Elementor Support News Page - Hotwalls Studios

The Design Trust Workshop

Join Patricia van den Akker in the Round Tower, 9.30am-4pm on Wednesday 11th February 2026

Spaces for the workshop are strictly limited, priced at £30 per person, and will be offered on a first come first served basis. To register your interest, please email hotwallsstudios@portsmouthcc.gov.uk and provide your name, your preferred contact email address, and your business name (if applicable).

Following an intensive workshop in July last year, creative business advisor Patricia is back for another session of tips and tricks to develop your creative business. Patricia is an award-winning creative business coach, trainer and speaker who’s worked with thousands of creatives across the UK and beyond for over 20 years. She is the Director of The Design Trust (the online business school for designers, makers & other creatives) and the author of Teaching Creative Workshops In Person & Online. She’s known for her inspiring, honest and practical approach to creative business development. She’s passionate about empowering artists, makers and designers to build creative, impactful, meaningful and profitable businesses.

The day will be split into three key sections:

What’s the ‘Marketing Freeze’? What stops you from marketing yourself, when you know you need to! Some questions & exercises around procrastination, amateur vs professional mindset, and how to shift your mindset from reactive to pro-active marketing.

Dream clients – how to identify, get to know and approach them: Difference between trade & consumers. With specific advice on how to identify galleries/art consultants, and how to get potential trade & consumer clients to your website or space (for workshops, commissions, b2b) e.g. SEO keywords, email marketing, networking/outreach/database, possibly online presence e.g. website and social media.

Create a 6 month marketing plan: Starting with setting a financial goal & income streams; identifying 2-3 marketing projects to get ready & more confident & professional; to identifying specific marketing actions per month.

This workshop is open to all, whether you’re an established local business looking to focus in on these key areas or a developing business seeking professional guidance – there’s something for everyone! Expect a day of lively conversation, practical planning and small business advice, and quiet time too to reflect and work on your own business ideas. You’ll be part of a friendly, focused group of up to 20 creatives. The aim of the day is that you’ll leave with new confidence, fresh business & marketing ideas, and a roadmap for what to focus on next in your business journey.

23rd January 2026

Homecoming exhibition for late local artist Joseph Loughborough

Joseph Loughborough's works to be displayed at The Windbreaks from December 2025 to March 2026.

The popular gallery on the promenade near the skateboarding area known as The Red offers local artists the opportunity to have work displayed temporarily as part of Portsmouth City Council’s seafront arts programme.

Joseph was a local painter who died earlier this year at the age of 44. As a well-known Portsmouth painter and keen skateboarder, his exhibition beside The Red where he loved skateboarding has particular poignance for his family.

Joseph’s partner Audrey Nicolau-Borde-Bergeret said: “Exhibiting Joe’s work on the seafront feels beautifully fitting, especially with The Windbreaks beside The Red, where he and his friends whiled away their hours skating – a place he carried in his heart.

“To see his love for the coastline, and the warmth and spirit he poured into his art, returning to the shore that shaped him, is profoundly moving, and I am endlessly grateful.”

Council Leader Cllr Steve Pitt said: “Seeing this exhibition of Joseph’s work is very emotional, particularly for his family who have given their blessings to his work being shown after losing him at a young age this year.

“I hope the local community – and particularly the skateboarding community – will take the time to come and view the work of this truly talented artist.

“It’s public exhibition spaces such as The Windbreaks that allow us all to appreciate and enjoy the talent of the Portsmouth art community.”

Joseph spent his formative years exploring the derelict boatyards and creeks of Portsmouth. After graduating from Portsmouth University, he pursued interests in art, philosophy and skateboarding culture. Read more on the artist’s website: https://www.josephloughborough.co.uk/

Photo credit: Matt Humphrey

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 Windbreaks page of our website.

This venture is a collaboration between Hotwalls Studios, Portsmouth City Council, and the Southsea Coastal Scheme to celebrate the work of local artists and provide a new focal point on Southsea seafront. The Windbreaks is proudly sponsored by VolkerStevin and Boskalis Westminster.

19th January 2026

New studio 11 artist Lucy Mayes of London Pigment

Hotwalls Studios is thrilled to welcome Lucy Mayes, artist, pigment maker, and educator, working under her long-term project London Pigment. Lucy specialises in the heritage of pigments and their practical applications, combining historical knowledge with contemporary, sustainable making.

She first learned the craft of pigment making while working at L. Cornelissen & Son, where she worked as ‘pigment specialist’ and trained under Keith Edwards (of Keith Edwards Pigments Ltd.), an English pigment maker who has been producing colours for over 50 years. This hands-on apprenticeship laid the foundations for her practice, alongside art degrees at The Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University & The Royal College of Art.

Lucy began creating pigments from materials found across London, hence the name London Pigment, using plants and minerals sourced from local waste streams. For the past two years, she has been living in Portsmouth, where she has been exploring the colour landscape of Hampshire. This research has resulted in bespoke colour charts, pigments, and inks – all of which are now available from her new studio at Hotwalls.

Her practice encompasses making pigments and inks, which are available for purchase from Studio 11 and from L. Cornelissen & Son in Bloomsbury, London. She also undertakes commissions for bespoke pigments and interior wall paints, having previously worked with institutions such as the Royal Cornwall Museum and Sheffield Museums, where historical research is interwoven with colour production. Her paintings and sculptures, made using her own pigments, have been exhibited with Bosse & Baum, as well as with Sheffield Museums.

Her craft is grounded in sustainable practice, using non-toxic raw materials and upcycled sources such as brick and roofing slate. This approach is exemplified in her Waste Stream Series, a body of work supported by Heritage Crafts, which explores the creative potential of discarded and overlooked materials.

If you’re intrigued by the heritage craft of pigment making, please do pop into her studio – Lucy will be delighted to show you her historical pigment collection and specialist machinery.

To find out more about Lucy and her practice please visit her page here – which has links to her website and information about her recently published book as well as workshops!

Please contact her at info@londonpigment.com

12th January 2026

Festive Creative Markets – the Lowdown!

We know, we know, there’s loads of dates and times for the Creative Markets this year. That just means loads more great opportunities to meet, connect and buy from the amazing creatives!

So here is all you need to know about the 2025 Hotwalls Festive Creative Market season – in date order. Mulled wine will be served by The Canteen on all days from their outdoor chalet as part of the market 🙂

Saturday 29th November – 10am – 4pm

Sunday 30th November – 10am – 4pm

Thursday 4th December – 12pm – 6pm

Friday 5th December – 12pm – 6pm

Saturday 6th December – 10am – 4pm

Sunday 7th December – 10am – 4pm (+ OPEN STUDIOS)

Thursday 11th December – 12pm – 6pm

Friday 12th December – 12pm – 6pm

Saturday 13th December – 10am – 4pm

Sunday 14th December – 10am – 4pm

7th November 2025

New studio artist Star Girl Sweet Willow

You may have noticed a change in our studio line-up if you’ve been down to visit Hotwalls recently. Last month we welcomed a new artist Charlotte aka Star Girl Sweet Willow into the fold as she has taken up residency in Studio 12 (previously Annie Flitcroft).

Charlotte has been no stranger to Hotwalls having previously been a demonstrator at our Creative Markets as well as Guest Artist in the Round Tower. Earlier this year Charlotte returned to both the Spring and Summer Creative Markets this time as a successful stall holder.

Star Girl Sweet Willow is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans the realms of ceramics, illustration and fibre arts. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, mythical creatures, literature, love and music, each piece is created by hand whilst favouring an earthy colour palette. Charlotte’s experience of chronic pain deeply influences her creative voice, making her art a space for expressing grief and healing.

It’s safe to say that Star Girl Sweet Willow has been enjoying finding an audience and we look forward to supporting her and being a part of her creative journey.

Studio 12: Star Girl Sweet Willow – Hotwalls Studios

6th November 2025

All hail Leonardo da Pompey!

We are super proud of resident Hotwalls artist Louise Braithwaite’s latest piece – a 3D lifesize Lion sculpture!

Leonardo da Pompey was unveiled on Friday 19th September at the launch of the Portsmouth 100 celebrations at Fratton Park and will be part of the newly announced art sculpture trail which will feature 30 lion sculptures. The trail is a centrepiece of the celebrations that will take place throughout 2026 to commemorate 100 years of Portsmouth as a City.

Louise has set the bar HIGH with this highly detailed piece that really celebrates the people and vision of Portsmouth. Her meticulous people-centred joyful painting truly transforms the majestic Lion and features so many beautiful and historical features and facets of our wonderful city.

Leonardo will be on display at the Southsea Central Library in October 2025 to inspire other local artists who may be interested in joining the art trail and submitting their ideas.

More information on the trail and on the Portsmouth 100 celebrations can be found on the official website.

Visit Lou’s studio at Hotwalls to see more of her fantastic vibrant work.