Lewes Artwave Festival: Oakley Property Staff Picks

This year Oakley Property is a proud sponsor of the Lewes Artwave Festival. We could not be more delighted to support this fantastic project that welcomes the public into stunning home spaces featuring spectacular works of art from a vast pool of local talent.

Artwave Festival, Lewes

In 2024, Artwave Festival celebrates its 31^st anniversary, having started in 1993 (the same year as Oakley Property!). The festival describes itself as ‘Community with Creativity’ and the works featured live up to this, showcasing a broad spectrum of mediums, motivations, backgrounds, and subjects with the intrinsic link of Lewes at the heart of them all.

Oakley Property Sponsors Art Wave in Lewes

When the opportunity to sponsor this fantastic festival presented itself, Oakley Property Hub Lewes jumped at the chance! Liaising the dedicated Artwave Festival team, our Lewes Director, David Beaken, secured the sponsorship spot on the Artwave Festival boards.

No stranger to decorating the streets of Lewes with bright purple, the Artwave Festival not only gives us the chance to showcase our brand but also the opportunity to showcase the beauty, individuality, and character of property in Lewes.

“Artwave is such a fabulous event, not only showcasing the incredibly talented artists in the area but also the beautiful town of Lewes and surrounding villages. For years we would see the Artwave boards going up, and as you felt the excitement grow and fizz, we always thought this is something we would love to be involved with!! So, when the call came with the opportunity to support and sponsor, we were thrilled! We do hope that our boards help people find all the hidden gems!”

David Beaken, Oakley Property Lewes Director

Plan Your Visit to the Lewes Art Wave Festival

As the excitement builds in the Lewes Property Hub office ahead of the Artwave Festival, our colleagues have been scouring the event programme for the key events they don’t want to miss. The team shares their top picks below:

Amber Makey, New Homes Consultant

Amber’s Pick: Art At Artelium

Since finding out that Artelium is a headline sponsor I’ve been wanting to visit the Vineyard for a tasting and to appreciate the glorious views, the exhibition also sounds vibrant and fun with a mixture of paintings, works on paper and ceramics.

  Art At Artelium present a vibrant mixed show featuring The Baron Gilvan, Gary Goodman, Julia Brown, and Tim Copsey. Open Thursdays through Sundays each week of the festival, this playful exhibition comprises paintings, ceramics, and works on paper. You can find Artelium Wine Estate on Streat Lane, Streat, BN6 8SA. 

Carolyn Clark, Lewes Sales Manager

Carolyn's Pick: Sarah Burges Gallery

Being ‘Lewes born and bred’, I have experienced years of Artwave, and it is a very important time in Lewes with so many Arty people. It is a very social occasion and brings crowds to Lewes.

I tend to favour the ones that serve a glass of Prosecco while you walk around and admire the artwork – it always makes everything more appealing! My favourite artist is Sarah Burgess in Lansdown Place; she is well known in the town and is very talented.

It is an interesting event and very well attended. Sadly, I end up looking at the properties that the events are housed in rather than the artwork itself – but that is an occupational hazard!

Sarah's Gallery can be found on 5 Lansdown Place, Lewes, BN7 2JT and will be open every day of the festival, bar Mondays. Sarah's work draws inspiration from the beauty and seasonal drama of the South Downs coast, creating dramatic seascapes, landscapes, and vibrant floral displays.

Julie Hooper, Lewes Property Manager

Julie’s Pick: Pruden & Smith in Ditchling

“I live close by to the shop and have for many years admired the work they do. One of my daughters was lucky enough to do her work experience when she was in year 11. As a result, she was allowed to make some simple pieces, which were two sets of earrings, one for me and another for herself.

She kept the ones for me and gave them to me as a Christmas present that year; to this day, they are still one of my treasured possessions, particularly as they were handmade with me in mind.”

Pruden & Smith will be presenting new designs from the Trap (Sussex Shore) Collection. They can be found at 2 South Street, Ditchling, BN68UQ, on every day of the festival, bar Sundays.

David Beaken, Oakley Property Lewes Director

David’s Pick: Sculpture & Jewellery in Keere Street, featuring works by Sarah Hunter, Tezel Bahcheli, and Sarah King.

“If you are in Lewes, you must stop by Number 82 Sculpture & Jewellery in Keere Street. The artist there is a long-standing client of ours and produces some stunning work. But what is equally stunning is the location. Keere Street is one of Lewes’ particularly historic roads, right in the centre of town just down from The Castle with very impressive walled gardens. The perfect place to enjoy art!”

Sarah Hunter writes,

“I am a figurative sculptor in clay working from live models - including my daughter’s dog! I started working many years’ ago in ceramics and transitioned to sculpture about 11 years ago. I enjoy the tactile and forgiving nature of clay. In portraiture, the enjoyment for me is capturing the true likeness of a model.”

Sarah King adds,

“I use precious and non-precious materials, primarily silver, gold, bioresin, and wood, to make sensual sculptural jewellery. The differing materials allow for a wide range of visual and tactile experiences.

I pioneered the use of bioresin at the turn of this century, a new resin developed by a German chemist using sunflower seed oil as the main ingredient and a wonderfully versatile material. In 2019, I was commissioned to write my first book, Creating Jewellery in Wood, which was an opportunity to reassess wood as a sustainable and exciting material for contemporary jewellery.

I was based at Cockpit Arts, Holborn, in London from 1999-2015 but now live and work in Lewes, East Sussex.”

Below is a photo of the fashion icon, Iris Apfel, wearing a pair of Sarah’s bioresin bangles.

If you want to catch the wonderful works of Sarah Hunter, Sarah King, and Tezel Bahcheli, presented in their beautiful walled-garden venue, make your way to Dale House, 18 Keere Street, Lewes BN7 1TY this weekend (14th and 15th of September).

How to Get Around Lewes Art Wave Festival 

Follow the bright purple boards, of course! Dotted throughout the Lewes district, you will find Oakley Property Boards indicating an Art Wave Festival event is happening inside. Let Oakley Property lead the way as you meander the charming streets of Lewes Town, stopping to admire both the captivating art works and alluring properties.