Hanging from the rafters of St. Andrew’s Mews are a number of beautifully and intricately large playing cards painted by local artist Ella Guru.

Ella Guru was a founding member of the Stuckist art movement in 1999. She paints mostly in oils, but also uses watercolours, and in this case acrylic. She stages her own reference photos, as well as working from real life photographs she takes at events like Jack in the Green. She has exhibited at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, and recently at CREA Cantieri del Contemporaneo, in Venice. She also has work in private collections in Germany, Czechia, Japan, Australia, USA, the UK, and France. Ella has lived in St Leonards on Sea for 12 years and is an avid stand up paddle boarder.

“It has been pure delight making these joyful paintings about Hastings.”

Ella’s four cards all celebrate play:

• “Playing with a hoop”, set over Hastings pier, looking towards Old Town

• “My dog playing in the sea”, set in Rock-A-Nore. Crumpette loves playing in the waves with her ball

• “Playing music on the beach”, with local legend King Sized Slim. Set by the fishing huts with the East Hill in the background

• “Playing with Hastings festivals”, with Pixie Noble as the card reader, and cards depicting Hastings yearly celebrations: Hastings Old Town Carnival, Bonfire, Fat Tuesday, Pirate Day, and Jack in the Green