulful and technically outstanding melodeon player with an ear for a fine tune. He is also a warm and emotive performer, modestly engaging his audiences with his selfdeprecating wit and then flooring them with downright staggering musicianship.
Folkestone Quarterhouse – 22nd April & Brighton Komedia – 28th May
The Young'uns
Much loved folk trio, the Young’uns, celebrate twenty years of singing together.
One night in Stockton On Tees, three teenagers heard strange sounds coming from the backroom of a pub. They went in. They heard people singing
songs they’d never heard before. Songs without instruments. Songs in their own accents. Songs about places they knew. Folk songs. They joined in. Because they were the youngest ones there by several decades, they were soon labelled ‘the Young’uns’.
But as well as their 20th anniversary, Sean Cooney, Michael Hughes and David Eagle will each be celebrating their 40th birthdays on tour!
Visit www.meltingvinyl.co.uk for all on offer this spring and summer.
Sarah Jane Morris and Tony Remy: The Sisterhood Project
A representation of Sarah Jane's roots, inspirations, and indefatigable love of contemporary musicmaking and its iconic pioneers, ‘The Sisterhood’ celebrates twelve female stars who dominated the singing and song writing of the 20th century.
I AM – OommoO
OommoO is a one-woman modular theatre series and the theme of this pilot episode: effects of memory loss on a displaced community, on different generations, caused by different reasons.
A poetic reflection of an experience unpacked through an Afro-Futuristic East African lens. An
acronym for one of many, many of one, OommoO explores the life of a first gen immigrant as she navigates the duality of two cultures, her Habesha (Eritrean/Ethiopian) heritage and British identity. Interweaving language and customs with
innovative high-tech storytelling tools like the wearable tech MiMu gloves (a midi gestural controller) are stitched together to teleport you to a different world.
Sea Power
Based in Brighton with members hailing from Sussex, Kendal, and the Isle of Skye, the band have carved a unique niche in music. Known for their atmospheric sound, they've won admirers like David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Benedict Cumberbatch. Their live performances are legendary, from playing atop the Great Wall of China to festivals in remote pubs and castles.
Visit www.theoldmarket.com for all that’s on at this independent, grassroots venue.
The sun is shining and Spring has sprung – it's Festival time! Here's a variety of essential festivals for your delectation this spring and summer.
The seventh edition of the festival is back for 2025 and still punching above its weight. Residents and those-in-the-know have enjoyed this eclectic week of quality music-making since 2012, once every two years apart from Covid disruption, with big names in small venues in the lovely East Sussex villages of Laughton, Chalvington and Ripe.
Previous editions have featured recitals by Melvyn Tan, Gilbert & Sullivan specialists Charles Court Opera, masterclasses from Festival Patron, Dame Felicity Lott, and performances by rising opera stars Catharine Woodward and Beth Taylor.
This year, the Festival has secured Regents Opera, winning four and five star reviews at the start of 2025 with their ‘Ring in a boxing ring’ take on Wagner’s Ring Cycle. They will be bringing a garden opera staging of Puccini’s La Boheme to the beautiful setting of Grade IIlisted Limekiln Farm.
The week continues with an eclectic mix of English and French music by the Mistral wind quartet; cream teas in a village garden accompanied by the Latin guitars of Los Twangueros; a panel discussion about the future of music in the UK, featuring
Richard Morrison, chief culture writer for The Times, Professor Georgina Born and pianist and promoter Will Hancox; a jazz evening, with the Andy Williams Trio; and an intimate piano recital by Joanna McGregor CBE. It ends with the Laughton Village Choir singing the joyful Dixit Dominus by Handel. Visit www.villagesmusicfestival.org for full details.
from top: 'Into the Woods' (The Villages Music Festival 2023); Limekiln Farm, Chalvington; Joanna MacGregor, photo Pal Hansen
The festival returns this summer bringing the best in music and culture to the churches, theatre, castle, museums and streets, with over sixty events.
Of many highlights, one will be a concert given by their President and renowned soprano
Lucy Crowe OBE, in a programme that includes Strauss, Gershwin, Handel and Vivaldi, performed with the Fantasia Orchestra after their recent début at the BBC Proms.
As well as the finest classical musicians giving lunchtime and evening concerts, the festival brings world-class opera with the return of Wild Arts performing Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love. There’ll be sublime jazz, with youthful energy of a Harlem Renaissance programme by Tomorrow’s Warriors and young artists the Maddy Coombs Quartet.
The Festival is delighted to welcome awardwinning folk duo Spiers and Boden and back by popular demand, Chaps Choir, who’ll raise the roof with their heart-warming ballads and joy-inducing songs.
Anna Phoebe, star violinist, will be appearing at Deal Castle on the opening night with an exciting dance-led project in collaboration with Canterbury Christ Church University.
Find the full programme on www.dealmusicandarts.com
Now in its thirteenth year, the Festival has become a significant event in the cultural diary of the South East and earned itself a growing reputation for excellence within the classical music landscape of the UK. This year’s festival is themed 'Notes From a Small Island', and celebrates the rich legacy of chamber music by British composers, along with their influences from overseas.
With a programme of seven concerts curated around the seven movements of Adès’s 1994 masterpiece Arcadiana for String Quartet, the Festival highlights include works by Benjamin Britten, William Walton, Faurè, Beethoven and a rare chance to hear full performances of both the clarinet quintet and the piano quintet by Thomas Adès. The Saturday night Gala Concert will feature star counter-tenor Iestyn Davies premiering a bespoke chamber arrangement of songs by Gerald Finzi. Join us for an unforgettable musical journey.
Violin: Beatrice Philips (Artistic Director); Maria Włoszczowska; Tim Crawford; Pablo Hernan. Viola: Adam Newman; Edgar Francis. Cello: Eliza Millett; Tim Posner; Hannah Sloane. Piano: Alasdair Beatson; Mishka Rushdie Momen. Clarinet: Matt Hunt. Countertenor: Iestyn Davies.
For details of the full programme visit www.leweschambermusicfestival.com
from top: Beatrice Philips; Alasdair Beatson; left: Iestyn Davies, photo Pablo Strong
From around 1600 to 1750 the Baroque style of music followed on from the Renaissance period. I love the sound of the early instruments such as harpsichords, woodwind instruments, lutes, and the incredible long necked theorbo, not to mention the gorgeous harmonies and melodies of the music.
All this and more will, I am sure, be in store for us at this amazing festival, brought to us by John Hancorn and Julia Bishop, the creative inspiration behind the sixth Lewes Baroquefest. The Festival brings live music to this wonderful town, which has such a strong vocal and instrumental tradition and plethora of international musicians.
This year there are five concerts which include a vocal recital by Rebecca Leggett (mezzo soprano) and Hugh Cutting (countertenor) with Daniel Murphy (lute); chamber recitals by Flutes & Frets: Beth Stone (flutes) and Daniel Murphy (lute); Piers Adams (recorder) and David Wright (harpsichord); Richard Tunnicliffe (solo cello) and the grand finale, Handel's Dixit Dominus, J S Bach’s Double Violin Concerto and Magnificat,
with the Baroque Collective Singers and The Baroque Collective directed by John Hancorn. The concerts take place at St Anne’s Church, with the final concert at Lewes Town Hall. Visit www.lewesbaroquefest.org for full information about the festival.
Didrenowned violinist Andrew Bernardi know, when he launched Shipley Arts Festival into the new millennium, that a quarter of a century later it would have grown into one of the leading cultural events in the South East of England? I suspect he was aiming for just such a goal, as after twenty-five years, a lot of hard work and great support it has grown from a Saturday night concert in Shipley Parish Church, to the highly respected Classical Music Festival in Sussex that it is today. Without further ado, here are some of the fabulous concerts planned for this silver anniversary year.
May 4th: The Silver Strings of Shipley Shipley Parish Church, Horsham, West Sussex
Jun 1st: Stradivarius Piano Trio Silver Concerto Warnham Park, Horsham, West Sussex
Jun 6th: We will Baroque You! Lackenhurst Estate, Horsham, West Sussex
Jun 29th: An Evening of Opera Durrance Manor, Horsham, West Sussex
Jul 6th: The Wilding Concert Knepp Castle Estate, Horsham, West Sussex
Jul 20th: Festival of Chichester Great Ballard School (Eartham House), Chichester, West Sussex
Jul 27th: Music from the American Songbook St Andrew’s Church, Nuthurst, Horsham, West Sussex
Aug 31st: Silver Strings and the Great American Song Book Drew’s Barn, Warnham Park, Warnham, West Sussex
Visit www.bernardimusicgroup.com for full details of the 2025 season.
The Lewes Speakers Festival brings together a host of interesting speakers, in line with the town's rich history and independent thinkers, there is something for everyone.
Michelle Ogundehin, Head Judge on the BBC’s Interior Design Masters TV series, gives you the steps you need to create a home that heals and makes you happy. Jonathan Fenby, former Editor of The Observer and the South China Morning Post, speaks about the wonder, achievements and cultures of China. Howard Jacobson, Man Booker Prize winner and broadcaster, speaks about his novel ‘What will survive of us’ – a story about love through marriage and middle age.
Jack Cornish, head of paths at the Ramblers, takes you on a guided walk outside around Lewes and along the river Ouse, explaining its rich history and features. Craig Brown, Private Eye satirist, journalist and winner of three different Press Awards — for best humourist, columnist, and critic — in the same year, turns his eye to Queen
Elizabeth II. Monica Macias, childhood resident of North Korea under Kim Il Sung and daughter of the first president of Equatorial Guinea, presents her life story. Dr Terri Apter, family-dynamics psychologist, writer and Fellow of Newnham College Cambridge, speaks about how to be a good grandparent, and Norman Baker, former MP for Lewes, UnderSecretary of State for Transport & Minister for Crime Prevention, speaks about the strange death of Dr Kelly and the invasion of Iraq. There are many more! Visit www.lewesspeakersfestival.com for full information or call the Box Office on: 0333 666 3366.
Followers of Petworth Festival have already snapped up all the tickets for May’s second edition of the Petworth Proms – the festival’s new collaboration with the National Trust and Petworth House – but now comes news of this summer’s ‘fortnight in the sun’, the Petworth Festival itself. Running through the height of summer, the Petworth diary will be packed with forty events that promise to connect with the widest of audiences.
What to pick out? A superb line-up of the country’s top classical names ranging from the stellar saxophonist Jess Gillam, via the exquisite tenor voice of Mark Padmore, to the violin of young star Braimah Kanneh-Mason; brilliant jazz from Ronnie Scott’s superstar pianist James Pearson in programmes saluting Oscar Peterson and Burt Bacharach,
plus chanteuse Claire Martin in tandem with the one-off that is pianist Ian Shaw; a trio of very much ‘fringe’ style events including the top comedian Ed Byrne; and the fixture in the diary that is the festival’s three night residency in Petworth House’s atmospheric Stables.
“I know you’re not supposed to be able to please all of the people all of the time”, says Artistic Director Stewart Collins, “but we’re having a really good go!” www.petworthfestival.org.uk will have all the information.
opp from top: Bernardi Music Group at Knepp Castle for Shipley Arts Festival's Wilding Concert; Penny Mordaunt at the Lewes Speakers Festival, January 2025; from top: (Petworth Festival) Braimah Kanneh-Mason, photo Jake Turney; Mark Padmore, photo Marco Borggreve; Jess Gillam Ensemble
‘Peasmarsh … is a magical Festival’ –Sir David Hare, in The Observer
Co-directed by Anthony Marwood and Richard Lester, the Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival emerged from the acclaimed Florestan Festival, directed for fourteen years by the award winning Florestan Trio.
The Festival includes nine performances across four days including an orchestral performance featuring the ground-breaking Britten Sinfonia and our Artistic Directors Anthony Marwood and Richard Lester as soloists. We are also delighted to be bringing five local primary schools together for a large-scale celebration of their compositions featuring the brilliant young Lumas Winds, following workshops in all five schools and building on nearly twenty years of educational partnerships in this special corner of East Sussex.
This year’s outstanding guest artists include the award-winning composer Steven Mackey whose new work The Ancestors, a ballet in eight tableaux, was commissioned by the Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival and premiered at the Wigmore Hall in January; pianists Julian Chan and Shai Wosner, violinist Grace Park, violist Hélène Clément and cellist John Myerscough.
Our concerts take place in the Norman church in Peasmarsh and in St Mary’s in Rye, both beautiful settings in which to listen to stunning classical music. We look forward to welcoming you to our Festival.
The full festival programme can be found on our website; the box office opens for general booking on 7th April 2025. Please visit www.peasmarshfestival. co.uk for further information.
Thisyear the South Downs Music Festival has its customary variety of music genres to experience and enjoy.
The Friday and Saturday Marquee evening concerts have Merry Hell headlining on Friday with support from Gerry Colvin, followed by The Alistair Goodwin band on Saturday with support from the French Geordie, Flossie Malavialle. Both evening concerts commence at 7.30pm.
And an exciting new addition for the 2025 festival are the Pier concerts: Saturday will feature two Americana bands, further details to follow, and Sunday sees a Celtic theme featuring The Courtiers from
Portsmouth and Gaelforce from Yorkshire.
And last, but definitely not least, is the Southdowns Ukulele Festival, now entering its seventh year, which started in 2018 as a new segment of the already established main Festival. This free festival for ukulele players and the public became a great success and has grown in popularity each year. It is held in a large marquee on Waterloo Square in Bognor Regis and has, over the last seven years, been able to book many of the top performers on the ukulele circuit and has provided the opportunity for many local ukulele jamming groups to perform to the public.
This year there will be performances from The Hedge Inspectors, Plastic Jeezus, Only Ukes and The Mighty Lemons. There are also open mic sessions and several free workshops for both absolute beginners and experienced ukulele players.
The mission of this festival-within-a-festival is to be 'Free to All' so totally relies on funding. The
Festival organisers hope you will come and enjoy this fantastic event this year along with the unmissable main South Downs Music Festival. Visit www.southdownsfolkfest.co.uk for the full programme of events.
top: Gaelforce; above: Flossie Malavialle (South Downs Music Festival)
leweschambermusicfestival.com
9th
sings and blossoms..."
- Mary Colwell, author
of Curlew Moon and The Gathering Place
Herewe have, unusually, two memoirs, both about conservation, yet unalike as chalk and cheese. Where they meet, however, is the authors' passion for their subject.
by Carol Donaldson
Carol Donaldson
part brought a tear to my eye – but you will have to read it to guess which. Heart-warming and heartily recommended, five stars from me, The Volunteers is available online or from your favourite bookshop.
Paperback Original, publishing 8th August, £10.99
ISBN: 978 1 83799 327 7
A memoir of conservation, companionship and community
Carol Donaldson's world fell apart when her long term partner walked out on her just after she had been made redundant. What saved her was a rag-tag bunch of conservation volunteers and a deep love of the English countryside. This is the story of how she saved that group and they saved her right back.
A heart-warming true story of the woods and wildlife, conservation and community, perfect for fans of The Detectorists and The Outlaws
by Mark Infield
When Carol's world suddenly unravels, leaving her single and jobless, she stumbles upon an unexpected opportunity: leading a ragtag team of countryside conservation volunteers. At first glance, the prospect of nurturing Britain's diverse wildlife in the great outdoors seems like a dream come true. However, reality paints a different picture: her office is a ramshackle portacabin overrun with mice and plagued by leaky ceilings, and the volunteers are far from impressed with her lack of practical skills.
With Carol's life suddenly unravelling around her an unexpected opportunity arose. She was offered a job at a local countryside management partnership leading a team of volunteers undertaking conservation work around the area. Although qualified in countryside management with a postgrad degree, she still had big gaps in her practical experience. So being expected to lead a group of volunteers as they undertook a wide variety of tasks, from installing a kissing gate to carrying out water vole surveys, was a steep learning curve.
Volunteer days soon evolve into the highlight of Carol's week, as they bond over their love of nature, mental health battles, and the desire for companionship. As they work together outdoors, the team discover a simple yet powerful recipe for self-confidence, improved wellbeing and a newfound perspective on life's challenges. This journey not only brings solace and new joys to Carol's weeks, but eventually it helps her move on with her life, too.
Throwing herself into the challenge was in itself therapeutic but the connection and cameraderie with the volunteers was an added unforeseen bonus that brought her out of the doldrums and helped restore her confidence. Even her bruised heart flickered with nascent affection when an attractive but complicated young man joined the group.
With the project to save Uganda's Lake Mburu National Park as its primary focus, Beautiful Beasts, Beautiful Lands looks back at Mark Infield's thirty years in conservation and asks the questions 'What really works?' and 'Why?'. This is a personal account of his work in nature conservation, focused on the rise and fall and rise again of this national park.
Despite this rocky beginning, Carol gradually earns the respect of her eclectic group of volunteers, forging a tight-knit community that will grow to become essential to each member. This diverse group spans generations, from twenty-somethings to septuagenarians, with each of them looking to get something different out of volunteering, whether it's a sense of purpose, a fresh start in life or a tick on their community service form. They also bring their unique quirks and life experiences to the mix.
Mark's early days were spent roaming the Ashdown Forest near his home with his dog, drinking in the sights, sounds and smells of his surroundings. His affinity for nature, fuelled by stories of exotic animals in far-flung places, was perhaps forged in the fields, hedgerows and woodland where he wandered.
The Volunteers is a heartwarming tale that celebrates the redemptive force of the woods and wildlife. It underscores the universal need for belonging and illustrates how, even in the most unexpected places, we can find a community to call our own.
For review copies or PDFs, extracts or interviews please contact: Jasmin on jasmin.burkitt@summersdale.com or 01243 756900
But it wasn't all plain sailing. Apart from feeling continually at loggerheads with her unsympathetic boss, managing a rag-tag group of misfits from diverse backgrounds and all ages had its challenges. There were scary times and sad times. But coming together to tackle strenuous physical work and the simple companionship of sitting by the embers of a fire after a day working in the woods moulded the team and invoked a sense of community – of family, even. Carol had found her tribe.
Beautifully written, with fluency and disarming honesty, The Volunteers is both an adventure into a realm that most 'consumers' of the countryside are unaware of, and a candid fly-on-the-wall account of the author growing into and becoming comfortable in her own skin. The juxtaposition of matter-of-fact happenings with the poetry of her descriptions of her beloved countryside, so evocative, was seamless and utterly engaging. I laughed out loud at times and one
In 1981, following his childhood dream, he set out for Africa, to help save her wildlife. With no previous experience and only his passion and enthusiasm to commend him, he was taken on as a volunteer supporting Uganda's national parks. One such, Lake Mburu National Park, was to become not only the focus of a ten-year programme of park recovery, but his home.
Weighing up the balance of wildlife, habitat and human-related activity apart, navigating the turbulent political waters of the region proved an unexpected and at times seemingly intractable barrier. Through time and experience, however, Mark learned that the old colonial paradigm upon which the management of national parks was based was outdated and hugely impractical, excluding, as it did, a key species integral to the shaping of the landscape – its human inhabitants. Great care and a subtle approach in mediation was needed to manage the various factions with a claim to the land, whether economic or historical. None more so than the once ubiquitous Bahima people and their 'beautiful beasts', tall elegant long-horned Ankole cattle. Once a seemingly organic part of the landscape but later banished from the park, these nomadic tribes
depended wholly on their cattle – for sustenance, wealth and social status, and the park with its rich grasslands made up part of their ancestral home.
Cultures differ across the planet, but one thing that is common to all is man's relationship with his environment. Some see nature as simply a backdrop to life or to be exploited to earn a living, while others recognise it as an extension of their own existence, an essential element in the richness of their daily lives and heritage. The many questions arising during the author's time at Mburu are pertinent wherever conservation efforts are being carried out. In a continually shifting landscape, subject to the vagaries of climate and other natural phenomena, what are we trying to conserve?
Mark explains: “That the local people would have their own knowledge of nature and their own unique understanding of their place in it; that they would have relationships with nature and draw on experiences unconnected to my own ... that their visions would run parallel to my own but be as compelling
At the end of 2023 Dartmouth Tourist Office suggested I make a film about my novel The Kid on Slapton Beach.
Based on the true story of US troops descending on Slapton Sands to practise for the D-Day landings, the story is told through the eyes of 12-year-old Harry, one of 3000 local people forced to leave their homes to make way for a secret military exercise that had a tragic outcome.
and meaningful to them as mine were to me – these thoughts I had not considered. It would be years before I began to think about the significance of these differences and consider their importance for my endeavours to protect nature, and even longer before I recognised that they needed to be at the heart of my efforts on nature's behalf.”
A fascinating and enlightening account through the personal lens of an ardent conservationist of a land, although to me unfamiliar, yet with challenges that resonate wherever man and nature co-exist. Anyone with an interest in conservation will enjoy Beautiful Beasts, Beautiful Lands.
Available online or from your favourite bookshop.
With time and effort put in generously by so many people on the Isle of Wight where I live, the film 80 Years On was completed in time to be shown on the 80th anniversary of D-Day, and has been shown at the Dartmouth Book Festival, and in the libraries and arts centres on the Island.
There have been wonderful conversations about what people remembered. “I was just four when we had to leave,” an old lady told me. Writing about history, you have to be as accurate as possible, even more if you are adding fiction into the mix. At another event, a lady showed me a beautiful patchwork quilt. “It was made for my step-father by the Canadian Red Cross,” she told me. I said how kind she was to bring it along to show everyone. “No, no!” she said. “I wanted to show you because it was made for my step-father, and he's the farmer in your book!” I was so touched that I had written a character she really could relate to – literally! Michelle Magorian who wrote ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’ said: “I couldn’t put this book down. I can see the landscape, feel its texture, smell it. And I can see twelve-year-old Harry, and all those villagers and their struggles. It’s powerful. I found myself close to tears when I read it and smiling too!”
–Felicity Fair Thompson
The Kid on Slapton Beach is available from www.wightdiamondpress.com where you can discover more about Felicity and her work.
pictured left: Felicity on Slapton Sands, May 2023
March 2025 saw the publication of the 105th edition of the bi-annual literary magazine The Frogmore Papers.
Founded in 1983 at the legendary Frogmore Tea Rooms in Folkestone (now, sadly, a Pizza Hut), once frequented by H G Wells, the journal has published poetry and prose by hundreds of writers from all over the world, among them Simon Armitage, Sophie Hannah and Tobias Hill.
The latest issue, with a stunning cover (see above) by Brighton-born artist Lydia McDonnell, is a truly international edition, with contributions from Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Romania, the UK and USA. Copies are available at £5.00 (post free) from: The Frogmore Press, 21 Mildmay Road, Lewes BN7 1PJ.
Looking ahead, number 106 will be published in September and will feature all the poems shortlisted for the 39th Frogmore Poetry Prize, to be adjudicated by the poet John Greening. John has published more than twenty collections of poetry, most recently From the East: Six Huntingdonshire Codices, which was published by Renard Press last year. He has previously been awarded the Alexandria International Poetry Prize, the Bridport Prize and the TLS Centenary Prize.
The deadline for entries to the Frogmore Prize is 31st May, visit www.frogmorepress.co.uk for full details. The winner will receive the sum of 250 guineas (£262.50) and a two-year subscription to The Frogmore Papers.
Have you ever wondered what life was like for your grandparents, great-grandparents, or ancestors even further back in the mists of time?
Artist, historian and author Terence Kearey has written a series of books exploring the evolution of British society across the last two centuries, through the lens of his own family.
History, Heroism and Home sees the author’s great-great grandfather, Thomas Kearey, arrive in England in 1816 to seek his fortune. He was the latest – but by no means the last – in a line of strong and resourceful men.
In A Distance Travelled, 1950s Britain was still recovering from the war years, and had further to go than anyone suspected. This is the author's personal journey through love, marriage and industrial strife.
Country Ways is a story about the passage of time, from a Norman invasion to a narrowly-avoided German one. It tells of the joys and hardships of life in rural southern England through the seasons and through the centuries.
Home, family and working life in the mid 20th century is the focus of A Changing World. It is the story of life in an English town and an English community as seen through the eyes of an ordinary English family – the author's own – and covers a period when the country was changing perhaps faster that it ever had before.
Safeguard Our Flank: The Kensingtons tells the story of how one brave battalion lost half its men to enemy fire in a single hour on a fateful summer's day on the Somme in 1916. Counting four of his uncles among the lost, the author sets out a candid account of the action, examining why this tragic and unnecessary slaughter was allowed to happen.
A Glance in the Mirror traces a child's family history from the first millennium to the present day. Born to an ordinary hardworking family that could trace its origins back to 11th century Ireland, Terence Kearey emerged from a wartime Home Counties childhood to enter the world of work at a time of upheaval, technological revolution and trade union militancy.
Carefully researched and vividly told with a personal touch, this series provides a fascinating insight into the shaping of our society from its rural beginnings through tumultuous events to the fastpaced culture we inhabit today.
For more details about the books and how to procure them, including versions narrated by the author – perfect for those who may be visually challenged –go to www.openwindowslearning.co.uk
The Fun We Had a memoir of teaching and travel
by Carrie Evans
Available from your local bookshop and online from Goodreads and Amazon www.amazon.co.uk www.carrieevans.co.uk
A tsunami of incident, gossip and character vignettes, an exploration of other cultures sure to entertain anyone with a fascination for human quirks and foibles
“A joyous romp” –Maria Hughes “full of humour, compassion and adventure. If you love travelling you will love reading this book” – F. Bland
1944
EXERCISE TIGER
EXERCISE TIGER
Secret
Celebrating work by established, emerging and neglected writers over the last four decades. Subscribe for the next two years for only £15.00.
EXERCISE TIGER
Rehearsals for D-Day...
Secret Rehearsals for D-Day...
“A wonderful book...”
Secret Rehearsals for D-Day...
“A wonderful book...”
Michelle Magorian
Michelle Magorian
‘Goodnight Mr Tom’
“A wonderful book...”
Michelle Magorian
‘Goodnight Mr Tom’
‘Goodnight Mr Tom’
“A jewel!...” Actress June BrownDot in EastEnders
“A jewel!...” Actress June BrownDot in EastEnders
“A jewel!...” Actress June BrownDot in EastEnders
Have you read it?
Have you read it?
Have you read it?
At your local book store now Paperback: £8.99
At your local book store now Paperback: £8.99
At your local book store now Paperback: £8.99
ISBN 978-0-9535123-2-4 www.wightdiamondpress.com
ISBN 978-0-9535123-2-4 www.wightdiamondpress.com
ISBN 978-0-9535123-2-4 www.wightdiamondpress.com
Clouds shoulder each other like doubts, gathering in a murmur, obscuring the apparent simplicity of blue
but blue is dogmatic, always the same reflecting on its beauty in the glassiness of ice, stillness of water, ripples of thaw, warming itself on wildfires, turning its face to feel the desert reflect it back to itself, all burning
it never questions itself it never gathers, or clears, forgiving its previous sins
I would rather the second thoughts, the forgiveness of clouds, than the perfection of that last judgement of blue
–Francesca Duffield Francesca is part of the Bourne to Write group in Eastbourne, www.bournetowrite.co.uk
It will be held in a dated village hall floorboards pitted from long-ago stilettoes, or in scout huts reeking of testosterone and yesterday’s socks, drill halls emblazoned with Union Jacks and giant posters boasting: The Adventure Starts Here.
Everyone will arrive at once.
Boxes of unwanted gifts, bottles, books will be unloaded from cars by volunteers who’ve been tripping over them for weeks. Victoria Sponges, Cup Cakes, Flapjacks will be delivered in Tupperware containers still unclaimed at the end of the day.
There will never be enough trestle tables. There will always be too many books. The odds on the Tombola will be too low. The odds on the Bottle Stall too high. There will be bartering at the White Elephant. Cakes will be sold out by 10.
Someone will have a clip board. Someone will have mapped a layout of stalls. Someone will supply the float. Someone will appear with cups of tea.
Someone will count the takings in a back room. Everyone will feel part of a team.
There will be a post-mortem. There will be a final reckoning. No one will count their time: planning, collecting, sorting, pricing, labelling.
There will be joy and jubilation at the amount raised –for the school, the charity, the church.
Plans for next year will be under way.
–Margaret Beston
Margaret is part of Tonbridge Roundel. Feel-Good Factor was first published in Tunbridge Wells & Tonbridge Community Ad Magazine
You saw my potential, Back when I was your swain –Now you are my Lady, And you call me your Thane.
A road unadopted, Became a lover’s lane –The day that I met you, Was my El Alamein
And each day before that Tallied sorrow and blame.
We go together, Like the night neon met rain, Like salt and malt vinegar, When clearing a drain.
I carry you in me, Like a stent in the vein –Because you once burned a sigil, That kept my name.
We are alone now, And I am shell suit to flame.
–Joseph Long
Part of the West Kent Stanza, Joseph has a passion for works which reflect working class life and culture. He is due to have some of his poetry published in Stand magazine.
I grew a clay garden
I grew a clay garden to mould you a bouquet; terracotta tulips and porcelain peonies;
earthenware azalea and raku violets in multitudinous browns, oranges and grays.
I used fingers, thumbs and the heel of my hand to raise and arrange. I dreamt up petals and pistils, I worked in miniature: anther and filament like cogs in a watch. Each precious part breathes, for real, and so do we.
–Joe Edwards Bunn
Joe can be found as the self-proclaimed Bard of Worthing on facebook.com/bardofworthing. Contact him on bardofworthing@gmail.com
She may be long gone but I see her face at every turn
On winding roads, leading who knows where
She’s there, sharing moments
Beneath the diamond sky, along the broken trail
Through wind and hail
On sleepless nights, in dreamlands, she stands
Watching over, she knows my pain
She may be long gone but we follow each other in time
Our two hearts combine
Though I’ve tried in my way to break free
She’s always a part of me
Sharing Sunday’s roast, or just tea and toast
Slender fingers steadying my hand, at her command
She brought me to this world, she’ll see me out
There’s no doubt, although she’s long gone
Deep inside she lives on
–Richard Lewis
we all have little ones in there she says, with a faint smile on her lips
tiny buds promised petalled froth and candy floss now pink-veined, ribboned silky green nubs suggest… something days, weeks pass yet nothing
something will come from nothing she says, with a gentle wave
I wait and watch… watch and wait for something
I see my heart in those satin pink pearls unfurling, with a blush of scent and yesterday’s desire
pretty as a post-coital flush plump as a lover’s kiss-bruised lips sweet breath fragrant with summer
we all have little ones in there she says, plucking a petal with her fingertips.
In the curtaining rain, spreading those wide umbrella wings
Within walls of fear, she steals the silver from my tears
She may be long gone but she’s with me now
In the rhythm of the hills, down hallways
Always, haunting my garden of green
Sharing the wonder of a single flower
By the apple tree or pear, she’s there
Even the dandelion’s face holds a place in her heart
Through colour and kind our passions entwine
As the blackbird wakes the morning, she’s calling
Her song trips along
–Tina MacNaughton
A published writer of both poetry and prose and with a novel under her belt, Tina belongs to Portsmouth Writers' Hub and Chichester-based spoken words group Words Out Loud. Find her on Facebook @tina.macnaughton.5
N.B. All poems shown are subject to copyright
–by N J Crosskey
I’m wearing a cream blouse.
The air smells of lavender and bleach. The woman beside me kisses my cheek. “Bye Mum,” she says, and I realise it’s Meghan. Silly of me, must be the new ‘do. She looks so different.
I forget things sometimes. That’s why I’m here, I think it’s… a word flies across my mind so quickly I can’t hold onto it. I chase it, but it’s gone. So has Meghan.
I walk down the corridor to the lounge. The fraying, floral chairs are occupied by people much older than I. The woman beside me must be ninety if she’s a day. I’m only… well, I’m not sure exactly, but I’m much younger.
She smiles at me, I smile back. “I’m new,” I say. “That’s nice,” she replies. “Have you ever been to Storrington? I’m from Storrington. Course there wasn’t much to do there. I always caught the number thirty-seven into town–”
She talks, a lot. I listen politely as she tells me every nuance of her life. It’s not until she says, “I must telephone my father, he’ll be dreadfully worried,” that I realise she’s crazy.
I look at the others more closely. One of them polishes a teaspoon, frantically, with her jumper. Another gets up, sits down, and gets up again. They’re all crazy. That word I was chasing rushes forward, belts me round the head. Dementia. I’ve heard it a lot. I’ve heard it said about me.
I’ve got dementia. The memory kicks me in the guts, I struggle for breath. I’ve got dementia, and it’s going to consume me, take away everything I am. I look at them all, locked inside their bubbles. Like scratched records, stuck in one groove. How long before I am the same?
Someone starts to wail. I realise it’s me.
I’m wearing a blue nightdress.
The air smells of smoke. My house is on fire! I flee my bedroom, race to the front door. But it’s locked. I can’t get out! I scream, hammering my fists in vain.
“Help me! I’m burning alive!”
Footsteps thunder toward me. Uniformed arms grasp mine, stopping me from hitting the glass pane.
“Coral,” the young lady says, “look at me.”
I’m shaking, but I obey.
“It’s Okay.” She speaks slowly, deliberately.
“My house is on fire!” Why isn’t she panicking?
“No honey. Not now. You’re safe.”
She leads me back down the corridor, sits me down. She tells me things I half remember, things that seem like whispered dreams.
I left the stove on, burned down the house.
“That’s how you came to live with us.” She says.
I’m wearing a green jumper.
I must change before my date tonight. I pick up the mirror to check my lipstick. A shrivelled face, covered in burns and framed by grey hair stares back at me. I scream.
I’m wearing a purple dress.
I sit next to a woman much older than I. “I’m new,” I say.
“That’s nice,” she smiles. “Have you ever been to Storrington?”
She lay in the dark, listening to her husband’s breathing. It was both reassuring and annoying. Reassuring because it was rhythmical and even, but annoying because she couldn’t sleep and unconsciously, she was waiting for his next breath. It felt as if she had gone to bed hours earlier, but when she glanced at the alarm, it was still only two o ‘clock.
Finally, she tried counting sheep, but for some unaccountable reason her mind transformed her into a Collie and she began herding them. She tried to guide them towards the open gate, leading into the next field of fresh grass, but they separated into four distinct groups. A bolshy ewe charged her from behind and she turned to nip it.
“Wake up, you’re dreaming,” her husband said, “and barking! And you nearly bit me!”
“Sorry. I didn’t realise I’d fallen asleep,” she mumbled. She turned over. “I’d better try something else,” she thought.
Apparently the current Labour government is attempting to change the copyright laws to let artificial intelligence companies use copyrightprotected work without permission, which is causing a huge protest from artists of all genres. And in late February most all national newspapers printed on their front pages the message MAKE IT FAIR, beginning a campaign and highlighting the dangers to artists if this becomes reality. Very unusual for nearly every newspaper to combine their strength in this constructive way, and, although I mostly frown when it comes to the mainstream media, this campaign is to be applauded.
Accompanying this, more than a thousand musicians, including Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, Kate Bush and Hans Zimmer, released a silent album of recordings of empty studios and performance spaces, with proceeds going to the Help Musicians charity.
This is Science Fiction becoming science fact. Who would have thought just a few years ago that the mainstream media would be using their front pages to warn humanity of the dangers of artificial intelligence and proposed legislation to give tech companies free rein to steal and use all the stored data of all the artistic works of the planet? I can hardly believe it!
What do you think? It seems incredible to me that this is even considered possible, never mind probable. How can we allow anyone (or anything) to be able to take someone’s creative work and use it for whatever ends? It’s criminal, to put it mildly.
It is always worth remembering that any artificial
intelligence is programmed by a human being and thus, if AI does something unethical or antisocial, that it stems from that programming. A programmer who is up to their neck in technological data, characters and symbols is probably half robotic themselves, having little or no experience of life outside their techno bubble. And so we have the scenario of someone who is a technical academic, short on experience in the real world, having had little or no interaction with all the various forms of artistic expression, and who probably has more feelings towards their robotic girlfriend than towards actual humans, choosing what is right or wrong as regards the behaviour of AI. (Note: a tech above: Future technology; below: MAKE IT FAIR newspaper front pages
firm is now selling real life-size AI robot girlfriends that can ‘show emotion’ and hold conversations for a mere $175,000.)
Science Fiction writers did warn us, as they have about so many futuristic things. And we are not learning from their work. In 1940, in what some regard as the beginning of the Golden Age of Science Fiction, Isaac Asimov invented the Three Laws of Robotics for his many stories involving the interrelationship between humans and robots. These laws were created to protect human beings from any harm that might stem from any irrational robotic behaviour.
Asimov’s laws are:
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Looking these over it’s easy to see that the proposed theft and misuse of artists' work would violate the first law. It’s a pity the techies have not taken these laws to heart. It’s similar to the scientists who built the atom bomb, but without first discovering a defence against such a dangerous weapon.
And so one might choose to conclude that these technological nerdish gods are not merely just sad and to be pitied for their lack of social skills and grasp of reality, but in fact are morally and ethically corrupt, or at the very least are being used by people of malicious intent who are their paymasters.
I don’t know where all this is going to lead us, but as things stand at the moment, it doesn’t bode well. Based on the above, and, as I wrote in the last issue, the first ever artwork by a robot artist was sold at auction late last year in New York for a reported £566,000, the future is looking ominously uncertain.
To quote Czech writer Karel Čapek, the man who introduced the word Robot into our vocabulary in 1920: “Robots do not hold on to life. They can't. They have nothing to hold on with – no soul, no instinct. Grass has more will to live than they do.” Let’s hope he is right!
You might think, as did I, that a Southampton football club web forum would be all about the team, along with discussions about results, transfer news, critiques of players and so on. But apparently not. As I accidentally discovered recently.
I was fascinated that there was a post on the forum commenting on a Times report about universities in the UK which garnered much debate among the fans online. One had posted that Universities were removing books from reading lists, or issuing warnings about their content, to 'protect' the sensibilities of students. It went on to give examples such as ‘The Underground Railroad’ being removed as it depicts slavery and other authors’ works being either blacklisted or having warnings posted. According to the post these included Shakespeare, Chaucer, Dickens, from top left:
Emily Brontë, Agatha Christie and Jane Austen.
The post ended with “Isn't the point of a university education to challenge and be challenged?” and “When do they start burning the books?”
This sort of restored my faith in humanity; football fans debating the rights and wrongs of academia and censorship, a world which one would think was not visited very often if it all by aficionados of the beautiful game.
It was very refreshing to see and reminded me of this quote by Ray Bradbury, author of ‘Fahrenheit 451’ his 1953 novel about a future society where books have been outlawed and any found are burned.
“You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.”
One of the many perks of working on an arts magazine is that we have adventures such as visiting artists and learning more about them and their work. And so it was that we visited ‘beginning’ artist Erika Sharp at her beautiful home in Sussex. You can see our interview with Erika in this issue’s Visual Arts feature on page 42.
Along with her charming hospitality and warmth of personality, we had a wonderful chat with her. It came to light while talking that although the name of our magazine is ingénu/e, it is not necessarily a wellknown word. I always thought it was in common use in English, but perhaps not as often as I thought.
And so, for those new to the magazine, here is the background of the title.
The word ingénue tends to have a feminine slant in its usage, referring usually to a young creative girl or woman who is endearingly innocent and wholesome, very new to an artistic genre. And this describes Erika to a tee.
As the main raison d'etre of the magazine is to promote emerging and re-emerging creative talent of any genre, and most creative beings – male or female – who are venturing forth on their career trajectories collide like sheep amongst wolves with such un-aesthetic things as economics, critics and social media while also experiencing the various ups and downs of life as an artist in a world that can be very challenging, we thought the word quite appropriate.
It originates from Voltaire’s very successful satirical 1767 story ‘L’Ingénu’ in which the naive gaze of an ‘uncivilized’ observer exposes the absurdity and hypocrisy of French society of the time. Ingénu is the masculine form and ingénue the female form of the word and so we coined the name 'ingénu/e'.
And so Erika is a wonderful and vibrant example of this concept, and we wish her all good things as she begins her journey to where it will lead.
