56...The Brighton Art Fair and it's cast of colourful characters

On my stand 

This weekend I've been working at the annual Brighton Art Fair. I always enjoy this show as it is close to home, and run by a friendly team of people who make sure it's a show for both the artists and visitors to enjoy. This year it was particularly well curated and there was a stunning variety of work including lots of 3D as well as 2D work.
I borrowed a large painting from my friend Jane Denman as a backdrop to the stand...and sold it almost straight away!

Spidery Poppy

I had several new pieces of work for sale as well as some old favourites, and took a huge order for 8 sculptures on the first day to go to a sculpture park in Surrey. That'll keep me busy this winter.

Sophie Abbott     www.sophieabbott.net

When you work at an art fair for several days you get to know your neighbours really well. This year I was lucky enough to be next to Sophie who after seeing me standing for a day, bought a stool in for me to perch on. It makes such a difference when you are with people who you really get on with...although actually, most of the artists are great to talk to as we all share the same sort of life and have the same worries and experiences to discuss during quiet moments....and usually a warm bottle of wine hidden somewhere in the stand for the late afternoon when you are flagging!

Shyama Ruffell      www.shyamaruffell.co.uk

Both Sophie, Shyama and I are part of Four Walls, represented by Lara Bowen who takes our work to the big art fairs in London. Of course when our work is sold through an agent we pay a large amount of commission but that in turn makes it a risk free show for us, and we don't have to stand and sell our work for 3 days which is a killer on the feet and back.

Adrian Turner    www.theopengallery.co.uk

 This was my other neighbour who coincidentally also lives at the bottom of my road in Brighton, as well as along the road from me in France. He photographs the sea from opposite sides of the channel, and creates large, serene images by some complicated method that I don't understand, but which are very effective. The image he is standing in front of is St Valery en Caux on the Normandy coast.

Alexander Korzer-Robinson

    This was one of the most  successful artists of the show, he transforms old books into works of art by cutting out all the text, page by page, and leaving the images behind. What is left is a miniture world inside the book. They are georgeous and were flying off the wall. By Sunday there were only a couple left. One day I would love to buy one of these.

Maria Rivens

This artist is my favourite. She make beautiful collages from old books and the pictures nod heavily to the 50's and feature plenty of mushrooms. Some of the images are quite trippy. I have bought a small one of hers and hope to invest in a larger one someday soon.

Alexander Slatter    www.alexanderslatter.co.uk

This is Alex, a regular at this show who always has a ready smile, especially when standing at the wrapping table having a sold painting bubblewrapped.

Organisers, Anne Marie Francis, Sarah Young and Jon Tutton

Finally it's the end of the show and the organisers who have been running around keeping everyone happy all weekend get a chance to take the weight off their feet for a moment...and probably contemplate the next show, in only 10 days time in Fulham. www.palaceartfair.co.uk

And that's it for me. Dinner is being cooked and I am going to crawl onto the sofa, put my feet in a bowl of warm, minty water  and watch (ahem) a bit of X Factor.