Is there a county that boasts more art and craft galleries and artisan shops than Sussex? Here, I take you on a tour of four villages and towns little more than an hour’s journey from London, which provide particularly rich pickings if you’re looking for art and craftwork: Lewes and Rye in East Sussex; Arundel and Petworth in the West.
Jessica Wood
Rye
Think cobblestone streets, Tudor buildings and Instagram opportunities round every corner. Rye Art Gallery, an amalgamation of two ancient buildings, regularly organises new exhibitions featuring works from local artists and makers, as well as pieces from its extensive collection. Rye Creative Centre, a former school, is a key art studio complex and the designs and artworks its resident artists produce are on show throughout the town. The art and interiors space, McCully & Crane, is an elegant joy: this issue’s cover star Kelly Jessiman is on their roster of carefully chosen artist-makers.
Lewes
Lewes is a quirky, unspoiled and spirited historic town, its hilly streets and twittens lined with shops, pubs and cafes. The town is a modern-day crafts hub: The Makers Directory, an online directory covering the district, lists over 600 craftsmen and women! First-rate contemporary craft is regularly on show at Meiklejohn Gallery, which supports local artists and makers. Also check out The Star Brewery Gallery, artist-run collective Chalk Gallery, and Ida’s Yarn Shop and Wool School. Alexis Dove on School Hill, and Jonathan Swan, up the hill on the High Street, both offer award winning jewellery, fashioned on-site.
Arundel
Gallery57, situated in a former townhouse on Tarrant Street, is always my first port of call in this historic town, overlooked by its castle and cathedral. Gallery owner and artist Ann Symes curates an inspirational exhibition programme with a serene aesthetic that you immediately want to emulate at home (but fail). At Nineveh House, a former church on the other side of the street, you can browse a warren of independent, local, quirky stores selling antiques (including Roman artefacts), art, craft and collectables. Finally, Arundel Contemporary, housed in a historic Grade II-listed building on Maltravers Street, is an independent gallery with five spaces, always offering a selection of fine ceramics.
Petworth
Petworth, known as the ‘Antiques Centre of the South’, offers a host of art and craft galleries and art, design and craft shops, too. It’s home to Petworth House, boasting the best art collection of all the National Trust properties, and Newlands House Gallery, which puts on world class art exhibitions. You can’t walk far without being lured into an independent gallery: Kevis House regularly exhibits local and national artists (including West Sussex-based textile designer Katherine Swailes); Ottocento is an elegant fine-art gallery, on two floors. Petworth Antiques Market, spanning over 275 square meters and featuring a variety of dealers, is one of 30 antique shops in the village.
