Artists Open House Brighton
Welcome to the Nature House
The Artists Open Houses has now closed for another year.
Thank you so much to everyone who visited, bought artwork, shared kind words, or simply took the time to engage with what we do. Your support truly means the world.
Below, you’ll find a list of all the wonderful makers who exhibited in the house – in case you’re trying to find someone whose work caught your eye.
It was such a joy to meet so many of you in person and to share my work face-to-face. One lovely visitor said, “I saw them on the website and I’m so glad I came to see them in real life – the photos just don’t do them justice.” I do my best to capture the layers of painterly marks, delicate stitching, and quiet textures in photos – but there’s something special about seeing them up close.
Opening up our home each year can feel a little surreal – letting strangers into our everyday space – but it’s always worth it. The house was filled with warmth, curiosity, and genuine appreciation: for the art, the stories, and the energy of the space. We’ve had so many memorable conversations with people who connect with the work and believe in supporting independent artists.
Next year, I’ll be taking a break – my daughter will be doing her GCSEs, and I want to be fully present for that important chapter. So I’m especially grateful to have had this time to soak up the spirit of Open House 2025. We’ll be back in 2027!
If you’d like to see any of my work in the meantime, I’d love to welcome you for a private appointment – just get in touch.
Best wishes,
Ellie x
Meet the artists & makers joining me this year
Sarah Rickard – Ceramics
A deep connection to nature inspires all of my work. My belief that all life is interconnected and sacred is the motivation behind everything that I create. Magic, mythology, folklore and spirituality also interest me and colour my work. I love tales of beings part human, part animal finding them an interesting vehicle for my ideas regarding our relationship with nature and how we are connected to it.
Website: https://www.sarahrickard.co.uk/
Bianca Williams – Textile Homewares
Bianca Williams is a Collage artist and textile designer from Brighton. She uses a combination of both traditional printing and
painting techniques with modern technology to create her unique range of cheerful, botanical printed patterns. She applies her floral prints to a range of products that include, Homeware, Tableware
and other small gift items. Designed, printed and handmade all here in the UK.
Website: https://biancawilliamsdesign.com/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/bianca_williams_design
Chris Murphy – Ceramics
Hand makes one-off pieces of Ceramics for the house and garden. Inspired by his love of nature and the natural world. He will be showing a selection of handmade dishes and wall pieces depicting ocean and land animals.
Instagram: @chrismurphyceramics
Beth Chaplin – Jeweller
Lugna Home Fragrances
Lugna Home Fragrance creates scandi inspired + eco conscious candles, designed to bring you calm. our candles use relaxing + natural feeling fragrances, to keep you grounded + give support when in need.
Website: https://www.lugnahomefragrance.co.uk/
Instagram: @lugnahomefragrance
Lauren Hayes – Paper artist
Lauren Hayes is a self-taught paper artist living in Brighton. Lauren studied Fine Art and the University of Chichester and moved back to her hometown of Brighton after she graduated. Her work draws inspiration from the natural world, from botanical themes to the intricate forms of corals and sea life. Her work is mainly using paper and wire, occasionally experimenting with surface design with pigments.
Anna Cates – Woodturning
Anna Cates is a professional woodturner with over 20 years of experience, gained since her
Degree in 3D Crafts at Brighton Uni. She has a wide range of clients who seek her skills and
she turns for furniture makers and antique restorers on a regular basis as well as making
pieces to commission for collectors around the world.
She thrives in the artistic community surrounding her home and workshop in Worthing wherethe shavings often fly 7 days a week. She produces a wide range of both sculptural and functional pieces and seeks to highlight the natural beauty, texture and grain of wood in each piece.
Website: https://www.annacates.com/section848983.html
Jazz The Alchemist – Glass
Jazz studied BA hons Designer Maker at The University of Brighton, graduating in 2016 where she specialised in glass. She has exhibited widely within the UK and is represented in several galleries and shops. Since graduation she has been teaching glass and has gained a reputation as a very patience and knowledgeable tutor.
Her work is inspired by the very nature of the material she works with. It is hard but soft, strong but fragile. The intensity of colour and the way light plays with the material. She draws further inspiration from the beauty of the natural world, local gardens and the stunning Sussex landscape.
Scarlett Sky – Accessories
I chose to pursue a career in fashion design, fortunate to experience a diverse journey within the fashion and music industry as a stylist. However, life took an unexpected turn after the birth of my daughter, sparking a newfound interest in interior design. I delved into upholstery, mastering both modern and traditional techniques, and it was during this time that I first worked with leather – a material that instantly stole my heart.
The culmination of my accumulated skills and experiences converged, leading me to embark on a journey of designing handbags.
Since taking that leap of faith and despite plenty of initial challenges, I can happily declare that I have never looked back.
