Lucky Dip is back at Chalkwell Hall to spice up your creative calendar! This quarterly event is a chance for local artists and creatives to connect and celebrate the joy in art.

Book free tickets here.

Lucky Dip is formatted as an evening of two halves:

First up, a surprise creative session led by our guest artist host for this month, Andy Downes. For October, Andy is hosting a life drawing session with a difference! No spoilers, it’s a space to try something new and for creative exploration.

The second half? It’s all about mingling and our human notice board! Come with something to share, to spark collaborations, and even throw those creative challenges you’ve been chewing on into the mix. Our bar will be open for you to have a drink and have a friendly chat with some new faces.

Lucky Dip breaks down the formal format of networking to bring people together in an accessible, fun and informal way. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just dipping your toes into Southend’s art scene, join us for evenings that are relaxed and creatively inspiring.

We hope you can make it! Doors are at 7pm and tickets are limited, so be sure to book your free place here.

About our guest host, Andy:

Andy Downes is a local visual artist renowned for his bold and textural creations, characterised by energetic brushstrokes and thought-provoking color palettes, his practice has a primary focus on portraiture and figurative subjects.

Andy’s artistic journey has taken him from local exhibitions in Essex to London, where his original paintings and prints have found homes across Europe. Beyond his practice, Andy is a driving force within Southend’s creative community. Andy is based from and runs the Largest Little Known Studio on Grainger Road, transforming the industrial unit in the heart of Southend into a spacious and creative hub. This new space holds a large workshop, a dedicated life drawing area, and a relaxed lounge where creative ideas flow freely.

Andy Downes has also left an indelible mark on Southend’s cultural landscape by establishing the “Portrait Artist of the Year” competition and spearheading the “Southend’s Urban Landscape Open” initiative, which welcomes both amateur and professional plein air landscape artists.