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Posts tagged ‘Brighton & Hove’

Find me at the Artists Open Houses

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Dukes at Komedia

Every weekend in May hundreds of houses, studios and venues open their doors for the Artists Open Houses festival. This free event has grown from modest beginnings 20 years back, to be one of the biggest in the country.

There is a vast, amount of work on display, providing a rare opportunity to shun mass production and stock up on something unique. You also get to waft through other peoples houses admiring the décor, gardens and in my case, lust after beautiful studio spaces.

Arches

This year I have some work on display at the fantastic Bailey and Alexander gallery in the new Arches on the seafront, opposite the West Pier. Number ‘1’ on the central trail. The arches have been renovated and now contain some great little boutique shops. Here’s what they used to look like, boarded up and unused, pre-demolition, on a misty Winters day.

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No cars and no bras!

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Today was a perfect day for Brighton’s ninth World Naked Bike ride. It’s a peaceful protest against car culture and oil dependency. Naked Bike ride Old Steine

Naked Bike ride Level

Those brave enough to, bare as much as they dare, to demonstrate the power and vulnerability of cyclists.

If you are feeling shy... wear a mask!

If you are feeling shy… wear a mask!

The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. Everyone seemed to be having a fantastic time, particularly those in the fountain at the Old Steine!

 

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Brighton shocks!

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Vegetarian shoesI don’t known any other shop in the city that provokes as much shock as the Vegetarian shoe shop on Gardner street. I’ve seen even the most rampant meat eater back away in disgust, that a liberal city like ours would do such a thing with it’s vegetarians. Of course once they realise that the shoes are not made form actual vegetarians, they swiftly move off red faced.

The furry and very talented Rowlf (aka Joss Peach), has a similar ability to stir a reaction from the crowds. I particularly enjoyed his very cheerful rendition of ‘Englishman in New York’ outside Infinity Foods.

Rowlf

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Brighton & Hove food & drink festival 2013

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Moroccan magicLast week Brighton & Hove celebrated it’s annual Autumn Harvest food festival. The ‘Big Sussex Market’ is particularly popular. I was fortunate enough to find a few comfy sketching spots. If you touch each image with your left index finger, you should be able to take in the gorgeous aromas*.

*Note this only works if you have recently spilled food on or around yourself, or your electronic device. 

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It’s raining!

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Church street

It’s been really raining on and off today. I was lucky to be sheltering in a cafe on New Road when this shower hit. ‘Pompoko’ in the background is a great place for reasonably priced Japanese food and whilst it’s not licensed, you can bring your own bottle.

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Homage to Peter James

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Where it all begins: Sussex House, home of Sussex Police where Detective Superintendent Roy Grace spends his time ‘briefing’, ‘eating’ and on occasion: both at the same time.

Local man Peter James set his ‘Roy Grace’ crime series in and around Brighton & Hove. This is particularly exciting for anyone who knows the area. When I read about exotic places like the ‘Van Allen building’ and ‘Hollingbury ASDA’, I point at my book, with wide eyes whilst my inner voice blurts “I’ve been there! I know where that is!”.

This is a celebration of those often overlooked places.

This is the famous ASDA that Roy Grace stares out at from his office in Sussex House. Note that Roy would be looking at the building’s backside, which is far less beautiful. This is the view he might see when he goes to get an All-Day Breakfast egg, bacon and sausage sandwich.

In “Deadman’s footsteps” Roy parks his Alfa Romeo in the Church street NCP pictured here. I managed to spill paint all over this when someone asked me for directions; I realised later that I’d accidentally sent him the wrong way, I do hope it wasn’t Peter James.

In “Deadman’s footsteps” Roy parks his Alfa Romeo in the Church street NCP pictured here. I managed to spill paint all over this when someone asked me for directions; I realised later that I’d accidentally sent him the wrong way, Karma.

After parking up, Roy heads down past the Corn Exchange, along Marlborough place, up Trafalgar where he bumps into the dodgy “under-belly-world-crim” Terry Biglow right in this very spot by Pelham Square. When I painted this, there was just a lady quietly eating a smoked salmon sandwich though so capturing the sinister undertones was tricky. The café in the background claims that “Passenger” thinks they have the best coffee in town, I haven’t tried it but I did enjoy the very comfy sofa’s in Redwood next door.

After parking up at the NCP, Roy heads to Pelham Square on Trafalgar Street, where he bumps into Terry Biglow, the dodgy ‘under-belly-world-criminal’. When I painted this, there was just a lady quietly eating a smoked salmon sandwich, so capturing the sinister undertones was tricky.

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