Visiting the Christmas Artists Open Houses over three weekends, from 30 November to 15 December is a great way to discover the wealth of creative talent that exists in the city. Homewares, knitted artwork, photography, jewellery, ceramics, crafts, toys and textiles as well as handcrafted Christmas cards, wreaths, tree decorations and foodie gifts are all on offer.

An afternoon spent browsing Brighton & Hove’s Christmas Artists Open Houses is the perfect way to take the pain out of Christmas shopping and a chance to discover unique and unusual Christmas gifts for friends, family or for yourself.

Christmas Artists Open Houses create a special atmosphere, where you can chat to the artists and have a sneaky peak around some of Brighton’s most interesting homes – what’s more, there will often be mulled wine and mince pies on offer! And for children, check out the children’s advent garden, Christmas grotto, wishing tree, puppets, a Smugglers Night and a house of magic.

The Artists Open Houses festival continues to innovate and evolve, reflecting the experience and professionalism as well as the youth and freshness of the city’s artists. With a focus on quality and value for money, Artists Open Houses works to bring this dynamic mix of arts and crafts to the widest possible audience, providing visitors and viewers with engaging and inspiring experiences. 

The Whistler’s favourite artist and piano teacher, Clare Harms, whose work is featured on our front page, is exhibiting her paintings, prints and cards in the fabulous Wick Hall, Furze Hill BN3 1NG along with other artists. Join them for mulled wine and view gift ideas of jewellery textiles, cards, original paintings and limited edition prints.

If you haven’t heard of Wick Hall before, this art deco building near St Anne’s Wells Gardens is worth a visit in itself. The current art deco Wick Hall was built by Bell Modern Homes in 1936, in the same year that the Queen Mary Liner was launched.  The building is often compared to an ocean liner, (just like Marine Court in St Leonards-on-Sea) with its austere and linear art deco styling and expansive flat roof. The building has four blocks with 166 flats. When the building was new it was intended for upmarket rentals and facilities included a roof garden, pitch & putt, constant hot water and heating, liveried porters, a chauffeur’s flat and a restaurant which was visited by residents and their guests. The current Wick Hall inherited the gardens and mature trees from an earlier building on the site – including a giant ancient sweet chestnut tree, rumoured to have been where the Prince Regent tethered his horse when visiting the nearby Chalybeate spring.

These Open House Weekends offer the opportunity to check out some modern art and craft in both homely and historic surroundings.