Williamson Art Gallery

Film Screening 'The Nettle Dress'
2025-05-23 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | 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

Drop-in Life Drawing Day
2024-11-09 10:00 - 16:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
The Liver Sketching Club are coming back to the galleries for another of their popular drop-in drawing days.
Models will be sitting continuously between 10am and 4pm, and you can drop in anytime during the day to join in with the activity. You can bring your own drawing materials, or there will be some pencils and paper available.
Models will be fully clothed and the day is suitable for artists of all ages.

Find Out More about The Liver Sketching Club

Reclaiming the Narratives
2024-10-23 10:00 - 2024-11-02 17:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
This Black History Month, Williamson Art Gallery has been working with Afrograph to address its collection’s slavery links.
African textiles from Afrograph’s collection have been used to reinterpret the Arrowe Hall collection in Gallery 7, and reclaim the narrative.
Activities:
Workshops: On Saturday 26th October at 10.30am-12.30pm and then 2-3pm there will be African textile workshops led by Suzie Goligher. Participants will be asked to create pictures of local landmarks using African textiles. FREE, no booking required
Talk: “What has Slavery got to do with the Williamson?” by Alex Robinson Hon. Fellow University of Liverpool. 2nd November 2024, 1.30pm. FREE, no need to booki. The Williamson holds furniture and paintings from Arrowe Hall. See how Arrowe Park became caught up in the tentacles of Slavery.

Find out more about Afrograph

Live Music: Helen Delamere
2024-10-18 18:30 - 20:30 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Wirral, with a genuine passion for music, nature, and love. Helen has been writing lyrics, poems, feelings, and thoughts for as long as she can remember. In 2016 she decided she wanted to learn the guitar so she could perform her songs. And that’s exactly what she did!
Embarking on her musical journey Helen taught herself to play the guitar, and began to write more songs. Working in a few different jobs along the way helped her to realise that her true calling was music.
After releasing her debut album, Meaningful Conversations in 2020 and a few singles over the past couple of years, Helen is very excited that her new album, “Keep Movin’” was released on 14 February 2024. This record highlights Helen’s development as a songwriter and artist, and like Helen is an enchanting mix of different feelings and energy, exploring themes of happiness, growth, and love.
Helen’s music is best described as an eclectic mix of modern / pop folk and is a product of her musical influences she was exposed to at home growing up, including Simon & Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, and Tom Petty.
Helen will be selling copies of her latest album ‘Keep Movin” on the night – each album comes with a free download code for all devices.
www.helendowney.co.uk.

Live Music by Katie Nicholas
2024-09-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
We’re delighted to welcome award-winning singer-songwriter Katie Nicholas back to the Williamson for another special performance.
Katie Nicholas is a songwriter from Liverpool recognised for her poignant lyricism and accomplished guitar-playing, with BBC radio Scotland’s Annie Massie highlighting her “Powerful Vulnerability” on the Travelling Folk Show. Fearless in bending any genre to suit her message, Katie’s work has been celebrated by local legends such as Billy Butler and BBC Intro Merseyside’s Dave Monks. She has featured on the SSL 2 audio advert with her first viral country track “Chemistry”, written when she was 17 and awarded the Liverpool Michael Molloy Youth Music Award sponsored by Mayor of Liverpool. Most recently Katie independently sold-out her headline show at the Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room accompanied with strings in November 2023, accompanied.

Katie’s community has been steadily building on an organic grass-roots level, performing sold out shows at various theatres, galleries, museums and more. In 2024 Katie embarked on her 50-song video series, the “Songwriter Diaries” where she explores 10+ years of her unreleased material which never saw the light of day due to industry setbacks and personal circumstances. Endorsed by Aston Microphones, this series will run throughout the year.
Liverpool Echo Interview
Visit Katie’s Website

An Introduction to Philip Wilson Steer
2024-09-12 11:00 - 2024-09-27 12:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Join our team for a talk on the renowned Birkenhead artist, Philip Wilson Steer, with a guide through his life and works. This will be followed by a private viewing of paintings not usually on public display.
Philip Wilson Steer was one of the first British artists to look for France for inspiration. As Professor of Art at the Slade School of Art for over 30 years, he had an important influence on generations of 20th-century artists. He was the first living artist to be given a retrospective at the Tate, in 1929.
We have 48 of Steer’s works in our collection, covering all stages of his career, and these 45-minute talks will introduce you to the career of this significant locally-born figure.
Talks will take place at 11am on Thursday 12th (SOLD OUT), Friday 13th (SOLD OUT- RESCHEDULED TO FRIDAY 27TH) Saturday 14th September as part of Wirral Heritage Open Days.
Book Now
Our works by Philip Wilson Steer
More about Heritage Open Days

Ceramic tiles workshop
2024-09-07 13:00 - 16:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Join ceramicist Jo Williams for a ceramics workshop where you will design your own decorative ceramic tiles.

You will be provided with a large sheet of leatherhard clay from which you will be able to cut and form your own tiles. You will colour your tiles with different coloured slips and when dry you will be able to carve into the surface with carving tools. You will be able to first draw your designs on your tile, then Jo will show you how to carve your image from the tile or carve the background away leaving your image on the surface. She will then take the tiles to be bisque and clear glaze fired and bring them back in 2 weeks for you to collect. You will be able to make as many tiles as you want in the time we have.

Suitable for all abilities including absolute beginners. All materials included.
Book Tickets

Capriccio Singers
2024-08-30 18:30 - 20:30 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Capriccio Singers are a mixed voice choir of 9 singers. Formed in 1991 they regularly perform through Wirral, Liverpool, Merseyside and Cheshire.
They sing in a wide variety of music and styles, so there’s something for everyone!
The Cafe will be open for drinks and light bites, from 6:30pm

JOIN THE SINGERS: If you’re inspired by the performance of the Capriccio Singers, they’re looking for new members, particularly in the tenor and bass sections. Visit their website to find out more.
www.capricciosingers.co.uk

Jim Pearson
2024-08-23 18:30 - 20:30 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Jim Pearson is an indie songwriter who has been an active performer in the North West for more than a decade. His songs range from the whimsical to some of the most bitter and sombre themes, yet always with a paradoxical childlike spirit that meets them head-on.
His music has been played regularly on BBC 6 Music by Tom Robinson, and most recently Jim won the Judges Award at the Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge 2023 with his song The Boy with the Red Hat.
He will be playing two distinct sets of his own material; acoustic and electric.
Visit Jim’s Website
The Cafe will be open for drinks and light bites (last hot food orders 8pm).

Absolute Beginners Upholstery Workshop: August course
2024-08-17 09:30 - 2024-08-24 13:30 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
A two-session course on Saturday mornings, includes all materials and a footstool.
Ever wanted to try out some upholstery but not been sure where to start? This is the perfect course for you!
This is a comprehensive course with a balance of both theory and practical instruction ensuring you have the confidence to repeat at home and/or progress to the next level.
At the end of the two-session course you will have your own footstool ready to be taken home!
Book Now

Tabitha Jussa: Match Day
2024-08-16 10:00 - 2024-12-21 17:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
To continue the legacy of Going To The Match On Tour, we are delighted to exhibit a selection of works from the photographic series Match Day, by Tabitha Jussa.
Match Day documents the journeys of fans around the home fixtures of Liverpool FC, Everton FC and Tranmere Rovers. Jussa’s interest is in capturing the ritualistic behaviour of large crowds, exploring the habitual and sometimes essential narratives and relationships that exist between people and place.
Although Jussa started out as a documentary photographer, her interest in fusing together traditional and contemporary approaches to photography has brought about her own distinctive style. An observer’s distance has been adopted, taking in the scene as a whole, resulting in all-encompassing large-scale landscapes.
Match Day will be exhibited in Gallery 4, taking the place of works by LS Lowry which had been on loan through Going To The Match On Tour. The works from our own collections will remain in place, inviting new connections between subjects and themes.

Guest Craftsperson: Alison Bailey Smith
2024-08-09 08:00 - 2024-12-21 17:00 | Merseyside
Our current Guest Supplier is Alison Bailey Smith.
Born in Scotland to thrifty post-war parents, Alison was taught not to waste anything and to see the potential in everything. Alison was a huge fan of the section on Blue Peter where the presenters showed viewers the astonishing range of things that could be made from toilet rolls and yogurt pots. She was always keen to have a go and was not deterred when she didn’t have the same supplies shown on TV. She discovered a talent for creative thinking to turn materials found around the house into her own version of what she saw on screen.
Alison initially trained in jewellery at the Edinburgh College of Art, before diversifying into textiles, costume and fashion. Much of Alison’s work incorporates wire salvaged from inside old televisions, leading her to be described as a ‘techno cannibal’ by BBC journalist Clare English. Alison has found over a hundred different colours of copper and aluminium wire inside old TVs, although unfortunately it is becoming harder to find the vintage sets. Other materials used in Alison’s work include charity shop finds, scrap paper and sweet wrappers. Alison continues to develop her skills, most recently learning how to weld so that she can create larger scale pieces that are integrated into the summer displays for children at Eureka! Science & Discovery in Seacombe in Wirral.
Her recent challenge has been working with ball chains from roman blinds to create the capsule collection currently on display in the gallery foyer, with theme’s that relate to our current exhibition Into The Wyld.
Alison has seen recognition for her work, including winning Scottish Fashion Designer of the Year, being a finalist in the Environmental Art Awards in Liverpool, and receiving an award for Nurturing Community Talent from Wirral Met College. She has a dedicated studio in Oxton in Birkenhead and will be returning for Oxton Art Fair at the Williamson at the end of November.
To purchase pieces from Alison’s collection please speak to staff at the gallery. Purchases may qualify for the Own Art scheme, where you can spread the payment interest-free over 12 months. Speak to gallery staff to find out more.

Into The Wyld: Weavers Events
2024-08-03 08:00 - 2024-09-13 17:00 | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Weavers is a programme of performances, talks, workshops and readings curated by Dr Silvia Battista. It’s part of Into The Wyld, a festival of contemporary art exploring the legacy of the medieval poem Sir Gawain And The Green Knight.
Find out more about Into The Wyld
The festival is divided into three themes: Nature, Chivalry and Spirituality. The events below are all connected to the theme of NATURE.
All events are FREE to attend but must be booked in advance via the link below (except the first half of Alice Colquhoun’s performance 2-3:30pm, which is drop-in)
Saturday 3rd August, 3 – 4:30pm Talk by Sarah Peverley on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Join Professor Sarah Peverley for some quality time with one of the most famous pieces of literature produced in medieval England.
Info & Booking

Friday 9th August, 6:30 – 8pm Reimagining The Wirral: Poetry reading by Eleanor Rees.
Internationally-recognised poet Eleanor Rees will read two long, immersive poems which seek to take you into another world, alongside several short new poems written with the evocative landscapes of Bidston Hill and Birkenhead.
Info & Booking

Saturday 24th August 10am – 12pm Children’s Workshops led by Madeleine Smart
A storytelling performance and creative workshop for children and families. Follow Gawain’s journey from King Arthur’s court, through the wildness of the Wirral and onwards. Will Gawain keep his oath to the fearsome Green Knight and submit to his deadly axe or will he lose his head?!
Info & Booking

Friday 6th September 5 – 8:30pm (slots available for 1:1 performances) Kissing Booth: performance by Izzie Major
Immerse yourself in this interactive, one-to-one, appointment-only performance from Izzie Major, accompanied by a seductive soundscape mixed by artist Craig Sinclair.
Info & Booking

Saturday 7th September 2 – 5pm Her Alchemy Matters: Performance by Alice Colquhoun (2-3:30 drop-in performance no booking required, 4-5pm 1:1 performance slots available to book)
In this walkabout performance Colquhoun draw upon representations of the wild feminine in the Williamson, interacting with the public and the heritage exhibition on display. The performance walkabout will finish with ‘prophetic offerings’ towards the end of the day, where audience members can book in for 1.1 for a session with the character.
Info & Booking

Friday 13th September 6:30 – 8pm Conversations With The Artists moderated by Dr Catherine Morris
At the end of the exhibition the public is invited to participate in a round table conversation with the artists and the curators of the exhibition together with Dr Catherine Morris, who will moderate it. This will offer the opportunity to both the public and the artists to share ideas and explore further the cultural relevance that the tale of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight have for our complex times.
Info & Booking
