About blackShed

Opened in November 2009, the award winning blackShed gallery is a contemporary art space in the heart of the East Sussex countryside near Battle, St Leonards on Sea, Hastings and Eastbourne, not too far from Brighton, and on the main commuting train-line from London. The gallery overlooks the hop fields of Robertsbridge, sitting amongst converted farm buildings, a beautiful bucolic destination, along a farm track just off the A21.

It is a well respected gallery in the heart of Rural Sussex with a reputation as a distinctive, diverse contemporary art space with a focus on artist lead projects and exhibitions. The gallery has a strong and established relationship with a number of highly regarded partners, such as Hastings Museum, Hasting Contemporary, De La Warr Pavilion, Project Artworks and the Towner Gallery, and more recently the Talent Accelerator, which helps drive our work towards supporting community projects, and young people as they look for experience within the cultural sector.

At its core, the blackShed aims to develop and support the regional artist based community, bringing high quality artwork, through direct inclusion, to a rural audience where social-economic inequalities preclude and prejudice participation in the visual arts. The environment surrounding the blackShed is set in a beautiful location giving artists the opportunity to explore their practice within the immediate environment, taking art beyond the gallery, often creating informal opportunities with the public and local visitors.

The blackShed incorporates a busy professional framing department, offering high-end picture framing to private collectors, museums and galleries. The people involved provide expertise in many areas, from project and exhibition development to transportation of completed framing orders. Our team make it happen.

Meet the Team

Kenton Lowe

Founder and Owner
Artistic Director and Curator
BA Fine Art – University of Brighton
Over 25 years experience as an arts practitioner working with museums and galleries of contemporary art
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Ian Penney

Senior Technician
MA in Illustration - Manchester
Over 6 years with the blackShed and over 25 years a practicing artist first having exhibited here back in 2015. He is a qualified teacher in art education, his work is currently represented by the blackShed gallery and Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London.
Lorna Ough

Project Coordinator and Funding
Lorna has worked with the blackShed since 2017. Currently living in Glasgow where she has veered into textile and fashion. Lorna previously studied in Brighton, gaining a degree in Fine Art Critical Practice and subsequently went on to curate and facilitate workshops in galleries.
Josh Reynolds

Social Media Manager
10 years experience in marketing and advertising
Ruben Bigg

Gallery Technician
Student currently studying Silver-Smithing at University of East Sussex
Howard Finch

Art Handler
Howard has worked with us for many years taking care of our deliveries, often he is the face people meet, regular deliveries to London taking care of some of our largest clients
Orlanda Castello

Project Assistant (Seasonal)
Student currently studying History at Durham University

The gallery’s curator Kenton Lowe, moved away from London in the mid-90s and went on to study Fine Art under the University of Brighton. He has been an arts practitioner for over 25 years. He has worked with museums and galleries of contemporary art such as the De La Warr Pavilion and Hastings Contemporary, as well as working with and supporting creative visual art organisations such as Project Art Works; an artist-led organisation working with children, young people and adults with complex needs. He has received support and funding from the Arts Council England, Rother and Hastings District Councils. He has also developed and successfully delivered visual art projects for corporate companies and schools.