Jeff Koons at the Brighton Museum

I'm forever grumbling that Brighton has a distinct lack of big artists exhibiting in our town, so you can imagine that this latest show has appeased my disapproval no end! You don't get much bigger than Koons and although small in space, it's definitely worthy of a visit to check out. Running completely free until the 8th September at the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, visit their website for visitor information here. 

Things I miss about London

Things I miss about London. The noise? No. The pollution? No. Being squashed and pushed into sweaty underarms on the underground? NO.

The amazing and beautiful street art decorating walls across the whole city? Yes yes yes.

Emily and I went up for her birthday recently and here are some of East London's current and finest pieces.

Pencil Doodles

Happiness is a scrap of paper and a newly sharpened HB pencil.

And tea and biscuits. Obviously. 

Runner's woe

I've hurt my left leg and it means my running has had to take a hiatus while it gets better. I'm so impatient. I ran 3 miles yesterday but I had to take it easy and it just wasn't as fun as it normally is. Come on legs, don't let me down. In the meanwhile, drawing will always be the next best cathartic activity for me. I will always have lazy bones under this flesh. 

Weather: It's rain or shine

It's undeniably a natural product from working in a shop, but I love weather talk. I love the British relationship with it, our eternal optimism and general wistful whimsy when it comes to terrible weather. Every year the same unseasonable rain and cold and yet it always takes us by the surprise. 

It is May but the skies are thunderous and grey, leaves are being blown off trees like it's Autumn, this is nothing new but it is all I can think and speak about...Hurry up Summer.

Open house season begins

It's no secret that I love Open House hunting in Brighton. It always feels like a hunt once you have your trail map in front of you, getting lost in suburbia, craning your neck from left to right to see if you can spot a glimpse of that tell tale bunting and Open House banner. It's such a celebration of home grown talent and I'm always thrilled to see such a wide range of artists, materials and subject matter showcasing. Oh and did I mention there is always an abundance of cake? Here is the AOH website for my details, they run on weekends for the entirety of May. Here is a peek of my first venture into the Fiveways Trail- recommended! 

Fringe Time

Starting off the Fringe in true quirky Brighton style. The Clock tower being covered in donated clothes from it's own city residents is actually a commissioned piece of work by Finnish artist Kaarina Kaikkonen. The Clock Tower will remain dressed for the duration of the Fringe and if you're curious to know and see more from Kaikkonen; she is also exhibiting currently at Fabrica Gallery, click here for more details. 

Emily's birthday

It was Emily's birthday so I wrapped up lots of lovely things, scribbled a sombrero birthday card and threw on my best day of the dead dress. We had an amazing lunch at La Choza, our current favourite place in Brighton for food and celebrated by munching our body weight in burritos and churros. 

Needless to say, it was a good day. 

Cold in Brighton

Happy Welshy day illustration!

St David's day tomorrow- don't forget to wear your daffodil and eat an abundance of welsh cakes. I made this illustration for my mum. My favourite Welsh lady.

Parky Doodles

I take great enjoyment in unexpected discoveries, especially those of a creative nature. This year I moved to Kemptown and during one new short cut home one evening came across this lovely bicycle mural. Upon flexing my detective skills (googling the signature) I found out the artist is Parky Doodles and is currently studying illustration at Brighton, here is their website, have a look because their work is really mindbogglingly good. 

Leeds

On a recent jaunt up to Leeds to see family, we had the fortune to have the time to explore the city. I loved some of the architecture we got to see and I highly regard Leeds Art Gallery. Nike Savvas was currently showing work in her exhibition titled 'Liberty and Anarchy', which involved big wooden geometric shapes with colourful material woven into the installed pieces, see the bottom left hand side image.

On top of that I was tickled to see work by other great artists including Bob and Roberta Smith and one of my personal favourites, Grayson Perry...

I love Grayson Perry.