LIFESTYLE

Over 180 houses across Brighton, Hove and beyond are opening their doors to the public for four weekends this May for the 43rd year of the Artists Open Houses spring edition. The gorgeous cover features work by Brighton-based textile artist Kate Jenkins, who is best known for her playful foodie crochet creations (she even designed a themed knitted room for Brighton's Pelirocco Hotel – 'Do Knit Disturb' – featuring all things, knitted, including a phone). This year's cover showcases her whimsical woven take on classic British fish and chips. Kate will also be opening her studio to visitors during May, so you'll be able to take a peek at her whimsical creations. The first houses opening their doors for the festival have also been announced, here's a few of the highlights: The Scandi-inspired Hygge House (above) will again be showcasing a range of contemporary makers, serving homemade cakes in their garden, and hosting some meet-the-maker events over the month. Lucy Delano's Studio 55 is also back this year, presenting the Art of Pepita x Fatboy Slim with the coffee brand's artists exhibiting their designs for the limited-edition reusable coffee tins and other work. Clara Wilkinson will be opening her Regency home to show her new vibrant oil paintings, watercolours and prints. She'll also have a local baker with her who'll be serving up tasty cakes for visitors. The historical Regency Town House will be holding two exhibitions: a group exhibition, No Hard Shoulder, that merges the past and the present and a multi-disciplinary show, Darker, by a six-artist-strong collective. The festival offers a perfect chance to explore the city and beyond (out to Ditchling, Newhaven and surrounding Sussex villages), discover the designers and makers living on your doorstep, snap up some gorgeous unique handmade gifts direct from the artists, and, more often than not, indulge in a wee foodie treat. (And have a little snoop inside loads of different houses and buildings, obvs.) As ever, the choice is immense, with the work available to see and buy ranging from ceramics and paintings to textiles, jewellery and many other artworks from established and emerging artists. 3rd, 4th and 5th, 10th and 11th, 17th and 18th, 24th, 25th and 26th May (Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays Mondays)Various times and locations (not all houses open every weekend)aoh.org.uk Photo credits: Kate Jenkins, Artists Open Houses 2025 cover; Hygge House, AOH 2024, by Syl Ojalla; This is the Seventh Wave, Regency Townhouse, AOH 2024, by Syl Ojalla

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Artists Open Houses return for spring edition

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