Brighton artist explores the changing Sussex coast in new solo exhibition

A Brighton-based artist is inviting visitors to step away from the bustle of everyday life and spend a little time by the sea this November, with a new solo exhibition exploring the changing rhythms of the Sussex coastline.

TIDE & TIME, by mixed-media artist Laura Callaghan based in Saltdean, opens at Brighton's Fishing Quarter Gallery on Tuesday 24th November and runs until Sunday 29th November.

Through atmospheric seascapes, seaweed cyanotypes, lunar studies and artworks incorporating materials gathered from the shoreline, the exhibition reflects on the passing of time, the changing seasons and the natural cycles that shape our relationship with the sea.

Returning repeatedly to familiar stretches of coastline around Brighton and East Sussex, Callaghan observes how the same place can feel entirely different from one day to the next. A stormy summer afternoon might resemble the depths of winter; a familiar beach is transformed by the tide, the light or the weather.

The exhibition brings these observations together, encouraging visitors to notice the beauty in ordinary moments and consider their own place within the changing natural world.

"The more time I spend returning to the same places along our coastline, the more I realise how much is constantly changing, often in ways we barely notice. The tides, the light, the seasons, the shoreline itself. I think there's something important about making time to pay attention to those changes, and perhaps recognising something of ourselves in them too," says Callaghan.

Working with acrylics, seawater and materials found along the Sussex coast, Callaghan creates richly textured paintings that bring the physical character of the shoreline into the work. Her cyanotypes, made using seaweed and sunlight, explore the relationship between the ocean and the cycles of the moon.

The gallery will offer a welcoming, reflective space beside the sea as winter approaches, with original artworks ranging from larger statement pieces to smaller paintings, cyanotypes and affordable pieces suitable for Christmas gifts.

The exhibition opens on the evening of a full moon, with an informal Full Moon Gathering: Paintings & Paddling on Tuesday 24th November, from 5pm to 6.30pm. Visitors are invited to enjoy the exhibition after hours, with an optional visit to the shoreline, weather and conditions permitting.

Callaghan, who is based at The Open Studios on Brighton seafront, has exhibited extensively. Her environmentally engaged practice has previously featured in BBC and ITV coverage, and her work explores the connections between coastal landscapes, marine conservation and our relationship with the natural world.

Exhibition details

TIDE & TIME Tuesday 24th – Sunday 29th November 2026 10am–4pm daily Brighton Fishing Quarter Gallery 201 Kings Road Arches, Brighton Seafront, BN1 1NB Free entry

Full Moon Gathering: Tuesday 24th November, 5–6.30pm.

Further information: https://lauracallaghan.co.uk/blog/tide-and-time-a-new-solo-exhibition