Meet the Artists - Housewarming

Meet the Housewarmers

Call them housewarmers, creative geniuses or London’s best alternative artists. These are the artists who will transform a derelict house in Stoke Newington for two weeks only. They won’t just hang their art on the walls; some will also be completely transforming rooms in this derelict house in their signature styles for a fully immersive experience.


Adam Bartlett

The best ways to describe Adam’s art are playful, familiar, mysterious, colourful and energetic. Jungly AF! 

‘My process generally begins with drawing in my sketchbook, keeping it as simple as possible so as not to lose any energy in the final painting. I work in layers with a coat of gloss household paint overboard followed by sketching in chalk; subsequent layers are added in emulsion and acrylic, repainting over finished layers creates the extra texture and depth which I love.’

 

Alexandra Gallagher

Lancashire-born Alexandra Gallagher is a multidisciplinary artist who explores notions of feminism, sexuality and identity with her skillfully executed surreal portraits. Her fairytale graphics take the form of collages, paintings, prints and more and typically present seductive belles in imaginative, spiritual worlds. Alexandra’s work stands out for its ability to lead observers beyond the comfort of their usual subjective realms.

Clare Halifax

Clare Halifax is a contemporary artist who is heavily influenced by her surrounding environment, particularly the South West of England, where she spent her youth, and London, where she lives now.

‘As an artist, I am developing into different mediums, but a love of drawing is at the base of every piece of work I do, whether it is an etching, pencil drawing or a screenprint. Using intricate detail and mark making to invite the viewer to look closer at the piece produced, be it an interpretation of a building, animal or botanical.’ 

Claud

Claud’s artwork consists of textured mark-making and observing individual objects and moments. Everything starts from a small sketch or scribble of something she has seen, so sketchbooking is key to the process!

‘I like to draw what I see, which somehow turns out to be mainly chairs and crows.’

 

Craig Keenan

Craig describes his artwork as blue, dreamlike, and nature-inspired with a hint of surrealism to it.  The process is photographic and over 170 years old. It’s both digital and analogue.  

‘Making artwork for me is therapy. What makes me happiest is when I create something new that I’m really proud of. ’

Charlotte Farmer

Charlotte is a screen printer who loves a super bright colour combination. In her studio, she has a box full of different shades of pink (because there's no such thing as too much pink). Everything starts with drawings and sheets of old carbon paper and ends with a screen print that has at least ten different layers of colour.

‘All my animals look a bit angry because I live with a very grumpy cat.’

Dave Buonaguidi

Dave describes his work as bright, fun and optimistic. With a background in advertising, Dave loves using words, typography, and pink and creating work that engages the viewer and looks for a reaction. 

‘I particularly like working with found ephemera and textures and upcycling items that have emotional connections. Being an artist allows you to come up with as stupid an idea as you want, and the only person you need to ask is your imaginary friend Barry and if he says yes, then you fucking do it! Total liberation!’ 

Dawn Beckles

Dawn’s work is an invitation to look beyond the surface, to engage with the art, and to find meaning and beauty in the ordinary. 

‘My approach involves weaving together various images I've collected into dynamic interior spaces. Think of it as assembling a mosaic of memories, cultural fragments, and glimpses of nature.’

Hannah Gilson

Hannah Gilson is an award-winning artist whose mixed media practice combines painting, screen printing and drawing. Evolving from a predominately fine arts background, her work has naturally settled with hand drawn and digital illustration, where she engages with popular culture and aesthetics.

LouLou

LouLou is skilled in silversmithing, illustration, and painting, but more recently, she has incorporated screen printing, which has been the icing on the cake in getting her art out to the world! LouLou has maintained her distinctive hand-drawn style since she was a kid and purposely tried not to overthink her work to keep it organic and playful. 

‘My artworks usually begin by drawing on my own lived experience, like the relatable struggles of living in a big city. I moved here (London) on my own from Somerset at the age of 17, and the change was pretty stark. My work celebrates the naivety and playfulness I had then, and I never want to lose. What makes me happiest is being able to reignite this in others.

I want to nudge you to self-reflect and reconnect with your playful side—or your 'inner child,' if you will—when you see my work.’

Molly Braithwaite

Molly Braithwaite is an artist based at the Estate of the Arts in Bristol. After studying at the Florence Academy of Art, she fell in love with experimenting with light and shadow, enhancing colours and painting from life. 

‘I create quirky and vibrant still lives that are aimed to bring some joy and colour to your life, as that’s what I feel art should be about, making you smile. Each piece of my work is an expression of my love for colour, pattern, food and nostalgia. I welcome you into my bright little corner of the world and hope you enjoy the playful way I see it.’

Mathilda Mai

Mathilda Mai is a multidisciplinary artist who grew up in rural France and is now based by the seaside in Margate. Her appreciation for vivid colours and the natural world is translated through her folk-style artwork with a touch of Western flair. 

‘Growing up in the rural French countryside has played a significant role in my art. I’m forever drawing inspiration from the wildlife and warmth of my memories.’ 

Matt Dosa

Matt Dosa is an abstract artist from North London. Spanning a variety of mediums — paintings, sculptures, prints and murals — his work captures a sense of bold playfulness, an echo of the city where he has lived and worked for over three decades.

‘I’m always searching for the thing that’s beautiful, in landscapes which might seem chaotic or ugly at first glance,’ says Matt. ‘There is a lot of energy in cities, a lot of tension, but also this feeling that everything is just about hanging together. I draw a lot of inspiration from that.’

Ricky Byrne

Ricky’s work explores a bold use of colour, minimalist abstract composition and a sense of evocative motion. As a screen printer by trade, his artwork is a departure from the rigorous technical work he does for clients. While utilising his expertise as a printmaker to compose and prepare the colour blends, the printing method's physical action produces the semi-random interactions seen in the final outcomes, a beautiful balance of order and chaos. 

‘The thing that makes me happiest about art is how it fulfils the people who find it. Artists are often people searching for a connection, and when those that are searching for it find it, the positive change it makes on their lives and their work is an amazing thing to see.’

Seraphina Neville

Seraphina creates abstract artwork and designs, often deriving from or created using collages. Her work explores colour, light, texture & the space in between things.

‘I find art is a way of making sense of the world around me, and nothing makes me happier than being immersed in colour. I think it's the sense of play and exploration that brings me joy when I'm making artwork, and I hope this translates through my work.’