Open Days in my Studio July 2025

No AI art here

Wednesday 23/07/2025 10-2 and 5-7pm

Come and see how a real alive artist works

This upcoming Wednesday I invite you to visit me while I work on two main projects, firstly the illustrations for a glorious cookbook and secondly my #stackingwater #bluemind project

You are welcome to browse, do your own thing or even just drink coffee and speak to me while I work

As ever, I am also open by personal appointment

 

Yule Island launch - Scandi Noir

Online Crime Noir Event

Hosted by The Grove Bookshop

Thursday December 14 at 7PM

Sign up by emailing info@grovebookshop.com

The Grove Bookshop is delighted to welcome international bestselling author and hugely entertaining crime writer Johana Gustawsson for an evening of thrilling conversation about her new crime novel L'île de Yule or Yule Island. Set in Sweden, the book pulls you straight into the darkness of Nordic winter and a place where cosy hygge soon turns into dark horror.

We also welcome David Warriner, Yorkshire lad and award-winning translator for a discussion about his work with Johana translating her Swedish inspired book from French to English; and resident Grove Bookshop artist Sussi Louise Smith whose poem Johana chose for her main character Emma.

YULE ISLAND

By Johana Gustawsson

The queen of French Noir is BACK in Scandinavia

And she is freezing

Author's Note

Storholmen is a car-free island in the Stockholm Archipelago in Sweden. A manor house was built there at the turn of the twentieth century, and rumour has it, it's haunted. It's a five-minute boat ride away from my home, and I'm about to take you there.

Are you ready? Wrap up warm. It's cold outside.

YULE HYGGE in Galleri :Livsmaleri

HYGGE IS BACK in the studio 

Last Open Day of 2023 in Galleri Livsmaleri

Danish hygge, English, any kind you like. If you'd like a taste of the Sussi sort and perhaps dream of picking up some original artwork or a stocking filler Xmas stone... I am your girl or

I am your Nisse, rather. 🧑‍🎄

Loads of little artsy things to touch and feast your eyes on. Don't have to buy anything, just come by and say hi. 

Yule Hygge in the spirit of community and kindness. Sussi's Happy Art Project is not just something I say, I mean it and I live it. Doesn't mean I don't get angry sometimes, or sad, really really sad, but it does mean that I find, that when I art (yes I am using art as a verb, 😜🥰🤣) I am always always brought back to grace and gratitude. I do not sell or present any art that is not made with love. Because I don't have any. 

Come and get a hug, some hygge, an æbleskive and draw a card. Maybe even braid a heart ❤️, 

It's much less painful than it seems  🤣🤣🤣

Galleri Livsmaleri

Sunday Dec 17 from 10-16

9 Belmont road

Ilkley 

Remember warm socks or slippers... and please, if you can, no perfume 🙏 I get so terribly sick

de kærligste julehilsener

Sus

PS There will be a little How to Braid a Heart at 12.30 ❤️ and a make-your-own Xmas card workstation all day. Come get creative with me 🙂 

Between the Spaces - Hardback poetry book illustrated by yours truly

Here it is, the hardback poetry collection by KM Herbert I illustrated.

Isn't it beautiful? If I look ever so slightly wide-eyed it is because... Well, when @km_herbert published this collection a few years back, in the shape of cards, it really truly blew me away, but I have to admit, I have not read the poems for a couple of years. Then this books drops through the letterbox. Hardbacked. Crisp coloured. A weight in my hands, and I read them all again. And I cried. Fractured and rebuilt by the truth and beauty of them.

I am so proud of my interpretations in this book of colour and poetry. And I hope you would love to hold one in your hand too.

I will add a link to the American site and to the British. I Have five copies here in Galleri Livsmaleri that you can buy when you come by for one of my open days 😍 the next one is Oct 22nd. I am also happy to send to the UK

You can order it in North America via Barnes and Noble 

or in the UK via Amazon

#betweenthespaces
#poetry
#Publication
#poetsofinstagram #canadianpoet #Danishartist
#illustrator #illustragram #illustratorsoninstagram
#poetrycommunity #booklovers
#happyday #grateful #instahappy #poetryillustration #artisticpoetry #illustratedbeauty #beautifulwords #artisticexpression #poetrylove #illustratedpoetry #artisticeye #beautifulillustrations #poetrycollection

Open day in Galleri Livsmaleri

    Art and Poetry Busking Open Studio Day

in Galleri Livsmaleri

#sussishappyartproject

Oct 22, 2023

10-15

9 Belmont Road, Ilkley

On this glorious Sunday I open my art studio to the public so you have a chance to browse my latest artworks, watch me paint or commission me to paint a stone for you right there on the spot. 

AND 

I am excited to invite into Galleri Livsmaleri the amazing Molly Ovenden who is both a professional painter and a poet, in fact, you can hire her to write you a poem, right there, whilst you wait. 

Or you can ask me to do you an artstone while you watch and drink buckets of English tea and Danish coffee (also known as: real coffee).

It is going to be ever so Hygge and really good fun. All in the spirit of gratitude and creative expression. Do bring along your kids and puppies. I know it is halloween, but NO spiders!!! Ingen edderkopper.

As most of you know, women in my family are very likely to experience breast cancer and on this day - proceeds from my stone painting busking will go to Breast Cancer Now. 

Kærlig Hilsen

Sussi Louise

We create while you await

Molly Ovenden

As a writer, artist, teacher and creative writing coach, I’m thrilled to support you along your creative journey.

I love circles, coffee, tea, Jesus, running and making creativity a habit.

I’m married to my bearded Englishman carpenter, Max (yes, he has a delicious accent and yes, that’s part of what won me over to be his wife!) and we live in Northern Minnesota, USA.

Sussi Louise

Hejsa, I am Sussi, a Danish artist, creative coach and poet. Since my mum was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer 10 years ago #sussishappyartproject has been my way of helping her and others deal with fear and grief. Telling stories through art.

I love spinning arms sprayed oceans wide, books kindness, coffee and oh how I love the sea the sea.

Love made me move to Ilkley, UK six years ago and I am just about used to the rain now. KIDDING… it’s too much, make it stop, please 😂

More about Molly’s Poetry Busking

What is poetry busking?

It’s literally a street performance. Musicians on street corners, circus acts balancing or all white statues who turn and wink when you put money in their hat–it’s all busking.

When I write poems for people and invite you to hire me to write you a poem and pay via cash or electronically. When I am busking. I sit in a public place with my notebook and Smith Corona Classic 12 typewriter and I write poetry.

Want a poem?
If you want a poem, let me know when you see me. You might have to wait if others are ahead of you, but I’ll try to give you an estimated time. You may also have to wait if I’m deep in the flow of writing. Sometimes the creative parallel universe takes me deep in and I don’t notice someone waiting right away.

Pick a topic:
If you’re not sure what you might want your poem to be about (no worries!) or who you might want it to be for (it’s totally fine to have one just for yourself, though!), I’ll ask you questions to help you pick a topic.

I write. I type. I perform
Then, I’ll write while you wait. Usually this takes somewhere in the range of 15-20 minutes, but sometimes it takes up to 30 minutes. When your poem is finished, I’ll perform it aloud to you and you get the typewritten copy.

You pay for the service of a personalized poem.
When you hire me to write you a poem, you can either pay in cash or electronically on my Buy Me a Coffee link here.

I always want to be clear that when I write poetry for people, I am working. Writing poetry is a significant method that I earn my living as a writer and I am proud that I get to have a really fun and life giving job that is a gift to others. It’s such a privilege.


While you are under no obligation to give money to someone busking, when I write poetry in live settings on my typewriter, I am providing a valuable creative service, and as an artist, I hope people do not take my art for granted.