Made in Sussex: seriously good gift ideas from our most local makers, and MADE Brighton is coming to town.

For the love of local

It's time to start the Christmas shopping in earnest, and we know that many of you will be looking to buy from individual makers, and small and independent businesses this year. When you do, your purchase not only brings joy to the recipient, but to the maker too!

Here at Atelier Beside the Sea we only stock carefully selected pieces from artists, makers, small presses and artisanal producers, meaning that every purchase from us supports an enterprising creative individual or small business.

And a great many of our makers are working within just a few miles of the gallery, as is the case for the beautiful chair, cushion and knitwear pictured above. (Made by Hope Springs Furniture, Sarah Bidwell and Jo Cranston respectively.)

So, for this week's gift guide, we have rounded up some of the Sussex makers we are proud to represent here at Atelier Beside the Sea. There are too many to include them all here, so search our Made In Sussex collection to see all of the pieces created in our home county.

Stick with our good gifting guide, and your Christmas gifts will carry on giving in more ways than you might have imagined.

Pictured below, acorn cufflinks by Phoebe Jewellery, medium cup by Emma Johnson, Walkman print by Hannah Forward, hand turned wooden trees by Forge Creative, acrylic earrings by Sarah Packington.

The Sussex Selection

We stock upwards of 90 brilliant makers here at Atelier Beside the Sea, and more than a quarter of them living and working in studios in Brighton and the surrounding area, including;

Ceramics by Aeyglom, Alma Boyes, Bekky May, Emma Johnson, and Silvia K.

Jewellery by Anna Watson, Annabet Wyndham, Phoebe Jewellery, Gabriella Casemore, Sarah Packington, and Kathie Murphy.

Artwork and Prints by Sarah Young, Bernard Lodge, Chris Ketchell, Hannah Forward, Heike Roesel, Janet Brooke, and Sarah Gamble.

Textiles and knitwear by Jo Cranston, Sarah Bidwell, and leather accessories by Wolfram Lohr.

Pictured below, Typewriter print by Sarah Gamble, necklace by Gabriella Casemore, vase by Aeyglom Ceramics, Tin Toys print by Bernard Lodge.

Minimise your miles

Remember, we can post your gifts direct from the gallery, saving you the journey into town, and we are happy to add a hand-written message in your choice of greetings card.

See the whole lineup of makers - Sussex and beyond - here.

Or, even better, come and see us in the gallery and let us help you find the perfect gifts.

We are here 11am - 5pm, seven days a week.

Pictured below, Dungeness print by Sarah Young, ceramics by Silvia K, knitwear by Jo Cranston, resin brooch by Kathie Murphy, and Brighton Pier print by Janet Brooke.

Weekend wonders

There's no better place to shop than Brighton and, if you're planning a festive shopping weekend to the city, make it the weekend on the 29th November and take up some brilliant opportunities to visit and buy direct from artists and makers.

Start with a trip to visit us here at the gallery on Brighton Beach, then head through the historic Lanes to Tutton & Young's MADE Brighton show.

This national craft and design show, brings the best makers in the country to the south coast for an exciting, innovative, and top-quality gift-shopping extravaganza. Friday 29th November to Sunday 1st December, 10:30 am to 5pm at Brighton Dome Corn Exchange.

Our friends over at Artists Open Houses commence their Winter Festival the same weekend, with over 50 houses to explore right across Brighton & Hove and beyond.

The whole city will be coming alive with arts, crafts and seasonal gifts, displayed in a vast array of artists’ and makers’ own homes and studios.

Come and explore this most creative of cities.