Alexis Rayner

Alexis has been showing at my Open House for a couple of years now. Her work is largely a mixture of art and crafts and she also has some gorgeous cards. She has used decoupage to produce some beautiful bowls, picture frames and mirrors and her paintings use a variety of different media to produce some stunning effects and textures.

Below are some examples of her decoupage and some of her new artworks which I'm looking forward to seeing at the Open House. I love the swirls of the round painting; it reminds me of seaweed snaking round a rock pool on a stormy winter's day.

Mark Charlton

Mark Charlton joined my Open House in May and I'm pleased to say he's going to be back again at Christmas.

Mark has worked as a freelance animator primarily in the music industry for many years but more recently has been developing his own mixed media work, using a combination of screen print, painting and collage. The multiple layers give a great sense of depth and texture. His work is abstract with an urban feel, often taking inspiration from 50s and 60s science fiction novellas.

Please visit his website http://www.markcharltonart.com for more examples of his work.

Kitty In the City

At every Open House, we provide refreshments for free but request a donation to charity. My eldest daughter also makes a variety of items, including toys, bags, bookmarks and earrings, which are sold to raise money for her chosen charity, Kitty in the City.

Kitty in the City is a local charity run entirely by volunteers to rescue and care for unwanted cats in Brighton. The cats are placed in foster homes to await adoption until a suitable permanent home is found for them. Kitty in the City provides the food, veterinary care and loving care until each cat is adopted. None are put to sleep simply because it may be difficult to find permanent homes for them.

This is a charity that is very close to our hearts. Many previous visitors will remember our grey cat who used to sit on the sofa throughout the Open House, happily being admired by all comers. Sadly, Issey died last year aged 15 but we still have three beautiful cats who you may meet fleetingly at the Open House.

If you would like to support the fantastic work this charity does, their website is http://www.kittyinthecity.org.uk.

Ruth Mullan

Ruth originally trained as a graphic designer but, after an evening course in stained glass under the tutelage of Keith Nickels, began working with stained glass. Ruth often works on commission, creating both leaded glass hanging pieces and panels for installation in doors and windows, and has also experimented with fused glass. Her use of colour and texture within her work produces stunning results.

Alongside the leaded work, Ruth also has some smaller copper foil pieces. Last Christmas, her hanging birds and ballet shoes proved very popular sellers.

Some examples of her work are below; for more, please visit her website http://ruthmullan.co.uk.

Del Thorpe

Del Thorpe has been a guest artist at my Open House for a couple of years now and it's great to have him back again this Christmas, not least because I get to have his work on my walls to enjoy for a few weeks. He has been illustrating children's books for some time now, including Tony Robinson's Weird World of Wonders series. (He even got a Blue Peter badge for the World War 2 book in this series.) The latest book in the series, "Pets", has been published this month.

Del's artwork is always very popular at the Open House, particularly his "Adventure Calls!" series. For this May, he created some original watercolours in postcard size and has plans to produce some more for Christmas, along with some large scale ones. I'm really looking forward to seeing them and  shall post pictures here as soon as they are available but, in the meantime, here are some of the Adventure Calls! prints. Check out his website http://www.delthorpe.co.uk for more.

Bluebell Roebuck

Despite the almost monochrome qualities of Brighton Beach in Winter which I posted last week, what attracts me most as a photographer is intensity of colour and the endless variety of the natural world. I've been lucky enough to visit Hawaii and Iceland several times - so different in terms of their  locations on Earth but both volcanic. The colours of Hawaii are so intense and rich but Iceland's colour palette is more ethereal.

The top and bottom photographs below were taken in Iceland, the first at the Blue Lagoon where you bath in waters from the geothermic plant, the second a geyser which erupts every couple of minutes. After much patience, I  managed to catch it just before the bubble explodes.

The second photograph was taken at a site sacred to the ancient Hawaiians in the centre of the island of Oahu. The royal family used to give birth at these stones and I love the way the setting sun showed the columns of mist.

The third photograph was taken at Red Rock Canyon, just outside Las Vegas; it's an area of wilderness so close to the brightest, brashest city I have ever experienced.

Margaret McGregor Betts

From bold and beautiful collagraphs to both abstract and representational watercolours, Margaret's work demonstrates a real connection to the vitality of the natural world around us. Water and woodland or forest are particular sources of inspiration, including many of my own favourite places in Sussex and Cornwall, especially Heligan Gardens which have been reclaimed in part from the wilderness but retain the magical freedom of nature left to its own devices.

Following a successful start at Bluebell Would Open House in May, I am happy to welcome Margaret back this Christmas. She will be showing a selection of watercolours, collagraphs and etchings. Please visit her website http://www.margaretmcgregorbettsartist.com for more examples of her beautiful work.