Bellis

This shop-​come-​gallery specialises in handmade crafts and jewellery by local artists and designers. The store itself is a large open space, with clean white walls and wooden floorboards.
Beautiful ceramics, bone china ornaments and jewellery line the displays, alongside handmade lights and lampshades, woven coasters and paintings. Each product is complemented by a description of the artist behind the creation detailing how it was made.
A stunning collection of glass infused porcelain jewellery by local artist Neil Sykes is available, including his ceramic star shaped buttons. There is also a lovely selection of handmade, brightly coloured, hardback notebooks, perfect for diaries, if a little expensive.
Sculptures and canvas oil paintings can be found on the other side of the shop, as well as striking drawings from Brighton illustrator Harriet Butler. One of Butler’s most interesting drawings, of the Duke of York cinema, has pride of place amongst the rope and anchor draped window display.
Although you’ll be hard pressed to find a bargain in here, you can get your hands on some really unique and beautiful things, and be safe in the knowledge that you’re supporting Brighton’s artistic communities.

Unlike more up-​market art galleries Bellis is relatively affordable. It’s essentially somewhere that offers furnishings of all sorts designed by locals national companies alike. The price tags on some of the items may make you splutter but then again it’s not like one of those places where the prices aren’t even displayed.

Bellis have mostly prints and jewellery but also a tasteful range of ceramics and various gifts. I bought a silver and blue necklace from here and although I am not an expert in jewellery, I felt it was a great buy, a generous amount of rough edged silver and stone. The aesthetic in here reflects the tranquil side of Brighton, lots of soft blues, greys and pinks — and similarly with the artwork. Upstairs they have had some very nice photography and painting exhibitions which always seem to balance a commercial aesthetic with contemporary fine art aesthetics very well, which is no easy feat, Bellis succeeds in this department where other seafront galleries fail.

Although some of the price tags feature quadruple figures I would argue that Bellis is a high-​street gallery in that it sits at the consumer end of the art spectrum. Most of the items fulfil two major high-​street rules: they are aesthetically pleasing/​inoffensive and most importantly affordable. The various paintings and ornaments on display would look quite at home in any contemporary showroom, which makes Bellis great for both window-​shopping and cash splashing. Displaying works from local artists this place is a great champion of indigenous talent.

Bellis gallery sells not only artwork, but a collection of aromatherapy, which gave the shop a delightful smell — I think it was lavender. Much of the art was hanging on the walls — oil paintings ranging from £450 — £1200. My favourite was a large abstract piece painted onto handmade paper.
Other unique items included eco-​friendly, recycled lace light fixtures for between £30 -£ 55; silk scarves from Turkey and delicately crafted silver jewellery.
For the Christmas season, there were several tree ornaments and a selection of Christmas cards handmade by artists.