Williamson Art Gallery

Preserving Ghosts: A Workshop About Pickling & Grief
2025-09-06 13:00 - 15:00 UTC | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Join artist Emily Simpson for a hands-on, open conversation about grief, through the grounding process of making pickles.

As part of Who Wants Flowers When They’re Dead?, exhibiting artist Emily Simpson invites people who have experienced grief to join them for a workshop centred around a communal ritual of preservation – making pickles. As we chop vegetables and prepare pickle jars together, there will be moments for reflection and conversation about grief. Pickling becomes a metaphor for the magical thinking of grief – how we carry people forward with us as we learn to live with loss. The aim is to find connection, explore grief literacy, and create a space where those living with loss can feel less alone. This workshop forms part of Emily’s artwork in the exhibition; a patchwork tablecloth and place setting for shared conversations.

The work is inspired by Emily’s experience of tending to their Dad’s allotment after his death. It speaks to the magical thinking of grief, how loss evolves, takes root in the landscape, and to a wider sense of ecological grief in our collective disconnection from nature.

Book NowPlease note:Places are limited to 8 participants so please only book if you are certain you can attend. Likewise, please get in touch if you can no longer come, so we can offer your place to someone else.
Please be Aware:
– This workshop is for anyone who has experienced grief and is ready to talk about it, or anyone who is interested in learning more about it.
– The session will focus on our experience of grief and living with loss rather than the details of a person’s death. This is to avoid more distressing subject matter.
– Whilst Emily is an experienced facilitator in this subject, they are not a trained counsellor.
– Participants are invited to be respectful and sensitive towards other people and their experiences. We recognise that taking part in an event like this requires people to be vulnerable and so participants are asked to be mindful of this and considerate of each other’s boundaries and the different stages of grief we may be in.
– The workshop aims to create a positive and affirming space. However, we recognise that it may bring up difficult emotions. Please create space for any thoughts and feelings to settle after your visit. Make time to; go for a walk, drink your favourite tea, cook something comforting, listen to your favourite song, sit by a tree. Please be gentle with yourself

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A Duo of Duos
2025-08-29 18:30 - 20:30 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Live Music by E n B a couple who enjoy singing and playing instruments together return to the Williamson. They perform an eclectic mix of songs from the likes of The Houghton Weavers
to the Killers via John Prine and Cat Stevens.
E n B will be joined by Pam & Keith bringing together the sounds of the Acoustic Guitar and Violin. Showcasing original music and covers of your favourite hits.
These two vibrant duos will be performing in the Café which is set to be a fabulous Friday evening.
The Café will be open for drinks and light bites.

In Conversation with Ben Youdan
2025-08-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Merseyside
Join artist Ben Youdan in conversation to find out more about his process of creating art.

Ben Youdan’s work ‘Mask’ is currently on display at the Williamson as part of the Independents Biennial 2025.
Youdan is a visual artist based in Liverpool, U.K. His mixed media work employs a wide variety of techniques and processes including collage, drawing, painting, printmaking and photography, to create imagery that takes inspiration from the iconography and ephemera of popular culture. His pieces explore themes such as identity, glamour and sexuality.

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Wirral Theatre Festival - Evening Shows
2025-08-15 18:00 - 21:30 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Wirral Theatre Festival aims to showcase local stories and nurture professional talent either entering or re-emerging into the industry.
The Festival takes place at the Williamson on Friday 15th August, and then at the Floral Pavilion on Saturday 16th.
Saturday evening is a showcase of new writing. One ticket gets you access to all the shows performed this evening. The first show starts at 6pm.
Second Chance
A one-man-show about a prisoner on death row. He shares his story – his troubled past, the love that gave him hope, and the moment everything changed. With time running out, he reflects on the choices, the fate, and the justice that led him here. Will he get his second chance? Raw, emotional, and deeply human—Second Chance will leave you questioning everything.
Octavia
A tragedy wherein Paul, the husband, goes to space, leaving Adelaide, his wife, to raise their son on her own. The play utilises multi-roling aside from the two leads. It is a tragedy, with themes of marital issues and grief. It is the first part of a trilogy exploring the stages of grief, this in particular studies depression and anger, but by the end potential hope and acceptance.
Date Night
Back by popular demand, our comedy from 2024 is getting a refresh! Jenna feels trapped, James feels lost, Sonny needs a break and Sheila just wants to be loved. When all these worlds collide, mayhem ensues. These four people were never meant to meet, but fate brought them all together. Date Night is all about love, betrayal, joy, meatballs, but most of all… the need to just communicate!
Love & Revolt
Two stories. Two lovers. Two revolutions. From the shadows of Nazi Germany to the heart of Ireland’s fight for freedom, Beneath the Ashes and Before Dawn explore the resilience of love in the face of tyranny, and the courage it takes to stand against the tide.
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Wirral Theatre Festival - Family Shows
2025-08-15 13:00 - 15:00 | Merseyside
Wirral Theatre Festival aims to showcase local stories and nurture professional talent either entering or re-emerging into the industry.
The Festival takes place at the Williamson on Friday 15th August, and then at the Floral Pavilion on Saturday 16th.
Saturday afternoon is all about family-friendly shows.
1pm: Trapped in Williamson Art Gallery
A group of friends think it’ll be a great idea to hide in the gallery and sleepover. After dodging security and the building being locked down the friends begin to explore. Darkness soon gets the better of them, and they decide to tell some tales to keep themselves from being scared. Will they survive the night, and more importantly, will they set off all the alarms?
Come and help the friends tell their stories and delve into the magical worlds that they create amongst them!
2pm – Spooky Tales
Four friends meet every Friday to share the scariest tales they’ve found that week at the ‘Friday Night Fright Club’. Who will get scared the most, and who has the best story to tell? Featuring local legends and magical myths, this show is family-friendly, but not for the faint-hearted!
This show includes the winning entry from the Wirral Theatre Festival Writing Competition in 2024.

One ticket gets you access to both shows! £8 children, £12 adults, or group booking rates available.
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Sounds of the Mandolin with Julian Rees
2025-07-25 18:30 - 20:30 | Merseyside
Julian Rees is a teacher, musician and mandolinist, author of the Mel Bay publication, “Welsh Airs and Dance Tunes for Mandolin”, and composer of “Ymdaith Idris/March of Idris,” as featured by award-winning author, Claire Fayers.
Through his YouTube channel, Julian showcases rare and traditional tunes, many unavailable elsewhere, offering a unique musical resource:

Julian’s YouTube Channel
Claire Fayers website

Broken Grey Wires: Who Wants Flowers When They Are Dead?
2025-07-25 10:00 - 2025-09-13 17:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
WHO WANTS FLOWERS WHEN THEY ARE DEAD? is a new exhibition by Broken Grey Wires, exploring grief, loss, identity and community.
‘My dad died five years ago, which was a huge shock that I am still suffering with now. Grief is something that I am confused and frustrated by, it is a soul destroying emotion. The drawing on the poster is of my dad, I drew this when I was about 7 years old.’ (Lizz Brady)
The exhibition will offer a space to reflect, connect, and begin processing experiences of loss. It invites audiences to think openly, share their stories, and engage in honest conversations about grief and healing.
As part of the exhibition, a newly designed Comfort Zone space will be introduced in the gallery, along with fresh toolkits to support exploration and dialogue.
Confirmed artists:
Marcelina Amelia
Jacqui Barrowcliffe
Lizz Brady
Candy Chang
Antony Connelly
Harri Harrison
Chris Jones
Jasleen Kaur
Gurinder Kumar
Jess Loveday
Mercedes Lucy
Ana Mendieta
Zayd Menk
Amy Mizrahi
Sophie New
Dolly Sen
Emily Simpson
EVENT Preserving Ghosts: A Workshop About Picking & Grief. Saturday 06 September, 1pm
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About Broken Grey Wires:
At Broken Grey Wires (BGW) their mission is to create ambitious and inclusive projects where artists with mental health challenges and/or neurodivergent individuals are empowered through creative opportunities.
Their unique approach stems from their leadership, which includes individuals with lived experiences of mental health challenges, disability and neurodivergence—ensuring that radical empathy and authenticity drive their work. Over the years, they have curated ground-breaking visual art exhibitions that push the boundaries of communication, depicting the nuanced experiences of mental health in ways that resonate deeply with audiences and participants alike.
By continuously engaging with their audiences, they encourage people to dismantle the stigma around mental illness, allowing individuals to embrace their identities and manage their mental health with confidence, autonomy and encouragement
Part of Independents Biennial 2025
Independents Biennial 2025

Image © Candy Chang, photo by Ahmed Alameri

I'll Tell You Later: BSL Happy Snappers and Emma Case
2025-07-16 10:00 - 2025-11-01 17:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
NOW EXTENDED TO 1ST NOVEMBER
An inspiring exhibition showcasing the work of the Happy Snappers, a Wirral-based photography group made up of both Deaf and BSL users.
I’ll Tell You Later explores the relationship between the Deaf experience and the hearing world. It sheds light on the barriers D/deaf individuals face, while showing the Happy Snappers as a powerful example of how inclusive, supportive communities can break down these obstacles. Through their work, the group highlights the importance of creating a more inclusive society that benefits everyone.
This exhibition is an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation through the lens of photography.
Happy Snappers are a group of friends who are both Deaf and BSL users. They get together and enjoy life outside and explore some of the Wirral’s hidden locations and beautiful scenery, and capture these locations on camera. They are not a professional photography group but share the same love of meeting people, socialising and having fun.
Emma Case is a socially engaged photographer working with local communities focusing on projects that often explore home, identity, memory and place. Emma is interested in building real relationships over time and working collectively, often looking at social issues and their impact but through the lens of changing the narrative through storytelling. Emma is fluent in British Sign Language and has worked with the Deaf community for over 20 years; from support worker with SignHealth to Actress with Deafinitely Theatre. Emma is extremely passionate about accessibility for Deaf audiences and artists within cultural spaces.
I’ll Tell You Later is part of Photo Here, a programme of socially engaged photographic residencies and exhibitions commissioned by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as part of this year’s Cultural Events Programme. Developed by Open Eye Gallery in collaboration with each of six local authorities: Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral.

Artist A & Artist B: The Long Haul
2025-07-09 10:00 - 2025-09-13 17:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
‘The Long Haul’ is an installation by Jackie Haynes and Heather Mullender-Ross, collectively named Artist A & Artist B. The installation has been commissioned by Wirral Council as part of Liverpool Independent’s Biennial 2025.
The net which hangs in the central space is constructed from a decommissioned cargo parachute and is one of a number of evolving artworks and performances created using this fabric. The audio is a recording of two songs based on traditional sea shanties, arranged and performed by Liverpool Shanty Choir with lyrics by Artist A & Artist B, which will be released as a limited edition 7” single.
‘What Were They Thinking’ is a shanty telling the story of Artist A & Artist B’s artwork. From their purchase of a cargo parachute on Ebay, the song narrates how the parachute became a site responsive artwork; it was cut down and made into blankets to host a public picnic, constructed as table cloths, tent dresses and a tennis court for a Dada-esque performance. In the second shanty, ‘Haul The Old Parachute Along’, Artist A & Artist B use collective protesting through the shanty verse to highlight the often precarious pay and conditions endured by many contemporary artists.
Event: On 13th September there will be a closing event featuring a live performance at the Williamson with Liverpool Shanty Choir, a screening of their film ‘The Surplus Badge’ (2023), and the opportunity to purchase the limited edition single.
Free Tickets to Liverpool Shanty Choir performance
Independents Biennial 2025
Photo credit: Ash Hardman.

Ben Youdan 'Mask'
2025-06-05 10:00 - 2025-09-13 17:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
As part of a series of interventions in our Philip Wilson Steer ‘In Conversation’ exhibition, the Williamson has invited the Liverpool artist, Ben Youdan, to feature a work that contrasts and explores the themes found within Steer’s work.
Youdan’s practice employs a wide variety of techniques and processes including collage, drawing, painting, printmaking and photography, to create imagery that takes inspiration from the iconography and ephemera of popular culture as well as his lived experience. His pieces explore themes such as identity, glamour and sexuality in an unapologetically Queer fashion.

EVENT: On Friday 22nd August at 1pm join Ben Youdan in conversation to find our more about his practice and process. Free, but booking recommended.
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In Youdan’s own words:
“As an artist, I am interested in exploring the notion that the masks we wear can reveal something intrinsic to our nature. These masks can be physical or psychological. The anonymity of concealing our physical appearance can have a liberating effect, that emboldens the individual to explore their true nature. This inherent contradiction is particularly prevalent within queer sexual subcultures.
Steer’s work is often seen as voyeuristic, whereas mine revels in a more exhibitionist nature, born out of lived experience.
Whilst Steer’s work has a muted, naturalistic colour palette, my work revels in its own artifice. The colours selected are deliberately synthetic, clashing, and even gaudy, but with a self-awareness and exuberance that reflects the unapologetic nature of the subject. In many ways this work is the polar opposite of the muted tones and perceived repression found within some of Steer’s work in this exhibition.
In traditional portraiture, the eyes are typically what the viewer engages with, setting the mood for the piece and revealing a vulnerability in the subject. With ‘Mask’, the eyes are deliberately obscured, presenting my subject in a way that is vulnerable, honest and open in a way that protects them, allowing them to remain indifferent to the judgement they might receive. Where Steer’s subjects are laid bare in a passive, open manner, mine retains their agency and power by presenting an authentic version of themselves and their sexuality – on their terms.
The image of the gas mask can be interpreted in a variety of ways. In this specific intervention it is a device used in sexual role-play in a variety of fetish subcultures which deviate from the mainstream. It often denotes a submissive person who has elected to give themselves over completely to the gratification of a dominant partner. To a mainstream observer, this can often have darker connotations. This piece aims to subvert that presumption. Instead of black shiny rubber, it is presented in pink shiny glitter, challenging preconceived notions of alternative sexual expression.
My complex, handmade, mixed media portraits take inspiration from my lived experience of pop culture, the ephemera of daily life and queer subcultures.”
Part of Independents Biennial 2025

Philip Wilson Steer: In Conversation
Ben Youdan’s website

Watercolour Live
2025-05-31 11:00 - 16:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
To accompany the display of watercolours by JMW Turner, we welcome watercolour artist Janine Pinion to work live in the gallery for a day.
Janine has lived in Wirral for 28 years and takes inspiration from the coastal landscape and sky. She won the Williamson Open Purchase Prize in 2018 and has specialised in watercolour for the past decade.
Her technique is based on natural processes and produces effects of light that echo artists such as Turner. She challenges perceptions that watercolour is a difficult, secondary choice of medium and invites you to witness its magic.
Drop in anytime to watch Janine work and ask questions about her practice.

Live music from Orange Zebra
2025-05-30 14:00 - 20:00 | Merseyside
Orange Zebra are a six-piece band playing a mix of jazz, blues and rock.
They’ll be playing music all afternoon on Friday 30th May, from 2pm-8pm, in the Williamson Foyer. This isn’t a formal concert, just drop-in whenever you want and stay for as much long as you like.
The performance is free, but charity donations are warmly welcomed.
The Williamson Cafe will be open throughout serving hot and cold drinks, light bites and snacks.

Film Screening 'The Nettle Dress'
2025-05-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Book Tickets
Landlines Studio present a screening of the film ‘The Nettle Dress’, as part of the programme of events for their current retrospective “Un/Earthed”.
Textile artist Allan Brown spends seven years making a dress by hand, using only the fibre of locally foraged stinging nettles. This is ‘hedgerow couture’, the greenest of slow fashion and also his medicine. It’s how he survives the death of his wife Alex and how he finds a beautiful way to honour her.
Director Dylan Howitt says: ‘This is a story about the deep value of creativity and imagination, and a slow, mindful craft that is more in tune with the natural world.’
Produced, directed, filmed and edited by Dylan Howitt
Foraged, spun, woven and sewn by Allan Brown
“Exquisite, beautiful and inspiring” – Sir Mark Rylance
This event is part of the programme for Un/Earthed – A Retrospective by Landlines Studio, which runs 12th February – 28th June.
Exhibition Information

Yoga & Sound: A Wellness Experience by Milap
2025-05-07 12:30 - 2025-05-21 13:50 | Merseyside
Join holistic wellbeing practitioner Siân Griffin for a guided session combining yoga, meditation, and a deeply restorative sound bath.
Each class begins with pranayama—gentle breathwork to centre the mind and ground the body—followed by a movement practice tailored to the needs of the group. Whether a dynamic vinyasa flow or a slower hatha-style session, postures are adapted for all abilities, ensuring everyone feels supported and included.
The final part of the session includes more breathwork and a 20-minute sound bath using crystal singing bowls, yoga nidra and guided meditation to bring about a state of deep calm and inner stillness.
Siân is the founder of Thalassa Therapies and a certified yoga teacher with over a decade of experience in psychotherapy, trauma-informed practice, breathwork, and therapeutic sound healing. Her work supports individuals, groups, and organisations to build self-awareness and create space for personal transformation.
Expect a calm, welcoming environment to relax, reconnect, and reset.

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About MILAP

Live music from Northwestern
2025-04-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Merseyside
Northwestern is a clear statement of intent from two fine musicians and songwriters, who we are delighted to welcome back to the Williamson after their last fantastic performance.
Chris Howarth is a singer songwriter based in Cheshire. After an early history in local bands Chris came back to music after a long career in business and re-launched himself with a bang, recording 6 studio albums in nearly as many years. Chris has enjoyed a productive few years, playing his original songs at venues and local festivals, mainly in the Northwest, most recently at locations like Venue Cymru in Llandudno. Although Chris has been mainly a solo performer, more recently he has been supported by musical friends at many of his performances but his recent creative collaborations with Adrian Hough have been a genuine highlight of the last few months and he can’t wait to bring some of their joint efforts out into the world!
​Adrian Hough is a bottleneck guitarist from Cheshire who has been playing in bands since he was fourteen. Early influences from Paul Kossoff, Duane Allman and Ry Cooder shaped his style, focussing upon emotive playing and an emphasis upon space and hitting the note.

Praise for Northwestern
“acoustic slide specialist…as stunning as it is varied.”-Guitarist Magazine.
“sublime slide work.”-Guardian.
“…tasty slide-work…mighty fine.”[-Bluesmatters magazine].
Find Northwestern on Facebook
northwesternmusic.com

The Betty Smithers Collection: Exhibition Tour & Talk
2025-04-02 10:30 - 15:30 | Merseyside
Senior Lecturer and Fashion Researcher, Angela Devoti, University of Staffordshire shall be delivering guided live tours and lectures about the Betty Smithers Exhibition on Wednesday 2nd April at the Williamson Art Gallery.

The guided tour and lecture will also include further specially selected handling objects from the Betty Smithers collection which relate to each of the decades the garments are associated with. This is a unique opportunity to encounter and connect with many different Fashion movements and revealing narratives.

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Talk and Q&A with Landlines Studio
2025-03-28 18:00 - 20:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
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Join Angela and Nicky of Landlines Studio for a talk and Q&A about their current exhibition Un/Earthed.
Discover more about their creative process, inspirations, and the themes that shape their work.
This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from the artists, gain insights into their practice, and ask questions in an informal and welcoming setting.
Exhibition Information

Curator Tours: Richards and Steer
2025-03-26 11:00 - 2026-01-09 17:00 | Merseyside
Join our Collections Manager Josh for a tour of the two exhibitions curated from our collection, exploring the works of Albert Richards and Philip Wilson Steer.

These talks will offer the opportunity for you to find out more about the narrative of each exhibition, the stories we wanted each exhibition to tell, and give you background into the lives of each artist. There will be one talk a month throughout 2025. Please consider giving a donation with your booking to support the work of the Williamson.

Click Here to Book Now

Dates & Times:
Friday 22nd August, 6pm
Wednesday 17th September, 11am
Friday 24th October, 6pm
Wednesday 12th November, 11am
Friday 9th January, 6pm

Music by Creative Community Choir and Bebington Bittermen
2025-03-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Merseyside
Creative Community Choir and Bebington Bittermen are local choirs who perform uplifting a cappella music encompassing a number of different musical traditions, led by their musical director James Sills. Expect to hear heavenly harmonies from the around the world, making the most of the beautiful acoustics of our gallery.
Their performances will be during Art After Dark, a night of creative exploration across Birkenhead.
About Art After Dark

Roots of Fashion - the Betty Smithers Design Collection
2025-03-13 10:00 - 2025-04-02 17:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
This exhibition showcases specially selected garments and accessories from The Betty Smithers Design Collection, University of Staffordshire, to commemorate the centenary anniversary of the Callister Trust, which resulted in the creation of the Callister Garden.
The Betty Smithers Design Collection (BSDC) is a teaching and research collection of over 7000 objects mainly from the 20th-century housed in the Department of Creative Industries, University of Staffordshire.
Each of the items on display around the Williamson Gallery present the ongoing transience and temporal nature of fashion, reflecting the continual changes within society, culture and politics.
The garments and accessories hold a lived bodily experience, signifying moments in time, revealing varying narratives, telling their own unique story, and ultimately forming a collective inspirational statement of liberation and freedom of expression.
This exhibition is presented in collaboration with Roots of Fashion by The Callister Trust, taking place at the Williamson on 2oth March. Edward Callister championed women, establishing a Girls’ Club in Argyle Street, Birkenhead, in 1925. The Callister Garden was created as a safe place for women and is situated in an area with strong links to the Suffrage Movement. This exhibition celebrates many of the key moments of women’s fashion from every decade of the Callister Garden’s history, beginning from its inception in the 1920s to the present day.
Betty Smithers Exhibition curated by Senior Lecturer Angela Devoti -University of Staffordshire
Exhibition Tour & Talk – Wednesday 2nd April, 10:30am or 2:30pm – FREE
Find Out More
Roots of Fashion

Live Music with Annie Long
2025-03-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Popular local jazz and blues singer Annie is back with her smooth velvety tones, accompanied by her talented and versatile musicians for an afternoon session in the Cafe.

Annie Long-vocals
Keith Singleton-guitar
Michael Hughes- vibes

DDFI40: Painting in Light
2025-03-05 10:00 - 2025-03-29 17:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Williamson Art Gallery is proud to be a participating venue in DaDaFest 2025.
Zoe Partington has created light sculptures featuring slogans which have relevance to disability activism and issues disabled people experience. The work conveys stories, messages and insights into disabled people’s struggles in a world in where society still excludes us from the mainstream. Disabled people still exist ‘on the edges’ and have to fight for equity. These neon signs convey a snapshot of disability history in a simple format with a powerful message.
Her piece ‘Love Not Pity’ will be exhibited in Gallery 4, alongside our current exhibition Philip Wilson Steer: In Conversation. Zoe’s work is based upon the slogans of the British disability movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Sitting within an exhibition of nude figures which adhere to conventional beauty standards, the piece makes us question attitudes towards and depictions of disabled people, and charges the slogan with contemporary meaning.
Further pieces from the Painting In Light series will be based in other venues around the Liverpool City Region including The Bluecoat, The Palm House in Sefton Park, Liverpool Lime Street Station, Shakespeare North, Citizens Advice Wavertree and more.
More information about DaDaFest 2025 and Zoe Partington’s work can be found on DaDaFest’s website.
Access: This exhibition can be viewed in person at the venues taking part and will be available to view online (with ALT Text descriptions and supporting audio information). Further access and venue info will be linked here soon.
About DDFI40:
DaDaFest International returns 8th-31st March 2025 to celebrate DaDa’s 40th Anniversary and this time we are coming with ‘RAGE: A Quiet Riot’.
DDFI40 will showcase work by disabled artists that captures all shapes and sides of rage. From the internal quiet frustrations and righteous rage, to overt injustice and activism, DDFI40 will explore disability rights, disability arts, access, ableism and ‘Rage’ in an explosion of creativity.
dadafest.co.uk

Elizabeth Smolen: Trailblazer
2025-02-21 10:00 - 2025-10-18 17:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
NOW CLOSING 18TH OCTOBER 2025
Discover the life of local legend Elizabeth Smolen, a Polish refugee who settled in Birkenhead and became a champion scooter racer and successful businesswoman.
A keen motorcyclist and engineer, Smolen made a name for herself by repairing, dealing and racing scooters and became part of Wirral’s scooter scene. Elizabeth Smolen: Trailblazer explores Smolen’s early life against the backdrop of Soviet Poland, and how her daring escape to England allowed her to make a new home in Wirral.
Objects from Smolen’s life, including two Vespa scooters, will be on display, alongside information about Smolen’s rich life, and stories from those who remember her.
The exhibition also explores the broader Wirral scooter scene, featuring photos and memorabilia from Birkenhead-based Cloud 9 Scooter Club.
Produced in collaboration with Big Heritage.

Subterranean Elevator
2025-02-14 10:00 - 2026-01-10 17:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Subterranean Elevator has been conceived by artist Di Mainstone, and developed with a team of inter-disciplinary specialists. The installation invites intrepid visitors to explore the inner worlds of soil and the subconscious mind. On entering a dark, elevator-shaped environment, they will feel a soft earth-like substance beneath their feet, where they can stand, sit, or nestle. As the elevator commences its ‘descent’, subterranean tourists will experience mesmerising sounds and projected visuals, creating the sensation of sinking deep into the earth.
Mainstone has coined the term “Subnosis” to describe this hypnotic journey, in which surreal subterranean creatures flourish amongst fleeting thoughts, tickled by roots and intersected by neural pathways that lead us into an interior universe. In this place of collective contemplation, we are invited to remember our connection to all living and nonliving things here on our precious planet.
The artwork aims to deepen our understanding of biodiversity loss and engage with the emotional landscape of the climate emergency.
How to Experience Subterranean Elevator
Please allow for your eye to adjust to a darker space when entering the space, moving slowly and with caution.
Shoes are to be removed before entering the sand box.
If you are entering the sand box, please use the spaces below the benches to store belongings.
There are steps at the side of the sand box to enter and exit.
Children must be supervised at all times in the space and sandbox.
Do not throw sand.

Un/Earthed - A Retrospective by Landlines Studio
2025-02-12 10:00 - 2025-06-28 17:00 | Merseyside
Digging into the land and lineage of historical sites for the past five years, collaborative artist duo, Angela Stringer and Nicky Perrin present their formative works in an exhibition which reveals the alchemical process of turning raw earth into vibrant expressions of story and place.
Harnessing natural materials such as sandstone, soil, clay and botanical matter from their local Wirral environment and beyond, they create paint and dyes to make work which transcends its origins, merging contemporary techniques with ancient traditions.
A reconstruction of the artists’ apothecary style studio will immerse visitors in their creative practice, showcasing the tools used to hand-process rock into fine pigment, before the time-honoured method of mulling it into paint.
Un/Earthed is the materialisation of journeying between the coasts of Anglesey and woodlands of Wirral. It is an exploration of identity, heritage and tales told through natural colour, reflecting on the deep connection between people and place.
EVENTS:
Film Screening: The Nettle Dress
Friday 23rd May, 6pm, £7

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Albert Richards
2025-02-12 10:00 - 2026-01-31 17:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
March 2025 marked 80 years since the passing of Albert Richards, the youngest official war artist to be killed in action during WWII. The Williamson holds over two hundred of his works, spanning from his days at the Wallasey School of Art to the frontlines of France in 1944. These works show the incredible talent that Richards possessed, and his influences, from surrealism to Art Deco.
As well as displaying works by artists that inspired him and worked alongside him, such as Stanley Spencer and George Jardine, this exhibition will commemorate his life as a soldier, in which he served a key role in the D-Day landings. This incredible personal narrative, mixed with his unique style of painting, makes him one of the biggest “what ifs?” in twentieth century British art.
EVENTS:
Curator talks on Albert Richards & Philip Wilson Steer – dates throughout 2025
Info & Booking

Philip Wilson Steer: In Conversation
2025-02-12 10:00 - 2026-01-17 17:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Born in Birkenhead, Philip Wilson Steer was a pioneer of impressionism in Britain during the late nineteenth century. Studying in Paris in the 1880s, he was exposed to this radical way of painting after seeing works by the likes of Degas and Manet. With his loose approach to painting and depictions of scenes that were seen as indecent for the time, Steer was widely ridiculed on his return to London, but eventually gained acclaim and prestige with the increasing influence of the New English Art Club and his teaching post at the Slade School of Art. Later in his career, Steer was inspired by masters of English landscape painting, such as Constable and Turner, with examples of these works being found in the exhibition.
As well as showcasing the Williamson’s collection of Steer, this exhibition will bring his work into conversation with both his contemporaries and local artists who followed in his footsteps. This will showcase his personal approach to colour and painting, but will also show the limitations of his radicalism, largely through his approach to depicting women.
The Williamson’s collection of works by Steer has long been considered a highlight of our collections, which we are delighted to be able to display a significant number of in this exhibition.

EVENTS:
Curator talks on Albert Richards & Philip Wilson Steer – dates throughout 2025
Info & Booking

Beauty In The Broken
2024-12-11 10:00 - 2024-12-21 17:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Kintsugi is the technique of repairing a broken object using ancient Japanese reparation, known as the art of precious scars. Not simply a form of repair, Kintsugi is a philosophy; a constant reminder to find the strength and beauty in the broken and painful parts of ourselves. Abuse in any form can shatter our sense of self and can leave victims feeling broken and alone, but support services are integral to aiding the journey of recovery, and rebuilding a sense of self-worth and healing.
To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (25th November), support services across Wirral have collaborated to produce Beauty in the Broken adopting the Kintsugi reparation technique as a visual representation. The exhibition will be touring venues around Merseyside before arriving at the Williamson.
Women within each service were asked to take a broken bowl and glue them back together using the kintsugi technique, the cracks in the bowls representing painful life experiences of women with lived experience of domestic abuse, and the artistic expressions through decorations and glue symbolising the resilience, healing process, and the crucial services who support women to rebuild their lives.
Beauty In The Broken is designed to serve as a discussion point centred around gender-based violence, so please take the opportunity to digest the piece and reflect on the lived experience of victim-survivors who suffer at the hands of abuse and violence.
Special thanks to all the Women who have been involved including all services and support staff.
Information on Support Services

The Annie Long Jazz Trio
2024-11-30 14:00 - 16:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
THE ANNIE LONG JAZZ TRIO
with
Annie Long :-vocals
Tom Sykes:- piano
Keith Singleton:- guitar
Popular jazz singer Annie Long returns with her talented musicians for an afternoon concert in Gallery 4. Expect a lively mix of swing jazz, blues and Latin standards, with some seasonal favourites for good measure!
The show is free to attend, however donations to support the band are warmly welcomed.

Oxton Art Fair
2024-11-16 10:00 - 2024-11-17 16:00 | Merseyside
It’s the 20th anniversary of Oxton Art Fair, and the 20th year the Williamson Art Gallery & Museum will be hosting OAF for one of our busiest festive events of the year.
Last year, 1700 visitors came to chat, browse, or buy from the artists. This year, Oxton Art Fair has 21 artists showcasing their work, including the 13 members and eight guest artists, across eight gallery rooms.
Oxton Artists was founded in 2004 by a group of friends who were aware there was a core of artists residing in the area. With artists formerly of the area returning from overseas and newcomers attracted to the community atmosphere and picturesque village, Oxton Art Fair was born. Since then, it has held its annual November Oxton Art Fair event at the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum. All member artists and craftspeople have connections to and/or live in Oxton and exhibit regularly in the North West, some nationally and a few internationally.
The collective has retained its longevity through its core objective, to keep OAF fresh, innovative and inspirational to all who visit.
oxtonartfair.co.uk

Participating artists:
Alison Bailey Smith – mixed media (guest artist)
Angela Stringer – mixed media (guest artist)
Carla Pownall – pottery
Clare Cosens – textiles (guest artist)
Carol Emmas – painter/photographer
David Turner – painter (guest artist)
Deb Kemp – painter (guest artist)
Donalda O’Neill – painter (guest artist)
Jo Burton – sculpture (guest artist)
Joseph Venning – painter
Judith Brown – jewellery (guest artist)
Katie Tyson – illustration
Ken Bryning – painting
Laura Weston – printmaking
Lynda Roberts – mixed media
Lisa Waldman – jewellery
Sian Bailey – illustration
Patsy Taylor – textiles
Slip and Tickle – ceramics
Theresia Cadwallader – jewellery
