Eastbourne-based artist and founder of the town’s Artists Open Houses tells Simone Hellyer how creating a painting a day was the key to his success
It was two railway poster-style paintings of East Sussex created for the House of Lords which led Eastbourne-based painter Julian Sutherland-Beatson on the path to becoming a professional artist. And since 2008 he has been helping other local artists to do the same by launching Eastbourne Artists Open Houses.
The event, which was first launched by Julian as part of Eastbourne Festival, will return to the town this April for its 11th year, something that continues to surprise its founder. “Because I know so many local artists and I have a background in graphic design I was asked to put a brochure together. Through that we got 40 to 50 people taking part and it went really well. Since 2010 I’ve done two a year; one at Easter and one at Christmas,” he says, adding: “There are quite a few people who joined us at the start who are still with us and there’s always new artists joining us. Each time I do it I say if there aren’t enough people taking part, we won’t do it, but so far there have always been enough.”
Julian always exhibits at the event himself. He believes that open houses are a great way to open up the art world and give fledgling artists the confidence to start approaching galleries and marketing their work.
His first steps in self-marketing came in 2004 when responded to a call by the House of Lords for contemporary paintings in the style of 1930s travel posters.
Esta historia es de la edición April 2019 de Sussex Life.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición April 2019 de Sussex Life.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
TAKE YOUR TIME
Dean Edwards’ new cookbook features delectable recipes that you can slow cook or stick in the oven. Here’s a selection of the best
Decorative art
Not simply functional, treat your walls like an extension of your personality
ON THE FRONT FOOT
The rugby legend took the reins at Sussex County Cricket Club in 2017, rekindling his love for a sport that first won his heart on the village cricket fields of North Yorkshire
NAKED AMBITION
In the 1980s, Christine and Jennifer Binnie partied with Boy George and Marilyn and bared all as performance art collective The Neo-Naturists. Now they are working together to gain the recognition they feel they deserve
ROCKET MAN
Astronaut Tim Peake has come a long way since growing up in Westbourne and attending Chichester High School for Boys: 248 miles above Earth, to be precise. But, he says, life on the International Space Station has a lot in common with family caravanning holidays
Revolution man
Lewes’ most famous resident Thomas Paine may be the greatest propagandist who ever lived. But how did a humble customs and excise officer ignite the touchpaper for revolution in not one but two countries?
THE DIARY
17 exciting things to do this month in East and West Sussex
All in a day's work
Meet Tim Dummer, who has helped keep Midhurst’s Cowdray Estate shipshape for an impressive five decades
My favourite Sussex
Bruce Fogle is an author and a vet with a practice in London who has lived in West Sussex with his wife, the actress Julia Foster, since 1989. He recently became president of RSPCA Mount Noddy near Chichester
10 OF THE BEST Meat-free restaurants in Brighton and Hove
Brighton is often rated one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the UK. What these restaurants prove is that plant-based food doesn’t have to be puritanical – at all of these places you’ll find big flavours and a desire to push the envelope
