Venue 8

Jo Watter Pawlowski's gallery space near Hassocks is a proper artist's studio-cum-exhibition area that punches above its weight. It's the kind of place where you walk in expecting something modest and come away genuinely impressed by what's on the walls.

The work here tends toward contemporary painting and mixed media - think bold colours, textural pieces, the sort of thing that makes you want to stand closer and peer at the detail. Jo's practice is thoughtful rather than showy, which means repeat visits reveal more each time.

This isn't a massive operation. You're not spending three hours here like you might at a London gallery. Give yourself forty minutes to an hour, more if you're genuinely keen on modern art. It works well as a stop-off if you're walking the South Downs Way nearby - Hassocks sits right on the edge, so you could easily combine a gallery visit with proper countryside time.

Admission details aren't entirely clear from the website, so ring ahead to confirm opening times and whether there's a charge (though artist-run galleries like this are often free or donation-based). It's the sort of place that rewards curiosity - if you're camping at Southdown Way or Blackberry Wood and fancy something beyond the caravan, this delivers without fuss. Not for everyone, but worth knowing about if contemporary work appeals.