The first major exhibition taking place at ArtHouse Jersey at Capital House in 2025 is UK-based artists Lindsay Seers and Keith Sargent’s ambitious immersive installation Nowhere Less Now. The exhibition space has been completely transformed into the upturned hull of a ship and invites you to enter a haunting exploration of time and memory. This incredible artwork considers how history is both created and perceived. ArtHouse Jersey is presenting the eighth chapter of this episodic work after previous episodes have featured at London’s Hayward Gallery at the Southbank Centre, Whitechapel Gallery as well as appearing at major galleries and museums in Sharjah, Tasmania, Swansea and Margate, to date. The work was premiered at the Kilburn Tin Tabernacle in 2012 as a special site-specific installation by Artangel, one of the UK’s most pioneering contemporary art organisations.
This extraordinary artwork draws connections between a 19th century Tin Tabernacle chapel in London, the birth of Seer’s great great uncle, George Edwards, the birth of Mina Bergson, artist and sister of French philosopher Henri Bergson, and Seer’s own birth exactly 100 years later to the day. For this Jersey iteration, Seers and Sargent have also created a series of new films specific to Jersey and which focus on the historical moments of the German Occupation, the Jersey Witch Trials and the redeeming love of surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore. Combining photography, performance, video and animation, Nowhere Less Now is symptomatic of Seers and Sargent’s relentless search for truths that remain elusive as they slip through the lens.
Nowhere Less Now is part of The Artangel Collection, an initiative to bring outstanding film and video works, commissioned and produced by Artangel, to galleries and museums across the UK.
Nowhere Less Now8 by Lindsay Seers & Keith Sargent
An unforgettable immersive journey through time, history, war and love
Thursday 30 January to Sunday 9 March 2025
10.30am – 6pm Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays
ArtHouse Jersey at Capital House, 8 Church Street, St Helier.
If you’re heading to the airport or St Ouen from town, you’ll have been pretty used to seeing wedding dresses filling the window below Margaret Thompson’s smiling face for pretty much as long as Jersey’s collective consciousness has been filtering in turn.
But there’s been a change. Following Anna Trigg’s move to Burrard Street, artist and former Head of Arts Dawn Burrows has opened a new art gallery in the space to promote her paintings and the work of other local artists and craftworkers. She wants the space, dubbed The Colour Rooms, to bring plenty of colour to Beaumont with beautiful arts and crafts, creative courses including painting, drawing, mixed media and creative writing.
As we go to print, her first exhibition is underway. The opening showcases the work of more than 20 creatives and she will be holding an exhibition focusing on a different artist every month. With over 30 years experience as Head of Art, Photography and Textiles in three island schools, Dawn is always learning herself and emphasises the importance of staying curious and open to new media, techniques and inspirations. Her own work can be described as vivid, exuberant and full of life, often inspired by the beautiful island environment and produced in a range of media including oils, acrylics, inks and watercolours. She often aims to capture the early morning Dawn light, walking her dog Bali along the east coast.
Dawn is hoping that The Colour Rooms will have a great community feel, with people able to pop in and see artists and craftworkers in action, have a coffee and a chat and feel inspired. Events can be booked such as Paint and Pour and Drink and Draw, and Dawn also offers therapeutic arts sessions having a qualification with IATE, the Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education, London, and support for GCSE and A Level arts students.
We make a magazine, so words and pictures are pretty much everything to us. Art that involves the two is obviously therefore right up our street. That probably influenced our selection of one of the artists featured in the upcoming exhibition at CCA International, Mark Medland, as our Gallery Graphic Arts Prize award-winner last year.
The gallery is set to host Mark and some typophile contemporaries in an exhibition of work by artists who use text as an integral part of their creative process. From assemblage to sloganism, narratives written within the image or words and their component parts in play, this collection of artwork explores some of the ways in which artists incorporate words in visual artworks. Ever since the cubists collaged newspaper, labels and ticket stubs into their still life paintings at the turn of the 20th century artists have used ‘found’ printed letters into their work.
Words are ubiquitous in our lives, through streams of online texts, advertising, packing, signs or even the intimate words in a novel or poem. Most of us forget each letter is a shape and each word its own composition. Using language, artists transform the basic building blocks of contemporary communication, using the alphabet as a tool to create unique provocations.
Language is uniquely malleable and constantly reinvented. Just as artists find new ways to manipulate paint or clay, so too do they find new ways of transforming words into art; pairing words with images, playing with the meaning of words, annotating, redacting, creating comic interjections reducing to the component parts a letter at a time.
By blending visual, physical, literary, and poetic elements, these artworks create a rich, interdisciplinary experience that broadens the scope of traditional art forms and expectations.
PETER BLAKE, Britain’s godfather of pop, mines the iconography of the past searching out new icons and meaning in the present. From his Dazzle Alphabet Series, to the collaged Americana of his USA series Blake creates a new pop art which stems directly from our time.
TOM PHILLIPS uses a ‘found’ narrative as the starting point for many of his prints. Working directly onto the pages of printed books, isolating phrases or parts of words and then combining these with paint and collage elements to form a new verbal and visual narrative.
BRUCE MCLEAN is a humorous wordsmith who incorporates words and even paper slips into his paintings and prints, lists of chores, food or titles that humorously jostle with his images of the everyday.
EMMA TALBOT draws on her own autobiography to negotiate the twentieth and twenty–first century struggle of the individual in life, in the family, at home and in society. Memories, thoughts, and fantasies are woven tightly into her distinct visual vocabulary. Inspired by 1930’s fonts, Japanese Shunga, metaphysical poetry, film noir, Edgar Reitz’s Heimat, Edith Piaf, Edna O’Brien, Jacques Brel, Kurt Weill, Marlene Dietrich, Anaïs Nin, Pablo Neruda, and Paul Ricoeur, the artist has developed an imaginative visual language all her own.
LINDSAY RUTTER embraces the alchemy of ceramics, combining clay with printing techniques to create 3D works that are a uniquely raw commentary on her lived reality and the irrationalities of 21st-century society. Scribing, stamping and cutting directly into clay her words are a stream of consciousness in the moment.
KAY LE SEELLEUR is well known for her use of words in relation to her painted or cartoon images, in the sometimes crazy long titles or the graffiti-like intrusion of words into the paintings themselves or their frames. In 2024 artist and writer Shirley MacWilliam wrote The Importance of Being Titled, a deep dive into the titles that accompany Kay’s paintings.
MARK MEDLAND is a filmmaker, illustrator, model maker, architect, and collage artist who uses repurposed images and found objects, that he collects as he walks around Jersey and from his travels further afield. Accompanied by highly researched written proposals or speculative fictions his imaginary worlds come to life filled with humour and invention and are populated by characters that charm, surprise and entertain.
WORD PLAY CCA Galleries International
10 Hill Street, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 4UA, 13th February – 28th March
Gisela Romano is a photographer based between Jersey, Porto and Manchester. She specialises in dynamic, engaging photos, capturing scenes within Sports, Events, Portraiture and more.
More recently, she has embraced Boudoir as a prominent area of her work, using it to champion the human body and build her clients’ confidence in their natural form. We spoke to her about her own journey with implied nude photography, and how she uses her personal experiences to better shape the frames she moulds for others.
“My whole boudoir journey began because I struggled with body image and experienced body dysmorphia. Exploring implied nude self-portraits became my way to ground myself, to confront the difference between how I thought my body looked and how it truly was. While photographing clients, I realised how many people (especially women) struggle with seeing their own beauty. With boudoir, my goal is to show them how stunning they and their bodies really are, using the right light, poses, and composition. I avoid body manipulation in my editing because I want my clients to see an authentic version of themselves.
A boudoir session for me goes way beyond delivering a set of nice images. That’s why every session includes a consultation where we (really) talk about what they want, the styles they like, why they’re doing it, and which parts of their body they like or don’t like as much… Each experience is different, personal, and tailored to them. It also helps create a bond with the client, who often turns into a friend by the end of the process. Over time, my self-portraits evolved. They became darker, moodier, and more conceptual. They were still implied nudes, with no intimate areas exposed, but they became a way of expressing emotions or messages I felt I needed to release and be seen. My latest personal series, MONSTERS, reflects that evolution. Even though I’m still working on how I see myself and my body, photography helped me be kinder to myself. Being able to do the same for others, allowing them to see their beauty and celebrate it, is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done.”
Whilst we use our own distro network to get Gallery out to you, we trust the hardy team at Jersey Post to get our Islander property magazine out to every business on the island each month. They got in touch recently to tell us about their team and what they get up to outside the sorting room. We’re all about the people of Jersey so thought we’d introduce you to some of them.
Henry Nehwati
Delivery Person // Trustee at Londoloza Trust
I started at Jersey Post 14 years ago, first as part of the PM collection team, before moving into parcels as a delivery driver. I can safely say being in the outdoors and meeting customers is where I am happiest.
I’d previously worked in the tourism industry as a safari guide back home in Zimbabwe, where I pretty much spent all my time in the bush enjoying the wild side of Africa. In particular, I loved walking with the lions.
Outside of work, I now run a charity called the Londoloza Trust. We support underprivileged children in disadvantaged areas of Zimbabwe, through education highlighting the threat of global warming and climate change. We also run conservation initiatives in schools and provide support to national park rangers in Hwange. I love helping to make a positive impact on peoples lives as a means to sustain their livelihood.
londolozatrust.com
James Oliver
Postal Deliveries // Marathon Runner
You can normally find me on the bike rounds in St Saviour, sometimes in St Martins in the van. I love working in the summer when the sun is out, and also enjoy speaking to the customers and hearing some of the interesting stories they have. I’ve been here for about 10 years.
Running is my big motivation outside work, and keeping healthy and fit. It’s also a good way to relax after a sometimes challenging day at work. I started running at the start of lockdown, and have never looked backed! I normally train about five to six days a week. A highlight for me was coming third in the Jersey Marathon in 2:31:53 on a very challenging course. I was only beaten by elite runners and I set the fastest time on that course for a Jersey person.
I’ve recently overcome injury, which was very challenging. But I had a great physio, and now I’m working towards the Island Games half marathon in Orkney.
I would highly recommend running – there are so many brilliant clubs in Jersey. Spartans are a great bunch of people, very welcoming, open to any ability. And there’s also Rock n Road, who do lots of group runs on road trails.
rocknroad.je
Natasha Keen
Postal Deliveries // Football player for Wanderers and Jersey FA
My favourite part of my job is getting the chance to be outside every day in all weathers, meeting people and seeing all the familiar faces on my round. I’m an active person, so being outside suits me best.
I’ve played football for many years – at school, boys junior teams, and then the women’s team when I was old enough to join. I won a bronze in my first Island Games in Gotland when I was 16. I love playing football because it gives me the chance to play with new people, as well as with friends who share the same passion, and I usually train twice a week with Jersey Wanderers, and play on a Sunday.
At university in America (Nebraska and Mississippi), I was on a football scholarship, whilst I worked towards a sports and exercise science degree. I trained every day, and played matches twice a week. Moving so far away to play football was the best decision I made, although I was homesick for the first few months!
One of the hardest challenges I’ve had to overcome was tearing my ACL (knee) in 2022, as it meant I couldn’t play during my last year at college and I found it tough to watch from the sidelines. But I had great support from my teammates and coaches, and a year later I was fit and cleared to play in the 2023 Island Games in Guernsey. I’ve since torn the same knee again, but with the help of some physio, I’m now back playing football again.
jerseywanderers.com
Paul Insley
Postal Operative and Training Manager // Lance Corporal Insley of the Jersey Field Squadron, Royal Engineers Militia, part of the Royal Monmouthshire regiment of Royal Engineers
I’ve loved every minute of my five years working at Jersey Post. The people are fantastic. I’ve gone from officially being trained in three parcel rounds, to teaching myself another four, adapting frequently to head out into areas I don’t know. I’m also a Training Manager. I teach the new recruits the basics, the ins and outs, and try and impart my experience to make them well rounded and adaptable. Then I teach them rounds and assess as they progress. I find it very rewarding to see the new recruits grow and fulfil their duties.
Outside of work I’m Lance Corporal Insley of the Jersey Field Squadron, Royal Engineers Militia, part of the Royal Monmouthshire regiment of Royal Engineers. I have a duel role, I’m a driver – meaning I use land rovers to move small amounts of troops and kit quickly and efficiently across multi-terrains. I also drive the 6 ton trucks, capable of carrying up to this weight and moving troops and equipment over vast distances, again in all terrains. I’m currently in “civie life”, undertaking articulated truck lessons, and in military life will soon be going on my next course to drive military trucks which are capable of carrying up to 15 tons, with all manner of add-ons. I train with the army every Wednesday evening after work, plus one weekend a month and at least one two week camp of continuous training a year. We receive a salary for our Reserve roles, and can also work towards qualifications, which are funded by the Army and can be accredited to civilian qualifications.
What I enjoy about my job and the military is that it all ties in. The driving, the discipline, the hard work, the manual graft. It keeps me fit and young, on the ball. The military has supplied me with the skills to teach, which I use at Jersey Post, and my high motivations to work hard coupled with my military values, have made me successful as a postie. I never think I’m too busy. I see a challenge and go for it.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we naturally thought of red velvet cupcakes. We set four of Jersey’s finest bakers with the challenge of whipping up some classic sweet treats that embody romance. Each crafted the original into their own version of this beloved dessert, showcasing their signature styles and expertise.
From Cathie’s use of organic ingredients to Victoria’s dedication to cream cheese icing and picture-perfect swirls, each creation offers a unique perspective on this timeless dessert. Kelly leans into her professional training with imaginative and creative design, while Ceri’s innovative and practical approach ensures cakes remain delicious for days without refrigeration.
Beyond the vibrant hues and velvety textures, these bakers share their joys and challenges in the kitchen. From the magical aroma of cupcakes baking to the meticulous art of decoration, it’s clear that each baker has infused passion into every bite. Whether you’re team icing or team cake, this bake off promises to inspire your Valentine’s day dessert dreams.
Victoria Channing-Turner: Victoria Sponge Jersey
Victoria decorates the cakes, after her husband Luke bakes them.
How long have you been baking?
I’ve been baking since I was little, my best friend used to say in the Summer holidays I’d never go out, I just used to be at home… Baking. It has always been a passion of mine and decorating is my absolute favourite. Luke’s been baking for 5 years, he’s better than me, he’s one of those annoying good at everything people and it perfectly completes our dream team!
Tell us about your cupcakes.
These little red velvet bad boys are our classic red velvet recipe, I love the hint of cocoa that comes with this flavour. They are decorated with our popular signature swirls in cream cheese icing, delish and super pretty.
Did you cream cheese?
Cream cheese icing is the BEST, it has to go with red velvet, I think that’s why people love this flavour so much.
Favourite part of the baking process?
I love spooning cupcake batter into cases, I weigh every cupcake out and it’s almost like a game to see how many I can get right in a row. Or putting the cake batter in the oven, and when the time is up, opening the oven to reveal the perfect little flat top cupcakes, magic.
Hardest part of the baking process?
Baking as a job. It’s long hours and being on your feet all day. But skill wise, I’d say the hardest part is probably the simplest and the same mistake we make occasionally (shhh don’t tell anyone): making sure you’ve added every ingredient and weighed it correctly. That would be your easiest, quickest way to ruin a bake.
Do you prefer the icing or the cake?
I LOVE CAKE. One of the beauties of our job is the cake trimmings – just plain cake. And the fact you have to try everything. Even if it’s 5am, I’m not complaining.
Best piece of baking advice?
Always allow yourself plenty of time, so if you are baking at home you actually get to enjoy it and don’t panic! Oh and turn your oven temp down, long, slow cake bakes are always better.
Ceri Hirst: Ceri’s Cakes
How long have you been baking?
20 years
Tell us about your cupcakes.
The cupcakes that I made were red velvet cupcakes, decorated with vanilla buttercream. Two had a handmade sugar rose on them and a wafer leaf. The other two were hand piped with buttercream into a rose design and finished with a wafer leaf. I then crumbled some red velvet cake onto them.
Did you cream cheese?
No. I use vanilla buttercream on my red velvet cakes. This is because cream cheese can only be at room temperature for a few hours. As my customers like to display my cakes for several hours, or order a quantity to last several days, vanilla buttercream is the better option as it doesn’t need to be refrigerated and will last for 4 days at room temperature (nobody likes cold cake!)
Favourite part of the baking process?
The last few minutes before they come out of the oven because the smells are divine!
Hardest part of the baking process?
The hardest part of the baking process for me is remembering to weigh out the exact quantities and include them in the recipe. All of my cakes are made from my own recipes. I should write them down. But due to constantly being fully booked with orders, I’ve not yet found the time!
Do you prefer the icing or the cake?
I prefer the cake part of a cupcake. Especially if they have been filled with delicious sauces or syrups.
Best piece of baking advice?
Don’t open the oven to keep checking your bakes as it will affect the rise of your cakes and can cause them to collapse. Set a timer and walk away! Only open the oven once the timer has gone off.
Kelly Webster: Kelly’s Cakes
How long have you been baking?
Since the age of 16. I first trained to be a professional chef, then later specialised as a patisserie chef. I started Kelly’s Cakes 20 years ago.
Tell us about your cupcakes.
Red velvet sponge cakes which consist of a sponge batter with Lorann red velvet emulsion and cocoa powder to get a rich deep red chocolate sponge. They are decorated with cream cheese and buttercream mixed together.
Did you cream cheese?
Yes I mixed cream cheese with buttercream for stability.
Favourite part of the baking process?
I love to decorate and use my imagination with different piping skills.
Hardest part of the baking process?
Never over beat your mix as you will over work the gluten in the flour which will give a tough tight sponge texture.
Do you prefer the icing or the cake?
I like to have a bit of both.
Best piece of baking advice?
Don’t cut corners – always make sure you weigh out all the ingredients correctly, and that the oven temperature and timing is on point.
Cathie Anders: Pretty Baked
How long have you been baking for?
I have been cooking for my family since I was 16 but baking cakes specifically since 2010, so 15 years now.
Tell us about your cupcakes.
I make all my cupcakes and cakes using as many local and organic ingredients as I can source. The cupcakes pictured are soft and flavourful red velvet which is a yummy, harmonious blend of mild cocoa and vanilla. The recipe uses buttermilk and vinegar, setting it apart from other standard cake recipes. Today, most bakers use red food dye but in the 1800s, it was these ingredients reacting together with the cocoa that created the red sponge.
Did you cream cheese?
I usually pair red velvet cupcakes with mascarpone cream cheese as it matches the sponge beautifully and is less sweet than buttercream. However for these, I wanted to pipe pretty roses so I used Madagascan vanilla buttercream as it’s more stable for the petals and still super delish.
Favourite part of the baking process?
Seeing the final product looking all pretty and then other people enjoying them.
Hardest part of the baking process?
The mess in the kitchen!
Do you prefer the icing or the cake?
It’s like Han Solo without Chewie. One without the other is plain sad.
For our last issue, we went out to the dog hotspots of the West, in search of some of our Island’s cutest dogs. After papping furry friends of many different breeds and sizes, we put it to you guys to vote for your favourite. It was a close call between LiLoup, expert rabbit chaser, and the Insta-worthy duo Huntar and Gunnar, spotted prancing gracefully around St Peter’s Reservoir. In the end it was the former that came out on top.
LiLoup was the result of endless begging by Tristen’s son, Malo, supported by his sister Lya and “more surreptitiously” by their mum Nadine. Pleading notes were left all over the house – socks drawers, coat pockets, you name it – they did it.
Nadine is French, so in the short gap between border closures during the pandemic she and her friend Sophie raced to France to pick up LiLoup and her identical partner in crime, Raven. “It was all very dramatic as to whether they would get back before the border closed”, Tristen said. Luckily, they just made it.
Whilst the reason behind the name ‘Raven’ is pretty self-explanatory, ‘LiLoup’ is one that alights curiosity. It was a matter that was settled one day at the Midbay Cafe, when Tristen proposed ‘Wolfie’, spurring his daughter Lya to come up with ‘LiLoup’ – ‘little’ mixed with ‘loup’ (wolf in French). After all, LiLoup is a French dog in a French family.
Whilst the dogs are often mistaken for each other, Raven much prefers the countryside around Trinity, whilst Liloup can be found “cruising the beaches and the dunes out West”. It was there that we spotted her, soaking up the winter rays on a crisp, wintery Sunday morning. Little did she know she was about to become (arguably) Jersey’s most famous Eurasian*.
In winning the coveted ‘Gallery Ball’ LiLoup would like to thank her friends in Canada, USA, New Zealand, Switzerland, Spain, France, UK and of course Jersey for voting for her. Special mentions go to her doggie friends, Coco and Buddy, for all their love and support.
*A gentle family dog originally bred in Germany in the 1960s. They are a cross between European and Asian Spitz, the Chow and Wolfspitzer.
Tristen Dodd
Breed: Human
Age: 241 dog years
Hobbies: Surfing, fitness training and Duolingo.
Dislikes: Walking the dog on rainy dark evenings.
Likes: Cuddling the dog by the fire afterwards. Spending time with the children.
Favourite thing? Dog walks with good friends on fine winter afternoons, followed by a beer and a laugh by the fire in a warm country pub. Yes, there’s a bit of a fire theme going on here.
If I were an animal I would be: A seagull. They are amazing at surfing soaring air currents, and of course, who wouldn’t like having free chips.
Main goal in life: To simply be content – spending time with fun, interesting people, traveling the great outdoors and enjoying family and friends.
Interesting Fact: I’m good at fixing almost anything with Gaffer tape.
Biggest achievement: Getting spat on by Metallica whilst working as a stage hand at the Freddie Mercury Memorial Concert.
LiLoup
Breed: Eurasian
Age: 5 human years this May.
Hobbies: Chasing rabbits
Dislikes: Being home alone, the fire alarm and the sound of a Coca Cola bottle opening.
Likes: Belly scratches, sleeping in Lya’s bed and playing hide and seek.
Favourite thing? Being out in the cold weather and successfully catching a rabbit/bird.
If I were a human I would be: A hairy, gentle and loyal person, with murderous intentions towards rabbits.
Main goal in life: Rabbits.
Interesting Fact: Can understand French.
Biggest achievement: Learning how to kiss, ‘stay’ and hold out my paw.
Couples flock to hotels every Valentine’s Day, and it’s easy to see why. Indulgent meals, fine wine, and the blissful absence of kids or family obligations create a perfect romantic escape. At the Somerville Hotel, these perks come with the added charm of a picturesque promenade for evening strolls and crisp beach walks in the morning. Nestled above St. Aubin’s Bay, this well-known white château offers a serene haven away from home – an ideal spot for uninterrupted quality time with your partner.
Whilst this is all very dreamy and romantic, there’s no reason to miss out on all the fun if you’ve been struggling to put up with someone for long enough to sustain a committed romantic relationship. If the idea of celebrating with a long-term partner doesn’t apply to you, why not embrace the ultimate Galentine’s getaway? After all, if there’s one day a year that you can guarantee all your single friends will be free, it’s February 14th. Why not elevate the occasion beyond the standard spicy romcom, wine and popcorn combo, and check yourselves in for a night at the Somerville? Sure, everyone may assume you’re a couple (especially when you take the wine up to your room for a proper pyjama debrief) but why let that stop you from having a great time?
Our adventure began with the all-important room arrangement. As much as I’d have loved to give Georgia a cheeky spoon on Valentine’s, she wisely insisted on a twin room – my starfish sleeping tendencies are infamous. In exchange, I scored a trial session with her coveted eye mask and the promise that she’d help me film social media content during dinner. With the logistics sorted, we explored our room, admiring the stunning view and debating whether a pint at the Traf was in our future.
The evening kicked off with cocktails at the bar, where we indulged in the hotel’s creative drink offerings and soaked in the sophisticated yet inviting ambiance. Dinner itself was a treat, featuring a menu that balanced rich flavours and thoughtful presentation. Both the salmon and duck dishes were perfectly cooked, and the waitress’ attentiveness made us feel warmly welcomed. Dessert provided a sweet twist that ended the meal nicely, spiralling us deep into a blissful food coma.
Back in our cozy twin setup, we began the obligatory wine yapping session. This included but was not limited to: all the embarrassing things we’d done in work that week, taking a cringe-inducing scroll down our old Finsta accounts, and unanimously agreeing that Magic Mike XXL was much better than the original (and not just because of the drill scene). Before we knew it, the cloud-like beds and silky eye masks lulled us into one of the best sleeps we’ve had in ages. Needless to say, we never made it to the Traf.
Morning arrived with a leisurely breakfast of Eggs Royale, orange juice and perfectly brewed coffee. As with dinner the night before, the chefs catered specially for Georgia’s gluten free diet, ensuring that she ate like a queen. Seated by a massive bay window, we savoured the misty winter views of St Aubin’s Bay – an ethereal scene that pulled us to the beach below, enclosed by a forested coastline that adds a level of privacy to the bay. Laced with soft mist, this scenic backdrop was giving serious Twilight vibes.
If a Galantine’s staycation sounds like your kind of thing, don’t wait until next year to plan it. The Somerville has a Valentine’s 2025 offer that makes it even more tempting, and who knows, you might not be able to spend next Feb 14th with the girls. It’s a saddening prospect – but all the more reason to make this one a night to remember.
What they say…
In an island that’s only 9×5 and packed with beauty, it’s weirdly easy to get stuck in a scenic rut. That 20-minute journey that would be a milk run on the mainland is suddenly “too far” and that all-too-seldom trip out east/west (delete as applicable) starts to feel like a holiday even though it’s only a few miles away. It’s on these little excursions that you realise just how much our beautiful island has to offer, and just how much you miss when you’re rushing from A to B. “Dépaysement” as the French say – a change of scenery, a mental refresh, or that unmistakable holiday feeling. When was the last time you wandered up the St Aubin high-street, popped into one of the many boutiques or checked out “Pebble Beach” at low tide? Possibly never, which is a shame considering how incredibly pretty it all is. It’s on your doorstep and you’re missing out. This is why nothing beats staycation. It’s the ultimate easy short break, offering that proper holiday feeling without the hassle or cost of going abroad. Instant dépaysement with a room for about as much a taxi to the airport and back. This winter, book yourself a staycation at the Somerville Hotel and find out why tourists and locals keep coming back.
Book Direct for staycations inc. dinner, bubbles & breakfast from £168/couple. B&B & Room only also available. Call 01534 491906 or visit somervillejersey.com
Following a recent call-out, ArtHouse Jersey selected local artists Hayley Gibaut and Sophie Harris to take up residence in a new studio space at Cyril Le Marquand Court, just opposite the Arts Centre. Their prescence contributes in the mission to turn the new square in front of the upcycled signage that used to adorn Cycril Le Marquand House into quite the new creative quarter. The square is now surrounded with an Arts Centre, Arts popup, the excellent Downdog cafe / yoga studio and…erm..a sweet shop too.
The new creative space, which the pair have dubbed ‘The Stoodio’, has been made available to them free of charge thanks to a partnership between the charity, ArtHouse Jersey, and Andium Homes.
The artists will deliver community driven arts activities for the public that are free and accessible, while providing a chance for people to enjoy creative pursuits or develop new skills, without it being necessary for them to have any aspiration to become an artist. The artists will open the doors to ‘The Stoodio’ on Monday 20th January. The initial opening days and times are Monday to Wednesday from 10am to 6pm, Thursday and Friday from 12pm to 6pm and Saturday from 2pm to 6pm (closed from 2pm to 3:30pm on weekdays). People are welcome to pop into the space at any time during these hours and speak directly with the artists about taking part.
Hayley Gibaut and Sophie Harris are longtime friends and practising artists who have shared a passion for art since they were young. Over time, they have both discovered that they are neurodiverse and have relied on art for their own wellness. Through opening a space rooted in diversity, inclusive support, understanding, and continuous reflection and experimentation, they hope to support our community by promoting self-acceptance and self-discovery.
Their vision for ‘The Stoodio’, which is situated on the ground floor of Cyril Le Marquand Court, is to create a dynamic and open space for both their personal practice and the wider community. They hope it becomes a place where families, friends, couples, or anyone looking to try something new in Jersey can feel welcome. They are planning workshops, exhibitions, recurring clubs, art walk-ins, a small art shop, and curated art boxes, but above all they say they hope to help break down barriers to creativity, showing that art is accessible, enjoyable, and full of potential.
‘The Stoodio’ is open now. The planned opening times are Monday to Wednesday from 10am to 6pm (closed 2pm to 3:30pm), Thursday and Friday from 12pm to 6pm (closed 2pm to 3:30pm) and Saturday from 2pm to 6pm. Details of how people can get involved to be announced via ArtHouse Jersey and Andium websites and social media channels in the coming weeks.
TheStoodioJsy@gmail.com
SOPHIE HARRIS is a multidisciplinary artist, focusing on illustration and animation, with particular interests in fashion, textiles, and print. She utilizes a range of materials, including pen, acrylic, oil, and ink block paint, as well as digital software for her digital work. Harris has a passion for upcycling, creatively using found objects such as water bottles and planks of wood as canvases to bring quirky characters to life. Her varied talents enable her to blend traditional and contemporary techniques in her artwork.
HAYLEY GIBAUT works in both 2D and 3D formats. Her practice encompasses various mediums, including ceramics, biro sketching, acrylic painting pens, collaging, and photography. With a Fine Art degree and a Master’s in Communication Design her practice is deeply informed by her interests in archaeology and anthropology, particularly the societal and ceremonial aspects of history.
Left to right; Kim Hamon, KPMG in the Crown Dependencies. Libby Woodward, KPMG in the Crown Dependencies. Theola Byrne, KPMG in the Crown Dependencies. Gaëlle Deschamps, G FORCE. Nathalie Hopkins, JCG. Carl Howarth, JCG.
JCG encourages students to step in and step up with new Female Leadership Programme sponsored by KPMG
In a bid to address the scarcity of women in leadership roles, Jersey College for Girls has launched a new Female Leadership Programme for Sixth Form students. Studies have shown women make better leaders whilst businesses that employ women in leadership positions do better. The JCG Leadership programme will help students increase their confidence, identify their strengths, understand the skills of leadership and build their sense of themselves as leaders. The innovative curriculum was developed, and will be led, by Gaëlle Deschamps of G Force. “I am passionate about empowering girls and women to thrive,” Miss Deschamps said. Amber, Year 12, remarked: ‘This programme will give us insight into how few women are represented in leadership roles and empower us to step in and step up.”
