Category Archives: Southsea

Toys, toys, toys.

| | Posted in photos, projects, Southsea | Tagged , , , ,

After a bit of a break I am back to making toys and hope to create even more once I have moved into my new studio space. My partner Josh (Often Hover) did these wonderful shots of my work. If you’re a maker or artist then you can contact Josh and enquire about the services he offers. Having professional shots of your work makes a huge difference.

These toys will be available at Flo & Stan and they also have an online shop so if you are interested in purchasing any of my work you can contact Flo & Stan.

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Artist crush: Angela Chick

| | Posted in art, local culture, love, shopping, Southsea | Tagged ,

Recently I had the pleasure of being introduced to Angela Chick a talented illustrator who is leaving the beautiful seaside city of Brighton to come and reside in Portsmouth. Portsmouth is my hometown and I guess its not as awesome as Brighton, we still have a long way to catch up with Brighton’s vibrant creative personality. We are getting there though and the more lovely creative people who move here the more we are able to increase our reputation as an artistic hub especially my neighbourhood Southsea which has a great reputation for such goings on.

image of Southsea beach courtesy of: Often Hover

Here is a little bit about Angela:

Angela has experience with print and illustration, and has produced works including limited edition prints, accessories, soft furnishing textiles, and illustrations for magazines – as well as writing and designing two books on introducing art in early education. Most recently, Angela has launched a line of children’s wear featuring her playful illustrations.

It is so exciting to see fellow female artists and makers doing what they love, making it work and being successful!

 

 

 

 

You can find Angela’s work for sale online in her store or via Not on the High street.

A city and a home.

| | Posted in Southsea | Tagged , ,

I can’t explain how passionate I am about culture, it is after all a mirror of society. It tells us more about ourselves then we would ever know or dream of. Collectively music, art, literature and performance form a big fractured picture, if we assemble it all together it will never fit but it somehow gives us a snapshot of time. From civil unrest, feminism, class, youth, decay, hope, desire, need and expression.

I live in a City that is rich in culture and creativity, you should come to Portsmouth it’s pretty awesome. More and more this place is becoming ‘known’ for its creative scene. For some eye candy check out ‘Fuck Yeah Southsea’.

I run an art gallery ‘The Gold Room’, but it’s more than just a place to look at things hanging on a wall. It’s an idea, a meeting place and a culmination of very hard work from myself and Angelo Tirotto (all round dude and creator of smash hit comic No Place like Home). This month sees the launch of not only our underground alternative reading group ‘Book Club’ but a whole day celebrating zine culture on the 30th March with guest speakers, music performance and zines galore, exhibitions by Philippa Rice (until March 27th) and photographer Ali Tollervy and the Dark Horses project on the 29th.

It’s hard work and I often over reach myself but I am trying so very hard to add to the culture of this place.

Any how enough talk how about some pictures?

Billie Rae 

both images: Claire Sambrook

Bored of Southsea

ALL CAPS Portsmouth Map

For awesome bands Champagne Justice put on the best nights!

Autumn sun.

| | Posted in diary, food, Southsea | Tagged , , , , , ,

Josh and I do enjoy a sunny yet crisp autumn day and where we live in the centre of Southsea we are spoilt for choice when it comes to enjoying a coffee al fresco. After dropping the children at school and before work started we stopped in at Casa De Castro. The back garden is so sweet, lots of pottery, plants and benches. The homemade pastries and cakes are so good and the atmosphere is laid back and unpretentious. More days like this please!

 

 

 

 

 

Curating the gallery shop, nice things.

| | Posted in art, Southsea | Tagged , ,

I was so excited to be offered the job of curator for The Gold Room gallery and one of the first things I set about doing was planning a small shop space. Im hoping the pop up shop will get people down to the gallery to buy small affordably pieces and enjoy the ever changing program of art. The shop will launch in mid September and I’m pretty excited. Here are some of the things you will find in the shop.

First up is Louise Wright a fantastic illustrator from Derby.

The second artist is Memo, an illustrator based in Leeds. Im really excited about putting in this order!

Also some rad screen prints from Joff.

Cornbread and super funtimes

| | Posted in food, local culture, Southsea | Tagged , ,

So tomorrow we celebrate the birthday of good friend and fellow blogger Charlie of Southsea Food Social. Naturally Charlie is throwing a superb BBQ at his Grans beautiful Southsea residence. Im really looking forward to seeing the garden which from what I have seen in photos looks wonderful. So aside from a birthday gift its customary to bring a side/salad/booze to such an event. I have decided upon making Cornbread (never made it before, eek) I think it will perfect, for one it has chilli in it, already a winner!