Ditchling – The Sussex village of artists
Nestled at the foot of the South Downs, in the heart of the South Downs National Park, Ditchling is a quintessentially pretty English village with lots of art and craft to enjoy. The village was home to the infamous sculptor and designer Eric Gill; he created the font Gill Sans that is still used around the world to this day. Nowadays it is home to the award nominated Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft and a range of seasonal art events.
Artists open houses
Every May the artists of Ditchling open their doors and invite people to come and enjoy their work. Expect several venues across the village featuring a mixture of pottery, paintings, leatherwork, jewellery and much more. The Art in Ditchling website has a full guide to each venue so you can plan your visit.
It isn’t just the artwork that you’ll enjoy; it is a treat to see inside many of the venues and studios. The wisteria in the courtyard next to Vanessa Worrall’s wood-panelled studio is a sight to behold. The Handmade House is a little walk from the centre of the village but is well worth the effort; the venue is packed full of artistic treats and is truly magical. In 2016 the theme was ‘type’ and the walls of the houses became artwork in their own right.
Away from the art
Ditchling isn’t a big place, as you can see from the video below, but you’ll still easily be able to spend a day here wandering around the countryside and exploring the village. Alternatively, just a 20 minute drive up, check out what shows the South of England Agricultural Society have on!
It still has three cafes to get tea and cake plus two fantastic countryside pubs. If you prefer your refreshment sparkling and alcoholic you’ll be excited to know that the award winning Ridgeview sparkling wine (*wisper* English Champagne *wisper*) is made on the outskirts of the village.
