Watts Gallery

Watts Gallery - Dates for your diary

• Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Pre-Raphaelite art through the power of scent with our new exhibition, Scented Visions: Smell in Art 1850 – 1915, opening on Thursday 15 May. Created by Puig in collaboration with Artphilia, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to discover Victorian art through a multi-sensory lens. Previously on display at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. Runs until Sunday 9 November.

• Watts Contemporary Gallery’s current exhibition is Handcrafted, bringing together the works of eight craftswomen working in a variety of media, from delicate paper sculptures by Lucy Dorothy to machine-embroidered portraits by Cathy Cullis. Meet some of the artists on Saturday 24 May to discover their craft and find out their inspiration. Exhibition on display until Sunday 1 June 2025. All works for sale, free entry.

• Join actor Rowan Suart for a captivating reading of Mary Watts’ diary on Saturday 10 May. Imagine yourself in the atmospheric setting of Limnerslease as Rowan brings Mary’s stories to life.

• Learn tips and tricks to bring your sketchbook pages to life at our monthly Saturday sketch workshop. This month, on Saturday 10 May, explore experimental mark making and playful sketching with artist Kerry Tristram.

• This May half-term, have an adventure across the Watts Gallery site with a puzzle trail inspired by our new exhibition, Scented Visions. Use all five senses to solve puzzles and crack codes to find the answers for a mega crossword. From Saturday 24 May until Sunday 1 June.

  DON’T FORGET, COMPTON RESIDENTS GET 50% OFF ADMISSION! VALID WITH A PROOF OF ADDRESS.
  www.wattsgallery.org.uk.

Mary Watts was mentioned in BBC podcast You’re Dead To Me: The Arts and Crafts Movement: William Morris and his circle. The episode of the comedy-history podcast, hosted by Greg Jenner, is well worth a listen for anyone who wants to learn more about this movement and the artists at its forefront. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00274qh.

Nestled in the beautiful Surrey Hills, Watts Gallery first opened its doors to the public in 1904. It is unique in the UK being the only purpose-built art gallery created for the display of works by a single artist, the great Victorian artist G.F. Watts (1817-1904). Over one hundred paintings and sculptures are on permanent display; spanning a period of 70 years, they include portraits, landscapes and major symbolic works.

Perched on a hillside, overlooking the Gallery sits Limnerslease, the Autumn and Winter home and studio of G.F. and Mary Watts, originally built in the Arts & Crafts style. Limnerslease recently underwent a major restoration project. Don’t miss the chance to join a guided tour and glimpse the start of this nationally important project.

To this day, the legacy of G.F. and Mary Watts lives on, with artists working onsite and a contemporary gallery selling artwork by local and national artists. Watts Gallery also runs an extensive events programme for families, adults and young people, offering the opportunity to improve your art skills, attend a lecture, or meet one of the artists in residence.

George Frederic Watts 1817 - 1904