L I D O O P E N 2 0 2 5

Gallery 1 & 2 | The Lido Stores

Selected by Sophie von Hellermann & Kristen Healy

Until October 18

Open Thursday to Saturday

The Lido Open 2025, a must-see cultural event in the Margate and south-east arts scene, opens its doors at The Lido Stores Art Gallery on 20 September.

More than 100 artists were shortlisted by Sophie von Hellermann and Kristen Healy from over 1,800 submissions. The Lido Open runs from 20 September to 18 October 2025.

This is the fifth annual Lido Open, with one artist receiving the prize of a solo presentation at The Lido Stores in 2026. This year’s recipient of a solo exhibition is Laura L Bell, with winning art work ‘White Painting’.

The Lido Stores is well-known for owner-gallerist Kristen Healy’s dynamic and inspiring curation. The Lido Open 2025 will see Healy curate more than 100 works alongside Sophie von Hellermann, occupying the entirety of The Lido Stores for the first time. This, the eleventh – and biggest – open call staged by The Lido Stores, introduces a cadre of phenomenal artists to the south-east’s arts scene, the majority of whom are exhibiting in Margate for the first time.

Exhibition Programme

Autumn 2025

  • LIDO OPEN 2025

    102 Artists

    20 September - 18 October 2025

    Group exhibition featuring 102 works selected by Sophie von Hellermann and Kristen Healy.

    Over 100 artists have been selected from over 1800 entries for this prestigious open call, with one artist announced as the prize winner of solo exhibition on opening night.

    This year’s prize winner is Laura L Bell. Visit Thursday to Saturday, between 11am to 4pm, to see the winning painting alongside a fabulous survey of contemporary art.

  • Borrowed Light

    Louisa Longstaff Scales

    13 -29 November 2025

    Private View Saturday, 15 November, 7-9pm

    Louisa Longstaff-Scales paintings are autobiographical and explore personal narratives and storytelling within the context of the landscape. In her paintings Longstaff-Scales is looking to find meaning in the landscape and its ancient cycles. Sometimes Longstaff-Scales’  paintings are of a specific place and moment, and sometimes they are a conglomerate of landscape,  like a dot to dot of a journey across land and memory. Longstaff-Scales’ paintings are hopeful acts, seeking to find meaning and beauty in impermanence. The focus for this exhibition is light over land and water, especially focusing on the meaning and beauty of beginnings and endings.


  • Winter Show

    25 ARTISTS

    6 December 2025 - 24 January 2026

    Featuring over 25 of our resident artists this exhibition showcases the talent promoted at the Lido Stores over the last 5 years.

    All work is recent, executed within the last twelve months, and affordably priced under £500 and available for removal on the day of sale, making it perfect for gifting this Christmas. The sold work is replaced throughout the show, creating a moving and fluid display that changes throughout its duration.