This week sees a flurry of openings in Sussex as the art world moves into its summer season.

In Brighton, whose galleries are all within walking distance, the shows highlight a range of styles and techniques.

Twisted opens tomorrow at the Phoenix Gallery in Waterloo Place. The free show celebrates artisans and craftsmanship.

Because their work has traditionally existed outside the gallery space and fine art circles, the exhibition aims to prove craft-work is not just for retail.

Curator and gallery manager, Karin Mori, wanted to bring crafts into a fine art setting to show the form has real depth and is pushing boundaries.

“The whole idea of working with materials and craftsmanship and making objects fits with Phoenix’s ethos.

“We have a large arts education programme and more than 100 studio spaces where artists work.

“The show is a counterbalance to conceptual art which doesn’t engage with the materials."

She says it’s a way to discuss changes in teaching in universities where ceramics and printmaking departments are being closed down.

The exhibitors include Brighton and Phoenix Gallery-based creative Isobel Smith, whose puppets and dolls mix modern techniques with classical lighting.

A short hop across town is Ink_d Gallery in North Road where, following the success of its Made In Brighton exhibition a few years back, comes Made In Brighton 2.

Joint gallery-owner Dan Hipkin says he bowed to pressure to do another show featuring the best contemporary art – from paintings, prints and drawings to collage, sculpture and ceramics – being made in the city right now.

He wants to create a current snapshot of the city’s scene.

The artists in the show – which opens on Thursday – have all worked to a tight brief: up to 15 items per artist; everything priced £75; nothing larger then 30cm x 30cm; and to interpret the subject of Brighton as they wish. Among them are psychedelic visionary Pinky, commercial-style self-taught artist Ben Allen, and Maria Rivans, who produces 3D landscape collages inspired by the 1940s/ 1950s films, sci-fi and philosophy.

Folk troubadour Bob Dylan, voice of the disillusioned and dispossessed, is 70 this year.

To mark the anniversary, Washington Green Fine Art Publishers have teamed up with J’Adore Art in Nile Street, Brighton, to launch The Drawn Blank Series, eight limited edition graphics taken from drawings Dylan created on the road between 1989 and 1992.

The limited-edition pieces begin at £1,500 and are each signed by Dylan, as is the accompanying hardback book (£39.95), which will be published in limited runs of no more than 295 copies.

The pictures, which offer an alternative view to the artist’s inspiration and thoughts about his transitory life, are unveiled in the gallery at 9am tomorrow.

While an elder statesman welcomes in a milestone, a group of 21 young Brighton painters have come together to show their work.

Surface at Brighton Media Centre in Middle Street is a free exhibition which sees the artists examine the nature of the painted surface through 21 different perspectives.

The show runs Wednesday to Sunday.

Outside of Brighton three Lewes galleries have new openings.

Mis-Shapes, opening at The Foundry Gallery in North Street tomorrow, features paintings, sculpture, paper cuts and furniture by Antony Hall.

And, following last week’s Platinum exhibition to support students from Sussex Downs College, the progressive and ambitious Hop Gallery unveils Open Exhibition tomorrow to run through to August 7.

Set in the town’s 18th century Star Brewery, in Castle Ditch Lane, the gallery will feature etchings and collages mixed with paintings, photographs and textiles made by South East artists, including Brighton’s Jill Vigus, Lewes’s Susie Hartley and Hastings’ Jen Painter.

Across town at The Chalk Gallery in North Street, Carolyn Kirkland's Lilymania series, inspired by the colourful summer flower, opens Monday and runs through to August 15.

In Chiddingly, a collection of first-hand images of women at war taken by Jenny Matthews opens on Tuesday at Farleys Barn Gallery.

The British photographer has spent more than 20 years in conflict zones capturing the action for newspapers, magazines and development organisations.

Her work features shots from women in war in El Salvador, Palestine, Mozambique and Afghanistan among others.

Admission to the barn and gallery is free.

For more information...

*The Phoenix Gallery: www.phoenixarts.org, 01273 603704

*Ink_d Gallery: www.ink-d.co.uk, 01273 645299

*J’Adore Art: www.jadore-art.co.uk, 01273 776070

*Brighton Media Centre: www.brightonmediacentre.com, 01273 201100

*The Foundry Gallery: www.artemis-arts.co.uk, 01273 470376

*Hop Gallery: www.hopgallery.com, 01273 487744

*Farleys Barn Gallery: www.farleyfarmhouse.co.uk, 01825 872856