Watts Gallery

What’s on in March

This month, Watts Gallery is celebrating Women’s History Month so come and visit our Women of Influence exhibition and check out the exciting array of events across the site in March. Don’t forget that the gallery’s monthly ‘pay if and what you can’ day is on Wednesday 4 March. In addition, enjoy free entry to the site on  13 and 14 March by showing a National Lottery Ticket, Instant Win Game or scratch card.

ª   Photographer Emma Brown will be running tintype studio sessions, so don’t miss the special opportunity to capture your individual or family portrait using this historic technique on Sunday 1 March.

ª   Textiles conservator Rebecca Bissonnet will be hosting a talk on the beloved ‘Green Dress’ worn by Virginia  Dalrymple in G F Watts’s 1872 portrait of her, sharing behind-the-scenes insight on the conservation process. Talk takes place on Wednesday 4 March.

ª   On Friday 7 March enjoy an exclusive, immersive performance in the Women of Influence exhibition by actress Charity Wakefield, written by Laura Hart. The performance, titled ‘Pattledom’ and inspired by the Pattle sisters, will be followed by a Q&A with Charity and Laura. 

ª   Step behind the scenes at Watts Gallery on Thursday 12 March for a special ‘An hour in the archive’ talk and tour. This exclusive event offers a rare opportunity to explore collection items and artefacts rarely seen by the public and hear more from Curatorial Advisor, Hilary Underwood. 

ª   A one-day symposium on Wednesday 25 March explores the role of sisters in the arts during Victorian Britain. Connect with scholars, art historians, and enthusiasts interested in familial, creative and political sisterhoods of the nineteenth century. Discover the era’s fascination with what has been called the ‘sororomania’ of Victorian Britain, featuring speakers from Watts Gallery, Surrey University, Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum and more. 

ª   Finally, Watts wants to hear from you. We are always open to blog contributions from our staff and volunteers, but we would also like to open the floor to our local community. If you have a special Watts Gallery-related story or memorable  moment that you would like to share and feature on our blog, please email marketing@wattsgallery.org.uk.

Check the website for details of events and to book tickets: www.wattsgallery.org.uk

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