Judy Dewsbery

I moved from London to Hastings and the Beacon in 1992 with my then husband, Nick, and 2 children Jack and Dora. We sold a 2 bedroomed maisonette in Vauxhall Bridge Road and bought a late Victorian redbrick 20 roomed folly, or that's what everyone, almost without exception, described it as. 14 years on, Jack and Dora are based back in London, Nick in the Cotswolds and I'm on a financial knife edge (but still balancing) nurturing this fabulous monster of a creative arts hub. Simon is now my partner.

My background is fashion (MA RCA); I was co-owner of Swanky Modes, an independent design, wholesale and retail company 1972-1993 based in Camden Town. After moving to Hastings I put 'fashion' on hold aside from part time lecturing at Central Saint Martins, but I still love textiles and 3 dimenional sculpting with fabrics. I have done costumes for commercials including Nike, Scotish Widows, Evian, for a Stephen Poliakof film (the Tribe) and opera (Hansel & Gretel, Longborough Festival 2005). I am interested in clothing as identity and work with local young people. Projects include ‘Retail Therapy’ (Hastings, August 2005) and Schlock Frocks (Hastings, November 2005).

I now paint as well as co-running dab Arts and managing all that happens here at the Beacon. Recent work includes a series of paintings based on a visit to Cuba – ‘If you wondered where all the 70’s Lycra went, it’s in Santiago de Cuba………along with all the giant hair rollers’ (exhibition The Beacon, SOCO Gallery, Hastings, Newhaven Open Studios, Spring 2005).

Paintings based on my experience as a sheep owner, entitled ‘Lawn Mowers Are Easier’.. (September 2005, The Beacon, SOCO Gallery) are being followed by series of drawings featuring the 2 monster sheep as more cunning creatures, as opposed to the inquisitive innocents that arrived a year ago. They are being rehomed (to a field, not a freezer) in late March. My latest work focuses on 2 dachshunds I looked after, possibly influenced by Hockney’s sketches on a similar subject, from which I have been commissioned to do a painting featuring a neighbour's five dachshunds.

I have exhibited in London, Eastbourne, Newhaven, Tunbridge Wells and Hastings. My intention is to allow the Beacon to evolve as a place where people enjoy being creative, and meeting other creative people.

The Beacon _______ Hastings

Judy Dewsbery	- paintings - projects - biography - contact
Biography
I moved from London to Hastings and the Beacon in 1992 with my then husband, Nick, and 2 children Jack and Dora. We sold a 2 bedroomed maisonette in Vauxhall Bridge Road and bought a late Victorian redbrick 20 roomed folly, or that's what everyone, almost without exception, described it as. 14 years on, Jack and Dora are based back in London, Nick in the Cotswolds and I'm on a financial knife edge (but still balancing) nurturing this fabulous monster of a creative arts hub. Simon is now my partner. My background is fashion (MA RCA); I was co-owner of Swanky Modes, an independent design, wholesale and retail company 1972-1993 based in Camden Town. After moving to Hastings I put 'fashion' on hold aside from part time lecturing at Central Saint Martins, but I still love textiles and 3 dimenional sculpting with fabrics. I have done costumes for commercials including Nike, Scotish Widows, Evian, for a Stephen Poliakof film (the Tribe) and opera (Hansel & Gretel, Longborough Festival 2005). I am interested in clothing as identity and work with local young people. Projects include ‘Retail Therapy’ (Hastings, August 2005) and Schlock Frocks (Hastings, November 2005). I now paint as well as co-running dab Arts and managing all that happens here at the Beacon. Recent work includes a series of paintings based on a visit to Cuba – ‘If you wondered where all the 70’s Lycra went, it’s in Santiago de Cuba………along with all the giant hair rollers’ (exhibition The Beacon, SOCO Gallery, Hastings, Newhaven Open Studios, Spring 2005). Paintings based on my experience as a sheep owner, entitled ‘Lawn Mowers Are Easier’.. (September 2005, The Beacon, SOCO Gallery) are being followed by series of drawings featuring the 2 monster sheep as more cunning creatures, as opposed to the inquisitive innocents that arrived a year ago. They are being rehomed (to a field, not a freezer) in late March. My latest work focuses on 2 dachshunds I looked after, possibly influenced by Hockney’s sketches on a similar subject, from which I have been commissioned to do a painting featuring a neighbour's five dachshunds. I have exhibited in London, Eastbourne, Newhaven, Tunbridge Wells and Hastings. My intention is to allow the Beacon to evolve as a place where people enjoy being creative, and meeting other creative people.