I take our local Lawrences Art Shop for granted, it is great to have them nearby in Hove. The thing I like best is that the staff have tried out most of their products or seem to be artists themselves and so can offer informed opinions on their stock.
The most interesting and uplifting visit I had there was a few months ago. I went in for gouache paints, which I was experimenting with. A lady came in behind me and went to the counter, opening her rucksack and asking if the manager was in. She had something she wanted to show them.
I watched as she pulled out the British Empire Medal and a photo of herself resplendent in hat, dress and high heels; in it she was shaking hands with the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex. 
It was because she had heard that Turner's watercolour, Brighthelmstone, was being offered for auction by Christies in New York. She felt strongly that the work should be part of our Brighton heritage and so contributed, enabling Brighton Council to purchase it. It was exhibited in Brighton Pavilion last year.
My life was enhanced by that woman in her Jimmy Hendrix t shirt that day. Her name was Elaine Evans.

When I first moved to Brighton 15 years ago, a friend pointed out to me the hilarious Argus headlines that appear on billboards outside shops. Ever since, I've been enjoying their quirkiness, so I was very pleased to read in The Leader recently that a local graphic designer, Will Blood, is using them as inspiration for his sketches.

The idea for his latest project came about when he saw the headline "Vomiting bug shuts hospital" - he is trying to do a sketch a day in less than 5 minutes, and started posting them on Instagram a couple of weeks ago.

Check out his illustrations on his Instagram page at william_blood or his website willblood.com

Other favourite attention-grabbing headlines from the Argus include:

"Beware the Death Brownie"
"Wifi is cooking our children"
and "Finger found in drain"....!

Gill