Category: News

Petworth In Bloom Result – Silver Gilt

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The Gardeners Club are pleased to announce that we achieved another SILVER GILT medal at the 2019 SSEIB competition. 

That is a super result and we are all very proud of our amazing team of organisers and volunteer gardeners and watering roster crew: thank-you all once again.

See attached photo of the proud winners receiving their certificate; Jean, Ricia, Lorraine and Chris were in attendance.

As the judges said in the marking notes, Petworth has stepped up in 2019.

Points scored: 79 out of 100 (Silver Gilt range = 75 to 84).

Last year we scored 153 out of 200 (or 76.5 out of 100) so definite improvement, there was 1 different judge this year so different views and interpretations on scoring of course to be expected.

So with the judges feedback we shall now plan next years’ entry earlier with better organisation and admin.  Please get in touch if you are interested in helping out on the organisation and/or gardening side.

Royal British Legion Community Awards 2019

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With great delight we can inform you all that Austen’s Hardware Store and Petworth Town Council have been nominated and have been awarded a Royal British Legion Community Award for 2019.

They collected their awards on 11th September!

Their support with the RBL Poppy Appeal here in Petworth has been massive. Congratulations to the both of them!!

Red Card Retas Award

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The Retas Awards 2019 – the Best greeting Card Retailers in the UK

The winners of this year’s greeting card retailing awards were revealed recently at a glittering awards event at The Grovsvenor House Hotel in Mayfair attended by over 400 people.Red Card beat off the competition to win the Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Home Countries.Please pop into the shop and congratulate Sally and her team on this great award, she will also let you hold it. It’s pretty heavy!

Guilt Lingerie Award

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GUILT LINGERIE SCOOPS EUROPEAN AWARD!

Guilt Lingerie was delighted to be honoured with one of a handful of Premium Retailer prizes on Sunday 7 July, in Paris. Eurovet, the world-leading trade organiser for intimates and swimwear, recognised Guilt’s ability to build a long-lasting relationship with their customers through high-quality advice and strong listening skills.In the presence of the entire industry and leading media, Georgina Willis, Guilt’s inspirational owner, was delighted to accept the award.Guilt Lingerie LtdGolden Square, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0APwww.guiltlingerie.com

Britain In Bloom in Petworth

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Chris Bavin meets the residents of Petworth in West Sussex who are entering Britain in Bloom for the very first time. These Bloomers want to engage the whole community, from the historic town centre to the modern housing estates on the outskirts, in an effort to bring the community spirit back to Petworth. Firstly, they want to spruce up the drab entrance to the town by the car park to impress the judges. Next, at the local primary school the young Bloomers are creating a brand new sensory garden in an unloved part of the playground. Finally, the team have set the local residents a challenge: to turn some overgrown allotments into award-winning show gardens. For even experienced Bloomers this would be a huge task and they have only got eight weeks until judging day.

PETWORTH, WEST SUSSEX – BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN THE UK 2019

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“ARTY, CLASSY: IN THE DOWNS AND ON THE UP”

Petworth is proof that pretty and traditional doesn’t have to mean stuck in the past. The immaculate selection of historic houses – brick, stone and whitewashed, medieval, Georgian and Victorian – that fan out from the market square would grace any box of fair trade high-cocoa chocolate truffles. The haughty National Trust pile of Petworth House gazes grandly across the tiled rooftops, the surrounding South Downs countryside is enchanting and unspoilt (and kept that way under the protection of the Leconfield Estate and national park status) and the antique shops that used to be the only reason to get out of the Volvo on the way to Goodwood are still in plentiful supply. They have been joined by new galleries and food shops, while interesting community groups and initiatives are springing up all the time.

The Hungry Guest is a first-rate deli – top independent retailer for southern England and London at the Great British Food Awards 2018 – that sells everything from own-baked bread and cakes to homemade jam and muesli (£8 for 1.2kg). It has spawned a cafe and butcher, and its cousins the Angel Inn and New Street Bar & Grill have elevated drinking and dining to optimum laid-back-but-classy level, with local produce to the fore (beef from Goodwood, Nyetimber wines, tomatoes from Nutbourne Nursery). There’s a helpful bookshop, card shop, ultra-stylish florist and expert cobbler, all flying the independent flag in a town where the big names are conspicuous by their absence.

“A lot of good places have opened up and it’s become a fascinating place,” says Claire Penhallurick, managing director of the Augustus Brandt art, antiques and interiors gallery. “It has an interesting cast of characters, and there’s a lot of local support for the town.” She loves exploring the countryside with her dogs: “To walk through Petworth Park or the Shimmings Valley when the sun is shining is an amazing experience, then you can go into town and stock up on amazing foods.”

Matthew Spriggs, 50, moved here in 1991 and now runs the florist’s, living above the shop in a building with a pretty walled garden that dates back to 1560. “Apart from the Co-op and the chemist, it’s all independents, and that’s what people want,” he says “There’s a great sense of community in Petworth. It still has character, but seems to have attracted people from all over the place.”

That sense of hearty, happy fellowship is visible in countless ways, from regular knit-and-natter sessions and a thriving community garden to the many projects organised and inspired by the energetic local action group Petworth Vision, which has organised computer classes for the elderly, mentoring for children and family fun days, sports days and heritage days. Volunteers are giving the cricket club a new lease of life and there’s a regular not-for-profit film show in Leconfield Hall. Everyone is included. Petworth is as dog-friendly a place as you’ll find: they’re welcome almost everywhere, and there are free dog biscuits on the bar at the Angel.

The jewel in the crown, though, is the Petworth Festival, a summer jamboree of international-class classical music that has spawned its own fringe (Petfringe) and an autumn literary festival. Already confirmed for this summer are the pianist Imogen Cooper, opera singer John Tomlinson and comedian Julian Clary. The festival celebrated its 40th anniversary last year and, with plans in the pipeline to expand the beautiful Leconfield Hall into a major arts hub for the county, seems to be growing in ambition – much like Petworth itself.

Get connected There’s no station, not good for convenience, though it adds to the charm, because everyone who lives here wants to be here, rather than get somewhere else. Many do commute, from Pulborough (a 10-minute drive) and Haslemere (20 minutes), where trains take about an hour to reach London Victoria or Waterloo. Chichester is a half-hour drive and the sea at West Wittering, 10 minutes more.

Broadband Good superfast coverage in the village, with fixed wireless broadband as an option, too.

Insider view “It’s got genuine character. There are so many independents – when you walk into a shop you can be confident that the owner will be serving you,” says Kathryn Mandry, manager of the antiques market.

Education Petworth CofE primary, a forest school, officially requires improvement, though a recent inspection reported that “work is well under way to ensure the school is judged good at its next inspection”. Outstanding Midhurst Rother is the state secondary of choice. Independent Seaford College is four miles away.

Air quality No reported issues.

Caveat emptor Mobile signal can be patchy.

Best address You’ll need to move fast if a town-centre house comes on the market – and probably find £750,000 or more for a four-bedder. Otherwise, look at picture-perfect villages such as Lodsworth or Lurgashall, where a farmhouse with a couple of acres fetches £2m-£3m.

Why we love it Arty, classy: in the Downs and on the up.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/petworth-west-sussex-best-places-to-live-lzpfl7pw8

Meet the millennial women dusting down the antiques profession

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The world of antiques has long been a male-dominated industry – until now. On the 40th anniversary of The Antiques Roadshow, Stylist meets three women who are shaking up the antiques business, and talks to two experts about why women are now embracing the industry.

If your idea of the antiques business is one where claret-cheeked chaps in plum-coloured corduroys rub alongside shady geezers, fists stuffed with cash, straight out of old episodes of Lovejoy, then think again. Auctioneers Izzie Balmer and Chloe Wood, along with retail manager Harriet Chavasse, are busy banging the gavel for change.

Every day, these three young women spend their days as treasure hunters, champions of eco-conscious shopping and lucrative deal-makers. So dust off your pre-conceptions about antiques and meet three women carving out their futures by dealing in the past…

Izzie Balmer, 30, Auctioneer at Wessex Auction Rooms, Wiltshire

How did you become an auctioneer? 

After I finished my degree I had no money, no job and nowhere to live. So I did some work experience at the local auction house [and went from there].

What’s a typical day? 

There isn’t one! I can be meeting clients, valuing silver and jewellery, cataloguing and photographing items, out on valuation days, then on the rostrum taking the auction. 

What do you enjoy the most? 

The variety. I love the thrill of finding a hidden treasure in a box of costume jewellery, like the little Victorian moonstone brooch that I recently sold for over £300. 

What’s the most expensive item you’ve sold? 

An oil painting by a Derbyshire painter called George Turner. These would usually fetch between £3,000 to £7,000, but this one sold for £22,000. 

“People have items that are beautiful or worth a lot of money, and they have absolutely no idea”      

What’s it like being an auctioneer?

It’s so exciting. There are bids flying everywhere on the internet, on the phone, in the room and commissions on the books – there can be a lot of drama and good tension. 

What’s surprised you the most?

People have items that are beautiful or worth a lot of money, and they have absolutely no idea.

What are the challenges?

There’s always something to learn. I speak to people in their 80s [who work in the industry] and they still don’t know it all! It’s part of the joy of it. 

Is the industry still male-dominated? 

I do sometimes get older men presuming that I don’t know anything. It’s just a matter of overcoming their pre-conceived ideas, winning them round and gaining their confidence. 

How is it changing?

We’re a young team at Wessex Auction Rooms, so we’re defying that traditional image to show that antiques and auctions are cool.

What do your friends think of your career?

That it’s a fusty, fuddy-duddy industry. But that’s 100% wrong; it’s not boring at all, it’s a fascinating, interesting job. 

What’s your most memorable experience? 

I had some clients whose mum had passed away, and in a box of costume jewellery there was an arts and crafts silver brooch by British jeweller George Edward Hunt. I sold it for £2,100. They were absolutely overjoyed.

Harriet Chavasse, 31, Retail Manager, Thakeham Furniture, Petworth, West Sussex

How did you get started? 

I grew up surrounded by antiques. I trained as a graphic designer, but I didn’t like sitting at a computer all day, so I started working in my mum and dad’s business. That was six years ago. I fell in love with it. 

What do you love about it?

Being around old things that are so tactile. The patina means that you can’t help but stroke pieces as you walk past. I find some comfort in it, especially in an age filled with technology and gadgets. 

What’s a typical day? 

I do a bit of everything, and I’ve never had a job where every day is so different. My tasks can include answering emails, organising deliveries, photographing each piece, writing descriptions for our website, dealing with customers.

What do your friends think of your job?

They love it! They think I’m like an old witch who works in a dusty antiques shop. They come to see me and think it’s fascinating.

Is the industry still male-dominated? 

Yes! I won’t lie. But it’s gotten so much better as I’ve gotten older. For ages customers would come in and say, ‘Oh, is your father in?’ and I would say, ‘No, I’m in charge, how can I help?’. 

Are young people buying antiques?

Yes – eclecticism is really big now. People don’t have to stick to one period, it’s much more about the overall aesthetic. They’ve seen something on Pinterest and want to emulate it. 

Chloe Woods, 23, Auctioneer, cataloguer and valuer at Mallams in Oxfordshire

How did you get into antiques? 

My grandmother was a collector/borderline hoarder. I would sit in her living room for hours drinking cups of lemonade, fascinated by looking at things in the room that were from a world I didn’t know.

What’s a typical day? 

Every day is different – you don’t know what could be brought in the door or found in the next property. You may have a day of research and cataloguing, or it could be a sale day.

What skills do you need?

There is no required qualification and no history degree prepares you for what you’ll see. You have to love what you do, be keen to learn, and a good memory helps! Good ‘people skills’ are a must. 

What surprises you?

The amount of things people get rid of; the throw-away culture we live in today is frightening.

“Some of my teachers at school told me this was ‘not a wise career move’”

What’s most challenging?

Amassing the required knowledge. I’m a general valuer, which means knowing everything about every object that comes through the door. My goal is to learn at least one new thing every day.

What do your friends think of your career?

They have mixed opinions. Some are very supportive and see it as unusual or interesting; others thought I’d never be able to make a living out of it. Some of my teachers at school said it was ‘not a wise career move’.

What’s been your best experience?

That’s a tricky one! I’ve seen so many beautiful and rare things. Probably taking to the rostrum for the first time and the nod of approval from my colleagues.

Does the industry attract young women?

There are more women joining the industry, which is a great thing to see. However, there is a long way to go to balance the numbers.

Would you encourage young women to enter the industry?

I would encourage anyone who has a genuine love of the job/industry to get involved, regardless of their gender. If you love history and want to learn about the past, then art and antiques can be a great way to go. But it can be very demanding – if you don’t love it, don’t do it.

Roo Irvine is the newest recruit to the BBC’s Bargain Hunt and a regular on Antiques Road Trip. She also runs Kilcreggan Antiques in Argyll & Bute, Scotland.

“My advice to women thinking about entering the antiques industry? Don’t hesitate. As someone who worked in the online gaming industry when it was 95% male-dominated, I find the antiques industry is welcoming and warm. 

“I think it’s becoming more mainstream, thanks to the influx of TV programmes which move antiques away from the traditional audience and make it accessible to every class, race, age and sex. It’s the easiest and perhaps the least intimidating time to join such an intriguing and fascinating industry.”

Antiques Roadshow expert Lisa Lloyd 

Antiques Roadshow expert Lisa Lloyd has worked in antiques for over 25 years, including 16 years as an auctioneer and director of Rosebery’s in South London. She now runs an art and antiques business in Wiltshire.

“When I started out in the auction world in the mid-Eighties, female roles were largely administrative. I felt I was slightly breaking the mould as a female auctioneer. Later, as a company director in the Nineties, I was always saddened by the lack of female applicants for vacant roles. It’s been heartening in recent years to see more young women visibly working in the business – the diversity can bring a lot to any industry. 

“It can be a very rewarding career, you never stop learning and for anyone with a passion for history or design and a willingness to work hard I highly recommend it.”     

Article in the Stylist.co.uk

Petworth hairdresser Tristan named Business Personality of 2018

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The owner of a Petworth hairdressing salon has been named Business Personality of the Year at the Southern Business Awards in Brighton. Hairdresser Tristan Eves of Petworth’s Tristan Eves salon took home the title, having earned a place at the prestigious Southern finals after winning the same title at the Observer and Gazette Awards back in April. Despite tough competition from his fellow nominees, Tristan was announced as the winner, with the host acknowledging the salon’s staggering success in just two years of business. 

Tristan, who is respected and well-loved by both clients and the hairdressing industry, said: “This award is a huge privilege and I’m honoured to win, particularly against such strong competition. I’d like to thank our incredible salon team for their continued hard work and support and for believing in my vision for the business. I want to dedicate the award to our amazing customers, who are the reason behind our success. I’m so grateful for the encouragement and loyalty they have shown us from the very beginning.”

Tristan Eves opened in July 2016 after owner Tristan spotted a gap in the market for London-quality hairdressing in Petworth. Having worked for some of London’s most prestigious salons – including John Frieda and Stuart Phillips – Tristan has brought together a similarly talented and experienced team to ensure first class results, and today the salon now boasts more than 1,000 clients. Tristan’s apprentice Grace was shortlisted for the L’Oreal Colour Trophy STAR Award earlier this year, and was by far the youngest competitor in her region.

Read more…..

A tiny piece of old England with a big appeal: Exploring the quaint cobbled streets, hidden lanes and tile hung buildings of Petworth

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Unlocking a discreet door in a wall was quite a cool way to enter our home from home on a weekend in Petworth, a quintessentially English market town nestling in the heart of the South Downs National Park.

We were blessed with good weather, which admittedly always puts a sunny glow on proceedings, but Ryde House, – a generously proportioned Grade II newly refurbished three-bed Georgian Villa – is the sort of upmarket residence that during cold spells would be equally pleasant, as it lends itself to cosy fires in the drawing room and lavish cook-ins courtesy of the vast cream enamel gas-fired range in the well-appointed kitchen. 

All mod-cons such as large flat-screen TV’s, Wi-Fi, coffee machines and tumble-driers are complemented by high ceilings, sumptuous heavy full-length window-drapes in golden silks, antique rugs and linen upholstered sofas that make it almost disappointing not to light the inviting log-burner. 

There is even a comfy looking dog bed in the equally well-appointed boot room. We brought our two student sons instead – a dog may have been easier and definitely cheaper to feed!

Fortunately for those who don’t fancy dirtying the pristine cooker or dishwasher the Angel Inn is a minute’s walk outside our pretty walled courtyard and serves a fabulous breakfast with portions that satisfied even our off-spring. Lunch and dinner are pretty good, too. The inn, with six beautifully renovated rooms, has medieval origins, reflected in original beams, fireplaces and quirky passageways. 

Charming, attentive manager Marc Gray presides over an establishment where pub classics are beautifully done and locally sourced steak and beer-battered haddock along with triple cooked chips, are supplemented by dishes with a modern twist such as the delicious pulled pork hash and richly satisfying chocolate crème brulee.

Difficult though it was to tear ourselves from the Angel, Petworth is a foodie paradise. Cooked breakfasts and sour-dough pizzas at the delightful Hungry Guest Café left even our two boys totally satiated, while the wonderful Hungry Guest gourmet food shop was great for coffee on-the-go, divine pastries and checking out the bakery, cheese room and shelves heaving with everything in between, from organic gins to marinated olives.

An hour’s drive from London, the heart of Petworth, with its narrow cobbled streets, hidden lanes and tile hung buildings could be ambled around in half an hour, were it not for its enticing hub of independent businesses including marvellous tea shops, the Artful Tease, which makes its own artisan toiletries, and a myriad of antique, gift and curio shops, all of which make it easy to spend hours browsing or indulging in some serious retail therapy.

Then there is the sumptuous Augustus Brandt interiors and antiques showroom and gallery, occupying a large Georgian villa and coach house with a sister homewares and gift shop in the main square.

Determined to work up an appetite for dinner we took the scenic route to view the jewel in the crown of this lovely little town – Petworth House and Park, a vast 17th-century National Trust stately home.

Grabbing an Ordnance Survey map from the bookshelf at Ryde House, we made our way to a public footpath a few yards on from the Angel Inn and the view stopped us in our tracks. 

The path opened out into the wide, luxuriant bowl of the stunning Shimmings Valley. We traversed the patchwork of green, all blissfully downhill, through kissing gates and over a few stiles, until we reached the road leading to Petworth Park.

We missed the last admission into the House, but were allowed into the beautiful 700-acre park, with hills, woods and a serpentine lake that appear to have been formed naturally, but were actually created by famed landscape designer Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown in the 1750’s.

The sun was low in the sky lending a golden glow to the palatial house and we had the whole park to ourselves. It was a wrench to leave, but dinner was calling. Exiting via a discreet little tunnel cut into the grounds we made our way back to town. There was just time for a relaxing bath and a Nespresso back at Ryde House before dinner at The New Street Bar and Grill.

Opened in April this year the décor is warm and inviting, with dark wood floors, velvet upholstery and leather curved banquettes. The focus is on pure ingredients cooked simply to a high standard using locally sourced meat and game, as well as seafood and fish. The Goodwood steak – traditionally raised beef fed on seaweed during the winter – went down a storm, complemented perfectly by triple-cooked chips and creamed spinach. 

Desserts including a very posh baked Alaska were equally well done and the modern bar offers a fantastic selections of spirits and wines by the glass or bottle as well as cocktails and a selection of small plates ideal for sharing informally. 

There are rooms upstairs that can be hired for private events but on a recent visit the singer Adele and her friend, Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz, preferred to ‘slum it’, enjoying lunch in the main restaurant. Apparently no one gawked at them and the pair, ‘were lovely, very low-key and normal’, according to the discreet and efficient staff.

The weekend flew by, but the blow of leaving was softened by a visit to the nearby acclaimed Nyetimber estate, the South Downs home of award-winning English sparkling wines. Since 2006 owner Eric Heerema has focused his uncompromising attention to detail on the ‘pursuit of perfection’. 

Using only estate-grown grapes and their own state-of-the-art pressing centre allows complete control over the wine-making process from vine to bottle resulting in Global acclaim for Nyetimber, a string of awards and an appearance on the ‘Champagne’ list of every top eaterie in the country.

We raised a glass of the finest English fizz to our weekend at Petworth, a small piece of old England with a big appeal.

Article in the Daily Mail 14th Oct 2018

A summer of science at Petworth House and Park

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Petworth is hosting a series of family-friendly events all about science and engineering in honour of the scientific achievements of Elizabeth Ilive (1769- 1822), who lived at Petworth House from the late 1780s.From workshops led by Dragon’s Den winners Sublime Science to wild drop-in craft activities all about water and rafts that’s sure to cause a splash, Petworth House has a mixture of fun and fascinating activities for families throughout the summer.Cathy Hakes, Visitor Experience Manager says ‘This is a summer like no other at the National Trust, we have plenty of activities for families that are not only fun and exciting but also relevant to the curriculum and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). What’s more, it’s great to be able to tie in these activities with the history of Petworth House and Park and a pioneering Georgian woman’
Incredible Inventions Family Trail £3 per trailRunning every day until 30 September, Petworth is inviting families to become an inventor extraordinaire and using clues dotted around the Pleasure Grounds, as well as familiar puzzles like dot-to-dot and a word jumble, create their own unique invention.There is no right or wrong answer on this outdoor trail inspired by the cross-bar lever Elizabeth Ilive invented to help workers on the Petworth Estate lift heavy rocks.Once completed families are rewarded with a certificate to the Petworth Young Inventors Society.
Plan it, Build it, Test it Family Craft Wednesdays in August£2 per childWednesdays in August there’s a wave of activity with drop-in crafts all about water.It’s also an opportunity to tick off an activity from the National Trust’s 50 Things to do before you’re 11 3⁄4Sure to cause a splash, families can have a go at making their own model raft. Once they’ve planned their design and made their raft, families then have the opportunity to sail their creation down the Petworth water table and through its locks.Will it sink? Will it float? In the spirit of science and engineering, if the raft doesn’t make it through the course then it’s back to the drawing board.
Science Saturdays with Sublime Science4, 11 & 18 August, 11:30, 1:30 and 3pm.£7 per child, Booking is essential on 0344 249 1895.Led by the Dragons’ Den Winners Sublime Science, families can have a go at making their own gooey slime as well as their own tasty sweets to take home.On this one hour workshop families can see ‘magic’ tricks and spectacular experiments such as disappearing water.With smoke and bubbles galore, the workshops are inspired by the domestic laboratory and the experiments Elizabeth Ilive carried out at Petworth House.
Ilive’s laboratory reimaginedInside the Servants’ Quarters visitors can find out more about Elizabeth Ilive and see a reimaging of the laboratory she developed at Petworth.In this interactive exhibition there is scientific apparatus to use, chemical experiments to solve, a desk and quill for letter writing, a reading corner, an easel for picture drawing and a giant chalk board for visitors to devise their own equations.
The perfect place for a picnicWith 700 acres to explore, Petworth Park is also the perfect place for a picnic.There are outdoor games to borrow over the summer holidays including Giant Jenga, cricket, croquet and skittles as well of plenty of walks around the lakes and ancient trees of Petworth Park.

Why you should skip the beach this weekend and head to Petworth instead – Article in The Telegraph Travel

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If you’re wandering around Mayfair this weekend and are surprised to find yourself unnervingly alone, there’s a simple explanation – the resident’s have all upped sticks and decamped to Petworth for a country getaway.In this small rural town, undulating cobbled streets are lined with chocolate-box houses draped in more wisteria than Hyacinth Bucket could dream of, pretty country churches are fronted by the most well-loved lavender you will ever encounter and there are more antique stores per square foot than there are currently football fans in Moscow.

Sounds a bit stuffy

Not at all. A little like Midsomer but without the murder, Petworth has an air of charming eccentricity to it. The name ‘town’ seems far too large to describe the small jumble of streets, and the community has much more of a village vibe to it – while everyone knows everyone else (and their business), you’ll never feel unwelcome as a weekender from the big smoke.In fact, if you feel like a last-minute escape, this weekend is the closing of Petfringe, an annual festival inspired by the success of the Edinburgh and Brighton fringe festivals. Drop by on Sunday July 7 and you can catch the grand finale of Comedian of the Year with its whopping £10,001 prize.

Did you say something about antiques?

As you wander around Petworth (pick up a town map or download a copy here), be prepared for a plethora of antique stores – they are on almost every corner and down every snicket. There’s a whole antiques market, in fact – a small warren of treasures including mirrors at Christopher Walker, copper and ironmongery at Claire Wilson, and jewellery at Bill Barr Fine Art.If you’ve parked in Petworth Main Town Car Park, you can be at the door of one of the town’s top furniture and antique stores in less than 20 paces. Augustus Brandt is where the residents of Mayfair head to kit out their lavish homes and there’s something for every sense of style, from 18th century Dutch marquetry press cupboards to mid-cen­tury Scan­di­na­vian lounge chairs by Otto Schultz and Illum Wikkelso. The seemingly never-ending store has a (more) affordable gift shop and also houses exhibitions – Through the Eyes of Four Photographers finishes July 14.

Speaking of old, isn’t there a rather grand house in Petworth?

You can’t wend your way through the streets for long without coming across a sign for Petworth House. One of the country’s most famous stately homes, the first thing you’ll discover about the 17th-century building is that it is surrounded by a vast wall, which, if you believe the locals, was constructed to keep the servants in rather than the vagabonds out.Built in 1682 when heiress Elizabeth Percy, daughter to the 11th Earl of Northumberland, married Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset, the house has everything you’d expect from an old British mansion. The staterooms house an impressive collection of art and sculpture, including works by van Dyck, Turner, Flaxman and Blake, while the Servants’ Quarters offer a glimpse of life below stairs.

What about outside?

While the gardens immediately attached to the house are rather small, and are included in the entry fee, one of the best things about the grounds of Petworth House is that you can access a large portion of them – known as Petworth Park – for free.If you approach the house from North Street, you can enter the park via The Cowyard (look out for the small black National Trust sign). Wander past the interesting outbuildings and pass through the long tunnel to some rather grand iron gates and into the 700-acre park for your daily constitutional (there are also two entrances to be found on the A272, Midhurst Road).Landscaped by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, this vast deer park offers panoramic views and inspired the work of JMW Turner. If you’re eager to explore, visit Walks at Petworth and check out one of the many trails. Be sure to head to the northwest corner of the park to see the Upperton Folly.For those that want to explore beyond the wall, there are some great walks to enjoy – after all, you are in the South Downs National Park. A favourite among locals is the Petworth and Shimmings Valley and a list of local country walks can be found here.That’s a lot of walking. Where can I get some sustenance?Feeling peckish? Not to worry, Petworth has plenty of little restaurants where you can fill your boots, and like any country town worth its salt, the food here is all about fresh local produce.For a bite on the go, swing by Baytree Bakery and pick up something warm and gooey. If you fancy a brew, head for Tiffins tea room.For something more substantial, the New Street Bar & Grill is a must. The restaurant underwent a renovation earlier this year and has been transformed from a thigh-slapping man cave into a light, cosy and welcoming spot serving up tender steaks. Start the meal with a glass of Classic Cuvee from the nearby Nyetimber vineyard.

All that fresh air and English wine has made me sleepy

All tuckered out? Never fear, Petworth has quintessential country pubs where you can spend the night. Newly renovated, The Angel Inn is cosy but modern. For something out of town, try The Horse Guards Inn in the sleepy West Sussex village of Tillington.

An Ideal Weekend Escape: Article in Forbes Life.

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While Petworth, West Sussex has long been a favorite destination for antique lovers, it has so much more on offer. It’s the location of one of the UK’s finest stately homes, Petworth House, which is packed with unique treasures, home to one of the country’s best sparkling wine producers, the award-winning Nyetimber and well situated for lovely walks in Petworth House’s Park or the South Downs National Park.Stay and EatDating back to medieval times, many of the seven cozy rooms at the Angel Inn still have the original exposed beams but don’t worry, all the mod cons are provided, from Nespresso machines to flat screen TVs. At 300 yards from the market square in the town centre, the Angel Inn is ideally located for all of Petworth’s attractions. The lovely, large private garden is great to come back to for drinks after a day of antiquing or walking. Ryde House, a recently refurbished three bedroom Georgian Villa located next to the Angel Inn, is an elegant accommodation option for families or groups.Launched last month, the New Street Bar & Grill is a stylish new bistro offering a seasonal menu, much of which is sourced from local suppliers like Nyetimber, Goodwood and Nutbourne. Organic beef from Goodwood, yellow fin tuna and baked alaska with strawberry and elderflower ice cream are a few of the menu’s highlights that are certain to make this new bistro a “destination” restaurant.Diners at New Street Bar & Grill have the option of eating in the elegant main floor dining room, upstairs in rooms adorned with original artworks or, during good weather, on the patio.  And a very inviting bar area is great for drinks and snacks if you don’t fancy a full dinner.For brunch, The Hungry Guest cafe is excellent, with a menu featuring favorites like avocado and poached eggs on sour dough toast to pancakes and eggs benedict. And if you like the food at the cafe, be sure to visit their award-winning food shop that offers their own freshly prepared soups, sauces and ready meals, local produce, a walk-in cheese room and charcuterie counter. With all this, it’s no surprise that The Hungry Guest won UK Delicatessen of the Year two years running (2015 and 2016). Co-founder and master baker Troels Bendix also offers a tempting range of baked goods including brownies so moreish they’re worth a trip to Petworth for.ShopNo visit to Petworth would be complete without a browse through the numerous antique dealers on East and Lombard streets. Among the abundance of antique dealers, one that caught my eye was Hut Antiques on East Street, an eclectic mix of antiques and decorative items from all around Europe and Scandinavia. And for a mixture of antiques and contemporary items, a visit to Augustus Brandt is essential. Set over 17 rooms within the impressive Grade II listed, Newlands House, this shop offers a wide range of antique and contemporary furniture, artworks, photography, jewellery, clothing and gifts.Augustus Brandt also hosts regular art exhibitions. A fascinating photography exhibition of works by four British photographers, Brian Griffin, Andrew Holligan, Bruce Rae and Gerry Castle was on display throughout the building when we visited. Augustus Brandt has also just opened a new shop on the market square, specialising in smaller items and gifts.For a wide range of antiques all under one roof,  Petworth Antiques Market houses 41 dealers selling antiques and decorative furniture, vintage and retro goods. In addition to antiques, there’s an array of smart shops, including women’s clothing boutiques Twenty and Sorella and Artful Teasing selling its own brand of toiletries.See & DoPetworth House, a 17th-century manor house, now a National Trust property, was for many years the southern home of the Percy family, the earls of Northumberland. Painter John Constable’s description of Petworth as “that house of art” is certainly apt as the vast art collection includes hundreds of paintings, sculptures and art objects. The grand staterooms of Petworth House display major works by van Dyck,  Gainsborough, Turner, Reynolds, Titian and Blake. JMW Turner was a regular guest of the 3rd Earl of Egremont who purchased 20 of the artist’s paintings, making the Petworth Turner collection the largest outside of Tate Britain. Two of the Turner paintings on show are of Petworth Park and Petworth House was one of the main locations for the 2014 Mike Leigh film Mr. Turner portrayed by the excellent Timothy Spall.Among the many other treasures at Petworth is a Molyneux Globe, created in 1592 and thought to be the earliest terrestrial globe in existence. Made by the Elizabethan mathematician Emery Molyneux, these globes would have been the most up to date representations of the world at the time, particularly of the New World – the Americas. Equally exciting is the most important book in the care of the National Trust, a handwritten copy of Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales which predates the first printed version by over 50 years. Printed on vellum and illuminated in gold, it became part of Petworth’s collection via Chaucer’s grandniece Eleanor, who was married to the 2nd Earl of Northumberland. Another highlight of the house is an entire room covered with fascinating wood-carvings by master carver Grinling Gibbons, also known for his work at Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace and St. Paul’s Cathedral.Access to the beautiful 700 acre deer park designed by Lancelot “Capability” Brown is free. The park was transformed in the 1750s and early 1760s by the famous garden designer who stripped away the formal gardens and the long driveway to the front of the mansion to create a lake framed by the rolling hills.If a stroll through Petworth Park whets your appetite for another walk but you’re not up for a major hike on the South Downs, a less ambitious but lovely country walk from a path near The Angel Inn meanders through the nearby valley to The Black Horse. This typical 16th-century English pub offers local beer in an expansive terraced garden overlooking the foothills of the South Downs.Getting thereAn easy weekend getaway, Petworth, West Sussex is about 90 minutes southwest of London by train to the nearest station, Pulborough which is a short taxi drive away from Petworth.Link to Article online

PETWORTH FARMER'S MARKET – JULY

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28 JULY9.00am – 1.00pmPetworth Farmers Market operates from 9.00am – 1.00pm every 4th Saturday of the month.Great opportunity to come and support our local farmers who have grown or produced their food/plants within a 40 miles radius. If you are a business that would like to get involved in the Farmers Market please get in touch with –Leesa Barrett- petworthfarmersmarketinfo@gmail.com  or 07900 815636Leconfield Hall is also available for those who would like to have a craft stall, please contact Melanie Kite on 01798 344 883.  Pop in for a cuppa and slice of cake and support the local organisation who will be your hosts for this month. Like and share our Facebook page.

Horn Fair Ebernoe

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ebernoe2bhorn2bfair-270708925 JULY11.00am – 8.00pmThe Horn Fair at Ebernoe takes its name from the horns taken off the ram which is roasted for the village feast every St James’ Day (25th July). The horns are presented after the days cricket match to player who scores most highly in the game, and the meat cooks while the match is played. A special Horn Fair Song is sung and the roast mutton shared out.

David Humphreys Exhibition

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14 – 22 APRIL11.00am -4.00pmDavid Humphreys has lived in Sussex for over fifty years. We first exhibited his work over a decade ago and now at 80 he is still at the height of his powers and pushing his work in new directions. David’s work is rooted in the landscape, He loves to walk, to Cissbury or Chanctonbury and down to the sea. Otherwise as Far as Black Cap or the Kingly Vale … across the vinyards and down through the park to Petworth. Influenced by the poetry of Edward Thomas he is a lyrical painter in the British pastoral tradition.When not in Sussex, David is drawn to the far flung corners of the British Isles, setting forth in his red camper van. He responds to the purity and geography of these places. The vast sweeps of deserted beaches running into sheltered coves, the ancient hills swathed in mist, the bare rocks, coarse grass and whitewashed cottages hugging the shore or nestled in the dip of a farmland. With his luminous but restrained palette, his feeling for rhythm and form Humphreys celebrates the land as a life force. He has shown throughout Britain, New York, South America and on the Continent. A regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy he is represented in many private, corporate and museum collections including the Arts Council of Great Britain and the National Library of Wales.14th to 22nd April    Open daily: 11am to 4pm     (Sunday: 11am to 1.30pm)And by appointment until 29 AprilPRIVATE VIEWSSaturday 14 April 5pm – 7pmSunday 15 April 11am – 1.30pm

PFH Live Arts – New for 2018

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Royal Opera House LIVEYour local community cinema is now also a great place to enjoy live arts events.  With your support we have upgraded the Leconfield Hall’s technical equipment to enable live streamed theatre, opera, ballet and music for you enjoyment.We’re starting off in 2018 with a series of live events from Royal Opera House.  The performance will be beamed live to our cinema screen in full 7.1 surround sound.  Tickets £16 in advancePlease arrive at least 15 mins before the performance begins.
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New Butchers Shop for Petworth

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NEW BUTCHERS SHOP FOR PETWORTHThe Hungry Guest are delighted to announce plans to open a new dedicated butchers shop at Saddlers Row in Petworth. The demand for meat and game from the counter in their main food shop has grown considerably since opening in 2011 creating an opportunity to expand the offering to a bigger site with a new traditional butcher’s shop in the town.Locally sourced meat and poultry of the highest quality, reared ethically, will continue to be the core focus.The team of experienced and friendly butcher’s will be eager to assist and give advice on everything from the perfect cut, to the best method of cooking. From the Sunday roasting joint to BBQ products in the warmer months the shop will offer a wide range to cater for the needs of all customers.Conveniently situated at the entrance to the main car park the shop will be opening at the end of February.For the latest news and details of upcoming events at The Hungry Guest visit their website www.thehungryguest.com

CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION WEEKEND

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25 – 26 NOVEMBER10.00am – 6.00pmWe are pleased to announce our Christmas Exhibition Weekend which will be running from 10am-6pm on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th November.  We have been collecting some beautiful original artwork from some of the most popular Forest Gallery artists as well as some exciting new artists!Join us for a glass of bubbly to welcome in the festive season amongst some fabulous art.  An exciting display of artwork from select British and International artists will be on show to help you find the perfect painting this Christmas.  A small selection of the artworks are featured below and are available to reserve before the event itself so if anything catches your eye please get in touch with us.  There are also a limited number of printed invitations available.  To request one of these please email the gallery sales@forestgallery.com
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Literary Week 2017: Box Office Now Open!

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31 OCTOBER – 5 NOVEMBERLiterary Week 2017: Box Office Now Open! Political leaders, award winning authors and a dancing vicar! Sir Vincent Cable MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, BBC Radio Two Presenter Jeremy Vine, mountaineer Chris Bonington, Strictly Come Dancing stars (past and future!) Ann Widdecombe and the Reverend Richard Coles, along with celebrated historical author Kate Williams are just some of leading authors and writers presenting at this year’s seventh annual Petworth Festival Literary Week which takes place from the 31st October – 5th November.The Box Office is open now! Join us to meet your favourite authors and hear about their latest works.  Don’t forget, each performance includes a book-signing, organised and managed by Petworth Bookshop.

Heritage Open Days

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Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,500 organisations, 5,000 events and 40,000 volunteers. Every year for four days in September, places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE.Heritage Open Days 2017 will be 7-10 September.Plenty of places open in and around the Petworth area, so please go along as it will be well worth it. 

Spectacular Summer with Petworth Festival

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A message from our Artistic Director…The 39th Petworth Festival has come and gone, but it will absolutely live in the memory such was the sequence of stellar performances over our very special two and a half weeks. People will inevitably differ on their personal favourites, but I have received nothing but the highest praise for the events featuring Roderick Williams, Cedric Tiberghien, The AKA Trio, The Old Blind Dogs & L’Avventura, Piers Adams and the EUCO, The Alex Mendham Orchestra – and many others. And anyone who failed to be lifted off their feet on the final evening featuring Martynas Levickis and his Lithuanian Mikroorkéstra colleagues….Whilst I always have mixed feelings when a festival comes to an end, we have particular reason to keep the energy going this time around. Quite apart from an amazing literature festival line up (due to be announced at the end of September), we also have the 40th Petworth Festival in our sights for next summer, with a very significant programme of events already lined up to suitably mark that anniversary. It almost goes without saying that we look forward to seeing you then, but do please look out the for our announcements on the subject, and do block off your diary for the entire period of Tuesday 17th July to Saturday 4th August 2018. You won’t want to miss a thing!Whether an audience member, Friend, Patron, sponsor or sponsor-to-be (!) thank you for being with us in July 2017, and here’s to a wonderful 40th year…Stewart CollinsArtistic DirectorTo book tickets for all events, or find out more about how you can be involved in the 40thAnniversary year in 2018, please visit: www.petworthfestival.org.ukDon’t forget to join us on Facebook or Twitter and please share with us your festival stories, favourite events and reviews.

Autumn Exhibition at Moncrieff Bray Gallery

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30 SEPTEMBER – 21 OCTOBEROpen Wed to Sat:  11 am to 4 pm and by appointment at any time please just call ahead.Oona Campbell: Recent PaintingsAbstract landscapes by Jonathan Gibbs, Susie Leiper, Tuëma Pattie and Sarah Warley-CummingsOona Campbell’s recent paintings are united by the dramatic cloudscapes that roll across our skies and nature’s light effects especially at dawn and dusk.  A group of paintings of Petworth Park Lake at sunset forms the focus of the show together with images of  the long sandy beach of West Wittering.  Further afield, Oona exploresthe mist of an early morning onthe Jurassic coast of Dorset and the wild moors  of Scotland’s Applecross Peninsular.  The paintings are a combination of observation and memory; enablinga vivid reliving of the dynamic qualities of  watery mist, the setting of the sun, lashing storm rain, or the aural turbulence of thunder.Juxtaposed with Oona’s figurative work is an exhibition exploring the use of abstraction in the landscape.  Tuëma Pattie lives in Duncton and has painted both the Sussex landscape and further afield. She is a long-term exhibitor at the gallery with her exuberant paintings celebrating the joy of nature.  Sarah Warley-Cummings is another Sussex artist who has made a series of abstract prints exploring the shapes and colours of the countryside. We are very lucky to exhibit two Scottish artists.  Susie Leiper, whose work combines calligraphy and landscape.   One of the country’s finest calligraphers she is also trained in the techniques of Chinese art.  Her work unites eastern and western traditions of painting.   Jonathan Gibbs is a senior tutor at Edinburgh College of Art and a leading wood engraver his multi-layered paintings  combine present observation with a life-time of images and motifs remembered.
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Tristan Eves named as a finalist at HJ’s British Hairdressing Business Awards

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Petworth salon shortlisted as one of the best in the hairdressing business at national awards.Tristan Eves in Petworth has been named as a finalist in the Salon Design Award category at the British Hairdressing Business Awards, hosted by Hairdressers Journal International.The awards, which are now in their 19th year, seek to find and celebrate the very best salon businesses in the country – an industry which contributes an estimated £7bn to the British economy and one which employs more than 300,000 people.With 17 categories celebrating all aspects of the business side of hair, the awards are a proven platform for raising a salon’s profile. Even finalising in one of the prestigious categories marks a business out as one of the finest providers in the country; a win catapults them to the very top, providing unrivalled recognition that they are at the pinnacle of their profession and raising their profile to give an edge over competitors.The Salon Design Award category celebrates new or recently redesigned salons that exceed expectations in every aspect of appearance. But beyond that, the salon is designed for purpose; to make clients feel fantastic, to allow stylists to thrive and do their job to its best ability and to bring to life the company aesthetic in bricks and mortar.Says HJ’s Executive Director, Jayne Lewis-Orr: “Promoting professionalism, innovation and excellence, the British Hairdressing Business Awards recognise those individuals and teams who work tirelessly to raise the profile and stature of this industry, and make it one of which we can all be proud.She adds: “Salon design is a fun category, but it’s also one that we take very seriously – whatever your salon vision or style, being able to bring it to life in a way that makes great business sense can be a challenge. This award celebrates those who have done it perfectly.”Salon owner Tristan Eves comments: “Designing our salon was challenging, but also extremely rewarding. We’re thrilled with the end result, as are our team and clients, but a place on this shortlist is the icing on the cake.”The awards take place in London on Monday 11 September. 

World Class Music and Comedy in the Sussex Downs

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World Class Music and Comedy in the Sussex DownsTicket sales for this year’s Petworth Festival (12th- 29th July) have started really strongly with some performances already sold out. This summer for over a fortnight, the well-established cultural extravaganza boasts an incredible line up of artists and the best talent to appear outside London.  The diversity of the programme – featuring world-class classical musicians including Roderick Williams and Iain Burnside, Natalie Clein and Cédric Tiberghien, comedic national treasures such as Angus Deayton’s Radio Active, Hal Cruttenden and the inimitable Rainer Hersch Orkestra, a pop up exhibition from local schools supported by West Sussex Young Arts and outdoor family theatre in Bignor Park– makes it an event for everyone with tickets starting at just £6 for adults and a limited amount of FREE tickets for 18s and under at some events.Talking about this year’s festival, Artistic Director Stewart Collins commented: “I love seeing the sold out sign going up against festival events and they’ve already started appearing. We’ve even had to add an extra show in one case ‘by popular demand’, so everything is going in the right way. All I would say is don’t leave it too late. With top quality performers in our intimate venues Petworth Festival events are always high octane and we absolutely hate turning people away!”Other highlights include:
  • BBC Radio 4 Comedy hit Radio Active featuring Angus Deayton, plus the magical Card Ninja
  • A brand new adaptation of Orpheus Caledonius, one of the most important traditional works in 18th century Scottish folk music, presented by violinist Zak Ozmo, early music ensemble L’Avventura and Scottish traditional group, Old Blind Dogs
  • Top classical artists including Natalie Clein (cello), Cedric Tiberghien (piano), Chloe Hanslip (violin) and The Coull Quartet
  • Jess Robinson’s stand out, stand up show from Edinburgh Festival: Impressive… and we’re certain it will be!
  • A ‘Come and Sing’ event for all-comers with Ben Parry featuring the classic and much loved The Sound of Music.
  • Frances Hatch’s new exhibition Impromptu at Kevis House Gallery featuring drawings based on dancers and musicians in rehearsal, which will be on show for the entire duration of the Festival.
  • The superhero duo of Tommy Foggo and his cello will create a fantastical world of music and performance for families at Leconfield Hall.
  • A Duo of concerts featuring musicians from the Royal Academy of Music including Lucy Humphris (trumpet) and Harry Rylance (piano) on 14th July, and Hao Zi Yoh (piano) on the 26th July.
  • Lyricist to Donna Summer and multiple Grammy nominee, Pete Bellotte, presents The Unround Circle in a literary event packed with entertaining stories of his work in the music industry.
  • There’s an extra date, due to popular demand for the raffish cabaret duo Bounder and Cad. They’ve entertained royalty and prime ministers and now they are here to sing for us!
This year also sees the first Artistic Director’s Trail in which we encourage audiences to try something new and outside their normal comfort zones. For more information, see the website for video blogs and catch up with the festival on social media.The annual Jazz in the Stables event has sold out, but there are more jazz events with the Jay Rayner Quartet and Claire Martin’s Hollywood Romance and with so many other events to see and experience in the stunning beauty of the Sussex Downs, we look to welcoming everyone to celebrate with us.Tickets for this year’s Petworth Festival are available to purchase online at www.petworthfestival.org.uk, by downloading the booking form and posting it to Petworth Festival 151 Whites Green Lodge Lurgashall Petworth GU28 9BD or by telephone on 01798 344576.For more information, become a sponsor or friend or volunteer, please contact the festival office on 01798 343055 or email info@petworthfestival.org.uk

Royals, Rebels and Romance Tours

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1 MAY – 31 JULYJoin a free 45 minute guided tour and discover intriguing stories behind selected royal portraits from Petworth’s extraordinary art collection. Booking Not Needed. Assistance Dogs only are welcome.A National Trust Event – Gates open 10:00. Start 11:30. End 14:30. Free Entry. Tours are free of charge, tickets available on a first come, first served basis from Mansion Reception. Subject to availability. Not available on Bank Holidays. For more details please phone the contact number below.
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JOHN HITCHENS and ANTHONY GARRATT Exploring the Land – Two Ways of Seeing

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13 MAY – 17 JUNE

This joint exhibition explores the way two artists have responded to the landscape of Sussex both of them painting en plein aire in an expressive spontaneous manner.  John Hitchens’ work in the exhibition spans a 45 year period from the 1970s to the present day and presents a retrospective of his evolving style.  Anthony’s paintings were all completed over the last year.

Although he has painted much further afield, John’s work is deeply influenced by the landscape surrounding his home in West Sussex.  He also spent several weeks each year staying at Pagham Harbour and in the 1970s created a series of paintings capturing the atmospheric effects of the beach and salt marshes especially at dawn and dusk. The paintings in the exhibition begin with his early representational works in the 1960s through his increasing experimentation in abstraction where sky and horizon are lost in broad gestural brush strokes.

In John’s latest work, gestural evocations of the land are expressed in complex compositions of flat articulate colour.  Reuniting these works separated by so many years reveals fascinating connections and relationships.  The paintings display recurring themes; the rhythms of the seasons, the structure of the land, vistas glimpsed through deep woodland, lines of strata and sediment, contour lines of hills and fields.  The exhibition is an homage to John’s continuing absorption with the organic, changing nature of the landscape whether on a grand sweeping scale or reduced to abstracted patterns of plough lines and hedgerows.  The artist’s eye is continually searching and exploring, never content to stand still.  As John himself says, ‘everything that has gone before is part of what is now’.

Anthony’s work by contrast is concerned primarily with the weather and the physical experience and impact of it on a landscape. He is well known for his spectacular out door painting installations which have featured on National Television.  His latest project High Low completed last summer consisted of one enormous outdoor painting which was left floating on lake Llyn Llydawand and a second painting suspended in a near by disused coal mine.

He researches his paintings by exposing himself to the elements, winter storms, summer heat, racing tides, scudding clouds and eerie moonlight often painting outdoors in all weathers.  A trip to Sussex last year inspired him to return and create the work for this show.

For Anthony, West Sussex from the downs to the coast offered an abundance of sensory information. Starting at Petworth House, what immediately struck him was that the grassy hills and lines from pathways excavated by Capability Brown were echoed naturally further south as he headed through the Downs. As the light hits and shifts around the lake in front of Petworth House, one’s eye is naturally led from tree to curve, to water, to sky.

‘Painting the coast from Selsey to West Wittering is a fascinating and atmospheric journey which feels far removed from the rolling hills of the Downs’, he explained.  Massive vistas and salt marshes enable the experience of raw weather where the continually changing landscape is molded by the tidal state and weather.  ‘The paintings are an impulsive reaction to visiting somewhere for the very first time and capturing the most immediate senses; the sound underfoot, the movement of the weather and land, the smell of the marshes and sea’, he continued

Anthony works by splattering and dribbling, paint across canvases, sometimes mixed with earth and sand, and rust. Often working in the open air, brushes, knives, fingers, palette knives, all play their part and from the seeming chaos an image gradually emerges.

Notes on the Artists

John Hitchens

John Hitchens grew up in Graffham, West Sussex and studied at Bath Academy of Art, Corsham Court.    Both his father Ivon Hitchens (1893-1979) and his grandfather Alfred Hitchens (1861-1942) were painters and his son Simon Hitchens is a Sculptor.  The wooded Sussex landscape nestling below the South Downs has been a major influence on his work but he also spent extended periods painting in Scotland and Wales.  He began his career as a figurative landscape painter but was experimenting with abstraction by the late 1970s.   From 1990 he has painted in a fully abstract style with a restricted palette of earth pigments.  John’s work was exhibited throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s at the Marjorie Parr Gallery and Montpellier Galleries in London and the David Paul Gallery in Chichester.  His work is in numerous public collections, including Brighton Art Gallery, Bradford City Art Gallery, Brasenose College Oxford, Chase Manhattan Bank New York, and the Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne

Anthony Garratt

Anthony studied at Chelsea College of Art, followed by Falmouth College of Arts for a design degree. Having worked as a designer for a few years he decided to become a fulltime painter. He is a regular exhibitor at the Royal West of England Academy.  He has also shown at the RA Summer Exhibition and the Royal College of Arts Henry Moore Gallery. This is Bristol  listed Anthony Garratt ‘as the next David Hockney’. Anthony was invited to paint the Diamond Jubilee Pageant from the Millennium Bridge.  He has been involved in three inspirational outdoor projects.  In September 2014 – Alfresco on Tresco in which he worked on four massive paintings in the open air, leaving them in situ exposed to the elements for four months.  He followed this with a similar project from March – October 2015 FOUR Angelsey in North Wales.  In 2016 he completed High Low an installation in the Snowdonia National Park which consisted of one enormous outdoor painting which was left floating on lake Llyn Llydaw.and a second painting suspended in a near by disused coal mine. The installations attracted huge media coverage including BBC & ITV news and a feature on Countryfile.  Anthony has had numerous highly successful shows throughout the UK.

A selection from the exhibition will be previewed in nearby Petworth Park, landscaped by Capability Brown and immortalised by Turner, at The Petworth Park Art Antiques and Fine Art Fair from May 5 – 7.

This exhibition runs concurrently with the painting exhibition:

JOHN HITCHENS AND ANTONY GARRATT 

Exploring the Land – Two Ways of Seeing – see separate press release

THE MONCRIEFF-BRAY GALLERY

Based in a group of 18th-century former farm buildings on the edge of the Petworth estate, the gallery holds regular exhibitions of contemporary art and sculpture. A spectacular oak framed barn houses the interior gallery space, and the surrounding landscaped gardens are an ideal setting for domestic sculpture. The gallery is committed to showing both established artists and those who are not widely represented elsewhere. Just over an hour’s drive from central London, the gallery is located in the heart of the South Downs National Park, enjoying spectacular views over the Rother Valley and up to the South Downs.

ELSPETH MONCRIEFF, DIRECTOR

Former curator and arts writer Elspeth Moncrieff set up the Moncrieff-Bray Gallery in 2005. An experienced curator, she has worked for the V&A, and as a former art market correspondent for The Art Newspaper and Deputy Editor of Apollo magazine. She applies her experience of the international art world to her South Downs gallery.

OPENING HOURS

Wednesday to Saturday 11 am to 4 pm but we welcome visitors by appointment at any time.

FURTHER INFORMATION: contact. Elspeth Moncrieff

mail@moncrieff-bray.com   Tel: 07867 978 414 – www.moncrieff-bray.com 

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Red Card is a Greats Gift Retailer Finalist 2017!

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It’s official! Red Card Petworth is one of the best gift retailers in the UK, and has been selected as a finalist in The Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2017.

The Greats Awards, now in their 15th year, were launched by Progressive Gifts & Home magazine to recognise and reward the UK’s very best gift retailers across the retail spectrum.

“These dedicated awards for gift retailers have risen immeasurably in status over the years and are now universally acknowledged as being true accolades of excellence,” commented Sue Marks, Editor of Progressive Gifts & Home. “Being selected as a finalist was a fantastic achievement. There was a huge entry this year, with some outstanding, first class entries.”

All retail finalists were decided as a result of an industrywide poll of gift suppliers, reps and agents and validation by a panel of experts.

The winners of this year’s prestigious gift retailing Awards – The Greats 2017 – will be revealed at an Awards lunch at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London, on Thursday May 4.

The Awards recognise and celebrate not only the top independent and multiple gift retailers regionally and nationally, but also outstanding retail employees.

Further details can be found at www.thegreatsawards.co.uk