If you’re anything like us, you’re probably asking how it could possibly be December already, whilst simultaneously willing it to be Christmas so we can all relax and enjoy some festive vibes – as if Christmas is the antidote to a less-than-ideal 2020! Well here we are, and the advent countdown has officially begun.

Whether you’re choosing to embrace online shopping this year for your Christmas goodies, or you’ll be venturing out in person, Pallant House Gallery Bookshop has got you covered. Give Amazon and the likes a wide berth this Christmas and support a local, independent business instead.

So, what’s on our wish list…

Off the back of our most recent exhibition celebrating – in colourful, joyous fashion – the life and work of British artist and designer Barnett Freedman, the accompanying exhibition catalogue was a sell-out. Panic not! We have plenty more in stock just in time for Christmas.

This charming book perfectly channels Barnett’s mid-century design aesthetic, and is saturated with high quality illustrations. It’s bright and colourful, but also informative – covering, in depth, many aspects of Barnett’s life and work. It’s the perfect gift for those who visited the exhibition and fell in love with Barnett, but also ideal for those who couldn’t see the show in person. This one is a sure thing for anyone creative in your life – including yourself.

£29.95, Pallant House Gallery Bookshop

For those of you who know us well, you may have noticed the absence of our annual Community Programme fundraising exhibition this year. This is an event that we look forward to all year long, but sadly this year it wasn’t possible. However, you can still help us support the Community Programme by treating yourselves to some of these fab Christmas cards. Who wouldn’t be chuffed to receive a piece of Modern British art like this in the post? The design is based on an actual Christmas card by British abstract artist Ben Nicholson, and is featured in our current show Christmas Greetings by Modern British Artists. There’s also a festive design by Barnett Freedman available in store and online.

£5.00, Pallant House Gallery Bookshop

From our walls to yours! If you were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of our impossibly wholesome Gilbert White exhibition, you will remember the wall covered with gorgeous prints by contemporary artists and illustrators in response to White’s book, ‘The Natural History of Selborne’.

Artists such as Mark Hearld, Ed Kluz, Alice Pattullo, Angela Harding, Jo Sweeting, and Christopher Brown, to name but a few, were featured. Many of the prints that were on show are now available to buy through the bookshop – what a treat! Alas, our favourite print of Timothy the Tortoise by Christopher Brown has sold out, but there are plenty more still available. If this is the perfect gift for someone you know, best move quickly…

Selborne Church print, Alice Pattullo, edition of 10. £120.00, Pallant House Gallery Bookshop

Discover the full range of Gilbert White contemporary print editions.

Something for the little ones in your life. Inspire their creativity with this gorgeously illustrated introduction to poetry. It covers a lot of bases from sport to science, history to space travel, as well as family, friendships and feelings. It’s fun, accessible, and there’s plenty of prompts and suggested activities to inspire children to start penning their very own poems and rhymes.

£20.00, Pallant House Gallery Bookshop

Eric Ravilious all year round? Errrrrr, yes please! Calendars make great gifts because they are legitimately useful and, in this case, pretty good looking to boot. Perfect for the Ravilious fanatic in your life, or the Modern British art buff. It’s packed full of references to the Sussex landscape as well – beautifully illustrated of course – so it could be just the ticket for someone with a soft spot for the local hinterland.

£11.50, Pallant House Gallery Bookshop

Get to know your women artists! What better place to start than with British women artists? This book charts a fascinating period of social change, placing a network of neglected and overlooked women artists front and centre. Some of the more well-known artists featured include Barbara Hepworth, Laura Knight, and Winifred Nicholson, but there’s no shortage of lesser-known artists ready to be discovered. Not that you asked, but in our humble opinion, books make the best gifts – who do you know who would love to receive this book?

£24.95, Pallant House Gallery Bookshop

It wouldn’t very well be a Christmas wish list without a coffee table tome now would it, and this boy has got it all! Landscapes? Check. Gardens? Check. Art? Check. Photography? Check. History? Check. This book is a feast for the eyes and a very reasonably-priced hardback if we say so ourselves. Taking you on a social historical journey of gardens and landscapes, the book spans the landscaped gardens of Vita Sackville-West to Derek Jarman’s iconic Dungeness home, Prospect Cottage.

£25.00, Pallant House Gallery Bookshop

Cats and Christmas puddings, what more do we need to say? The adorable design on these cards is by British artist Emily Sutton, and the original card is featured in our current show Christmas Greetings by Modern British Artists. There’s a really wide selection of artists’ Christmas cards to choose from, and definitely worth a browse.

£5.00, Pallant House Gallery Bookshop

Discover the full range of Christmas cards.

Is any Modern British art enthusiast’s home complete without this lettered Barnett Freedman mug? Well, we’ll let you be the judge of that, but we know where we stand on the matter.

Like the exhibition catalogue, this mug was also a sell out during our exhibition Barnett Freedman: Designs for Modern Britain, and due to popular demand we have made more available. Based on Barnett’s original typographic design, this exclusive bone china mug is a stylish addition to any kitchen countertop, coffee table, or bedside table.

£19.95, Pallant House Gallery Bookshop

Whether our recent exhibition introduced you to the writings of Gilbert White for the very first time, or prompted you to dig out your old copy of the book – you cannot deny the popularity of a book that hasn’t been out of print since 1789.

This edition of the book comes complete with 124 colour plates which have been faithfully reproduced from the hand-coloured engravings of Gilbert White’s contemporaries. The illustrations are undoubtedly part of the book’s charm – that, and the contemplative, almost meditative quality of the writing. White’s endearing, characterful observations of his local wildlife, flora and fauna are a soothing antidote to the current stresses and uncertainties! Give the gift of stress relief and escape this Christmas…

£16.95, Pallant House Gallery Bookshop

And we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of what’s on offer. You can also find original artwork for sale, jewellery, specialist and out of print books, and a much broader selection of art books, cards and gifts than we could possibly cover here. There’s only one thing for it, get browsing!