News

Custom HEINZ commission

Last month tufting artist Lily Jacobs was approached by HEINZ to create a bespoke rug for the new Sriracha Tomato Ketchup by the world famous brand.

In April, I was approached by Heinz to create a 4ft tufted bottle rug for their new ketchup flavour promotion. It’s by far the biggest project I’ve been commissioned for and definitely the most challenging. It feels like a huge step forward for me as an artist and a small business owner. I’m incredibly proud to have been given the opportunity, and it’s given me a moment to reflect on my journey so far.

Renting my own studio at the Hotwalls for nearly a year now has given me the space and time to improve my skills, build my business, and grow in confidence. While I’ve been mainly focused on running public workshops and creating smaller, more affordable pieces, this commission shows the level of skill I’ve been developing.

I love making custom pieces, whether it’s logos for brands or personal projects like pet portraits. It’s exciting to think about what’s next, and I can’t wait to see what opportunities come my way!

Check out more of Tiger Lily’s work here or visit their studio at Hotwalls.

foursandeights move on after 6 epic years

Last month we said goodbye and good luck to our resident artists Marie & Darren of foursandeights.

After 6 incredible years, we are sad to announce that Marie and Darren from foursandeights our resident artists in studio 8, are moving on from the Hotwalls studios to their new premises in Southsea.
Their inspiring journey has been nothing short of amazing – from curating solo exhibitions to showcasing their diverse works in screen-prints, risograph, mono prints, collage, and cyanotype, running a busy studio, delivering workshops, working and most of all having an amazing family.
Marie and Darren have made a significant impact in the community in Portsmouth. They were successful in two different Arts Council England Project Grant bids during that time. One of those was to support 5 local youth clubs in Portsmouth city by creating their own digital art, which was featured in the We Shine Festival.
With their vision, they created a supersized projection in the heart of the city for the first ever We Shine Festival.
They are so active within the community and have made such a positive impact on so many people.
While we are sad to see them go, they aren’t going far! Stay tuned for more details on their next adventure.

To stay in contact: @foursandeights – website: www.foursandeights.co.uk

Thank you, Marie and Darren, for your creativity and dedication. We will miss you.❤️

Hotwalls announces Summer Market

We are proud to announce our Summer Creative Market, on Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 July. Hotwalls welcomes both market traders and the public to the iconic Parade Ground here in Old Portsmouth.

Summer Creative Market, featuring talented designers and makers from across the South. The market will see over 40 outdoor stalls of art and creativity, 13 open artist studios, live music, food and demonstrations. With lots of talented makers and artists coming together, the market provides the opportunity to browse and buy handcrafted pieces from a huge variety of traders. The Hotwalls resident artists will be open, so you can find out about their art and the creative process behind their work.

Contact hotwallsstudios@portsmouthcc.gov.uk for further information. Follow our social medias for updates on traders, musicians, art and timings!


Photography on display at The Windbreaks art gallery

The new art installation on Southsea seafront has been refreshed with photography by two local artists Olana Light and Maria de la O Garrido.

For this second wave of artists to have their work featured in this public art gallery space, the curatorial team chose two photographic-based artists whose work really complements each other.

On the seaward side of the panels is the work of Spanish artist Maria de la O Garrido, entitled ‘Suddenly the Sea’. On the landward facing side is the work of Olana Light, featuring self-portrait photographs from her project ‘Searching for a Place to Belong’. Each body of work connects with the relationships between identity and place.

This round of art will be on display for the next four months until the end of July 2025. Hotwalls Studios will be managing an open call for the next round of art to be displayed at The Windbreaks.

For more information about The Windbreaks please visit the dedicated page – where you can also see previous exhibiting artists like Emily Faludy.

The Windbreaks is part of the Portsmouth City Council’s Seafront arts programme that recently brought the poet laureate Simon Armitage to the city to install a new poem – you can also read more about this in the Portsmouth News.

A fond farewell to Charlie Leftley

After six eventful years we say goodbye to jeweller Charlie Leftley who leaves Hotwalls Studios next month. Sunday 26th January will be her last trading day in the studio.

Charlie has taken part in multiple group show exhibitions during her tenancy of Studio 5, both at the historic Round Tower as well as further afield – taking part in regular MADE fairs, the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, and group shows in Colchester and Chichester.

These group shows have helped to push her creativity forward and in 2024 Charlie teamed up with ceramicist Annie Flitcroft to host an exhibition in the Round Tower. This collaboration re-awakened her love of experimenting and desire to focus on art and sculptural jewellery.

“It’s a trust process”

Reflecting on her practice, Charlie says that there’s a lot of trust that goes into jewellery making. Having her own studio space has allowed her to build connections with her customers and develop a loyal customer base that we hope will continue to connect with Charlie and her work.

We wish Charlie all the success in her creative journey – CHARLIE LEFTLEY DESIGNS – Contemporary jewellery

Emily Faludy – First Artist to have her work exhibited at The Windbreaks on Southsea Seafront

Emily Faludy is a Portsmouth-based artist who paints from life in an energised, expressive way, in impasto oil paint. Emily is interested in both the raw energy gained from being in front of the subject matter, and the physicality of the paint, which becomes almost a subject in itself. Emily is influenced by artists such as Bomberg, Auerbach and George Rowlett. Recently her practice has expanded to include still life painting in the studio. Faludy was shortlisted for the Jacksons Art Prize 2021 and was the winner of Paint Out Norfolk 2021. The paintings reproduced for The Windbreaks include five of her still life paintings and five sections taken from her landscape paintings of locations including Portchester Harbour and the Isle of Wight.

For more information on the artist – www.emilyfaludy.com

Applications are now open for the next round of public art display at The Windbreaks – for more information check here: The Windbreaks – Hotwalls Studios

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