South Downs Open at Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery

The South Downs, a range of chalk hills spanning across the counties of Hampshire, West Sussex, and East Sussex, is not just a landscape but a living testament to art, literature, history and culture. Join Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery in celebrating what it means to live, work and be inspired by this iconic landscape.

The South Downs Open exhibits nearly 150 artworks by over 120 artist who are inspired by the South Downs region. Celebrate the beauty of the South Downs with paintings, drawings, prints, photography, sculpture, textiles and ceramics that draw inspiration from across the South Downs region, from Old Winchester Hill in Hampshire to Beachy Head, in East Sussex.

The artworks exhibited in this exhibition have been selected from an open call to artists. Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery was delighted to have received hundreds of submissions from artists from across the region, amateur and professional, which reflects the inspiration the South Downs has for so many.

South Downs Open is a selling exhibition and a chance to acquire high-quality, affordable art from artists across the region. Please note, artworks purchased from South Downs Open will not be available for collection until after the exhibition concludes in February 2025.

Join Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery as we spectacularly conclude our 25th anniversary year with the South Downs Open, continuing our commitment to history, art and literature and a celebration and engagement with our exceptional location within the South Downs. 

Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery celebrates the history, landscape, and creative community of artists with the South Downs Open 22 October 2024 - 1 February 2025.

Exhibiting Artists

Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery is delighted to announce the exhibiting artists for the South Downs Open:

Jackie AmiesJan AtkinsonPatrick Will BakerRhoda K BakerRuth Barrett-Danes
Alison BaxterChris BeardsGemma BedfordFrances BloomfieldHilary Boardley
Tom BoultonLola Claeys BouuaertSophie BowersJoanne BriffettJanet Brooke
Helen BrownSarah BurnsLesley ButterworthNichola CampbellJoanna Cheer
Jorgen ChristiansenClarinda Joanne ClarksonDenise CobleColleen ContiEsther Cornell
Konrad CoxHarriet CrichtonOllie CrichtonFenella DaviesSharon Dean
Celine DeublePamela DewSteve DoddEmma DrakeKatrin Eagle
P J EbbrellAndrew EkinsJane Elliott-RenneyNicki Ellul_TurnerClare Emily
Samantha EnglishHilary EverestSally FergusonAli Lou FieldMarion Foster
Kevin FryChris GilbertSally GoddardCelia GraceAlice Howard Graham
Allan GraingerSophie Anna GreenDavid HamiltonDeborah HarwoodKate Henderson
Sue HoarAnn HollawayAnn HubbardSarah HughesAshley Hutchinson
Genevieve JacobsFrank JenningsMargaret JonesRosemary JonesSue Kelly
Jane KingFrances KnightFabiola KnowlesGlynis LamondZoe Lane
Vincent LavenderJulian Le BasSara LeeFreda LineEmma Lowres
Rosalind LymerBarbara MaceZoë MaddisonIan McAdamDevon McCulloch
Susan McFarlaneMollie McMillenKate McMinniesJohn MeikleMaryna Melnyk
Alison MillerJo MitchellDavid Scott MooreTim MullinsMargaret Newbigin
Mary NorowzianDavid PeduzziRosemary PocockJanet PriceKatharine Rabson Stark
Charlie RalfeRachel RedfernGeorgina ReyDavid RiceDeborah Richards
Eileen RichardsonRobina RichterJames RobinsonMarise RoseMelanie Rose
Tania RutlandHelen SadlerChris SedgwickSarah SemplaySimon Sharp
Siriol SherlockJanet SherwoodRachael StedmanCaroline StrongWendy Thomas
Carola van DykeFrances VeseyMike WallaceMary WalthamAnjali Walton
Sue WebberSusie WhitcombeHannah WhiteSuzanne Winn 

Thank you to all the artists who submitted their artwork for our Call to Artists. Keep an eye on our social media for the South Downs Open exhibition details and more from our exhibiting artists!

Share the South Downs Open

Join us in celebrating all that it means to live, work and be inspired by the South Downs by sharing on social media and tagging Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery!

Meet the Panel

Alison Crowther - Contemporary sculptor working in English oak based in the South Downs, West Sussex. 

Tiffany Francis–Baker - Hampshire author and illustrator of books inspired by landscape, the changing seasons and a slower, more creative way of living in the modern age. 

Louise Weller – Head of Collections and Exhibitions at Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery. 

Awards
  • The Over 18 winner will be offered the opportunity of an exhibition in the Flora Twort Gallery at Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery for a minimum length of 1 month to be held in 2026.
  • The Under 18 winner will receive a voucher £50 from Jackson’s Art Supplies.
  • The Under 11 winner will receive a voucher £25 from Jackson’s Art Supplies.

Winners of the above categories will be announced on 22 October 2024 on our website and social media.

  • People’s Choice Award (Over 18 category only)

During the run of the exhibition, visitors can vote for their favourite entry in the Over 18 category, the winner of which will receive the People’s Choice Award of £250. 

Winner of the People’s Choice Award will be announced at the end of the exhibition on our website and social media.

Call to Artists

The submission portal for the South Downs Open: Call to Artists is now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted their work!

Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery invited submissions earlier this year from all artists, amateur and professional, who respond to the South Downs as inspiration. We were delighted at the overwhelming number of submissions entered in our Call To Artists. 

Key Dates
  • 30 August 2024, 5pm (BST) : Online submission deadline
  • 6 September 2024: Shortlisted artists notified by email
  • *16 September 2024: List of exhibiting artists published on website
  • 14-15 October 2024: Delivery of artwork to Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery
  • 22 October 2024: South Downs Open exhibition opens with evening event for artists
  • 1 February 2025: South Downs Open exhibition closes 
  • 5-6 February 2025: Collection of work from Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery

    * Due to unprecedented high volume of submissions and increased selection of artworks, we will be sharing the list of exhibiting artists on Monday, 16 September 2024.