Artists show new work

The studios have now been open for 18 months, offering affordable studio space to ten aspiring artists.

Project director Tim Sandys-Renton said: “These artists are opening their studios to the public on December 17 and 18, 10am–8pm. The ten artists will be showing new work, some for sale at very affordable prices.

“Visitors will be able to see their working studios and talk to the artists about their work and what inspires them. The Unity Studios can be found at Units 15/16 on the St James Industrial Estate, off the Westhampnett Road, on the right as you head east from the city centre towards the Sainsbury’s supermarket.”

The ten artists are: Laurence Elliott, Emily Finn, Heather Gray-Newton, Jo Higgs, Des Kilfeather, Juliet Larken, David Pratt, Alice Pullan, Tiffany Robinson and Jayne Sandys-Renton.

Tim added: “Unity Arts Trust was set up to develop affordable studios for artists as part of the Graylingwell development in NE Chichester. In the meantime Unity Arts Trust have set themselves the task of growing their vision in a relatively-small but focused manner here in St James.

“Unity Arts Trust’s vision is of a dynamic, thriving and outward-looking community of successful professional artists/craftspeople in Chichester, many of whom have been supported at the outset of their careers by Unity Arts Trust through the opportunity to rent affordable studio space and receive mentoring to enable them to be self-supporting.”

Unity Studio Artists’ are planning artists’ talks about their work on Thursday, February 9 as part of CH-ART, an artist-led initiative for artists and craftspeople in the Chichester area, supported by Pallant House Gallery, Unity Arts Trust and independent artists. Regular Ch-Art meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month, 6-8pm, at Pallant House Gallery (free).

“Ch-Art was set up support and develop artistic practice, and ultimately to influence the development of new artistic possibilities for artists/craftspeople at all levels, in Chichester,” Tim explained.

More details on www.unityartstrust.org.uk.