Passage: Drop-In Workshop with Frances Carlile
2026-04-11 12:00 - 15:00 UTC | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Passage is an installation of beautiful and delicate vessel and house structures by environmental artist Frances Carlile.

Come along to a workshop where you can learn to make your very own paper bag boat to take home- a vessel to sail through your life.
Suitable for all ages and family groups. All materials provided.
Optional: Bring your own precious found materials to include if you wish. Leaves, shells, twigs, flowers etc.
FREE to join, no booking required

FOLLOW Frances Carlile on Instagram

The Williamson Café will be open serving lunch, snacks and refreshments.

A Talk on Evelyn De Morgan's 'Medea'
2026-04-17 18:00 - 19:00
Join our Collections Manager Josh for a deep-dive into Evelyn De Morgan’s Medea.
As well as being one of the most popular pieces in our collection, Medea is a perfect example of many of the key principles of Pre-Raphaelite art, and Josh will reveal exactly how in this 45-minute talk. He will discuss Evelyn De Morgan’s work and place within the movement, closely explore the artistic style and technique of the work, and consider what about the story of Medea made the myth an appealing subject.
Free, but booking essential to guarantee your place.
Book Now

'In Concert' - Opera Night
2026-05-01 18:30 - 20:30
Join us at the gallery for a night of live Opera and piano performances. “Whatever your musical taste, I’m sure you’ll find plenty to enjoy”.
We are excited to welcome Jeannette, Nick & Alan for their first ever performance together at the Williamson.
Their programme will include classical & contemporary songs, arias and musical pieces from the world of Opera, Musical theatre, Jazz improvisation, the Broadway Song book and much more.
Jeanette Jarrel is a soprano who has sung and performed with several groups locally, including Una Voce and West Kirby Light Opera, and is currently with Peninsula Singers. She has taken part in many choral, operatic and musical theatre productions. Her tastes are extremely eclectic, including R&B, Country, Stage and Musical Theatre, Opera and Classical music.
Nick Hardy is a tenor who has worked as a chorister with all the national opera companies in the UK, plus a season with the Royal Opera Covent Garden, which included a tour to Japan. With local companies he has sung 30 roles in opera and has many credits in the most popular oratorios.
Alan Derrick is a Wirral-based jazz pianist and accompanist. He managed the Wirral Community Choir for over 12 years, stepping down in 2019. He is heavily involved in the Singing Cafes, playing at 5 or 6 venues throughout the Wirral, and is the musical lead for the Liverpool Memory Singers, a group of people with dementia and their carers, based in Toxteth.

Friday 1st May
6:30pm
FREE – Limited seating available.

The Williamson Open 2026 - SUBMISSIONS
2026-05-05 10:00 - 2026-06-14 17:00
The Williamson Open returns for 2026! Here’s the key dates you need:
Submissions Open: Tuesday 5th May
Submissions Close: Sunday 14th June
Exhibition: Friday 24th July – Saturday 10th October
Click the link below for full details and important information about submissions.

SUBMISSIONS HERE

Guest Artist: Jo Williams
2026-05-09 10:00 - 2026-08-08 17:00
Our new Guest Artist is Jo Williams creator of Heavenly Vessels.
“I have been making ceramics for 35 years and it feels as integral to me as breathing or walking; I make pots every single day.
I throw all my pots on the potters wheel and I spend a lot of time getting the surface right before decorating with oxides. I use repetitive marks which is reminiscent of deep, inky marks on damp paper but also sometimes reminds me of Indian woodblock printing. I apply all of the marks individually, one at a time. All my pots are glazed eternally with a soft satin white glaze, contrasting with the outer, unglazed surface.”
You can find a selection Jo’s handmade ceramics on display and to purchase at the Williamson.
May – 8th August

More about HEAVENLY VESSELS

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Truth to Nature: Light & Shadow in Watercolour
2026-05-09 11:00 - 16:00
We are welcoming back Janine Pinion to work live in the gallery.
Janine lives in New Brighton and has specialised in watercolour for the past decade. Her semi-abstract technique is based on natural processes.

“I was enamoured of the Pre-Raphaelites as a young artist and still love their work today. The light and colour is other-worldly, and yet can be seen in real landscapes around Wirral. These moments carry the strong emotions revered by the Pre-Raphaelites. Their portraits also fascinate me and I aim to revisit and explore this theme too.”
“I challenge perceptions that watercolour is a difficult, secondary choice of medium and invite you to witness its magic.”

Come along to see Janine working live in Gallery 4. Surrounded by the inspirational pieces of the ‘Beyond the Brotherhood: The Legacies of the Pre-Raphaelites’ exhibition. You can ask her questions or just enjoy watching the art come to life.
Saturday 9th May

More about Janine

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Tour of Beyond The Brotherhood: Legacies of the Pre-Raphaelites
2026-05-15 14:00 - 15:00
Join Curator Josh Mackarell, on a guided tour of Beyond the Brotherhood, explore how the movement’s radical ideas, imagery and ideals evolved and echoed through later art and culture.
Rich with stories and surprising connections, this tour offers fresh insight into some of the Williamson’s most iconic paintings and Britain’s most influential artistic circles.

FREE – Booking Essential, Limited Spaces

BOOK HERE

Live Music "IT AIN'T QUAINT"
2026-05-15 18:30 - 20:30
‘It Ain’t Quaint’ …a compact trio all about the Whisper and Shout of easy soul, jazz and blues to foot tapping crowd pleasers…with a twist.
Flamin’ Jayne…Sings and plays Sax, Clarinet and Guitar and looks after the art work. Chris Plinen…Sings and plays Guitar or Bass and empties the bins. David…sings and plays guitar.

They originate from the Trans Mersey Sessions of sing arounds, pubs, cafes and open mic nights, developing an eclectic mixed genre of music, unique to their show. Come along to the gallery and enjoy a lively, energetic and captivation performance.

Friday 15th May

FIND OUT MORE

The Williamson Café will be open serving light bites & refreshments including alcoholic beverages.

‘Passage’ - Vessel Making Workshop with Frances Carlile
2026-05-16 14:00 - 16:00
Come and make a vessel based on your experience of Passage,
with artist Frances Carlile.

Think about your own hopes, fears, dreams and memories. Your own voyage through life.
Suitable for individuals of all ages or family groups with accompanied children from 5 years. Learn about how to process found materials and take a closer look at the natural world.
A wide variety of materials will be provided. Collect your own natural materials; leaves, twigs, shells, flowers, etc to include in your vessel if you wish.

FREE – Booking Essential, Limited Spaces
BOOK HERE

The Garden As Muse
2026-05-30 10:00 - 2026-07-25 17:00
For centuries, gardens in their myriad forms, from the surreal, to the mystical, contemplative or mythical, have had profound impacts upon artists of all kinds. They act as sources of inspiration and as mirrors reflecting the cultural, social and emotional landscapes in which they were created.

This exhibition traces how artists across time have interpreted gardens not merely as physical spaces, but as symbols of creativity and solace. From delicate, nostalgic studies to immersive and grand paintings, these pieces reveal how gardens can function both as sanctuaries and laboratories of artistic experimentation.

Drawing exclusively from the Williamson’s rich and varied collection, The Garden as Muse invites visitors to wander through these imagined and observed worlds, celebrating the enduring allure of the garden as a site where art and nature meet, influence one another, and continue to grow in unexpected ways.

Wirral Pop Orchestra and Wirral Big Band
2026-05-30 14:00 - 16:00
Wirral Pop Orchestra & Wirral Big Band are back at the gallery for a Spring Concert.

Join us at the gallery for a delightful afternoon of music from two fabulous local bands.
Wirral Big Band and Wirral Pop Orchestra were both started in 2019 by Jan Modelski, an accomplished musician who is passionate about community music, bringing local musicians together.
Wirral Pop Orchestra strays away from the conventional classical classical repertoire exploring the world of Pop, theatre, films and musicals. Wirral Big Band play all things jazz, swing and pop in a Big Band style.
Both bands have enjoyed many successful gigs at a variety of local venues, and we’re delighted to welcome them back to the Williamson for a fabulous seasonal performance.

Follow Wirral Big Band & Wirral Pop Orchestra

The Williamson Café will be open serving Menu favourites, ‘Mini Afternoon Tea’ and other refreshments.

Small Wonders: Reimagining British Art
2026-06-05 10:00 - 2026-07-25 17:00
In 1951, the Festival of Britain acted as a beacon of post-war hope, launching a landmark touring exhibition that brought world-class art to local museums and art centres across the UK. Seventy-five years later, Hayward Gallery Touring honours this legacy with Small Wonders: Reimagining British Art, a contemporary reimagining of that original vision.
The exhibition brings together 50 acclaimed artists who have participated in the British Art Show – the UK’s definitive five-year curated survey of contemporary art – since its inception in 1979. Taking inspiration from Marcel Duchamp’s Boîte-en-valise – a “portable museum” contained within a suitcase – each artist has created a new, small-scale work that responds to their original British Art Show presentation. The result is a condensed yet expansive overview of a half-century of British art history.

Alongside Small Wonders, there will also be an exhibition of 21 exquisite photogravure prints of major drawings by Georgia O’Keeffe. One of the most important artists in 20th-century American art, O’Keeffe balanced abstraction with figuration and tenaciously pursued her innovative style.
The 21 drawings featured in this exhibition were made between 1915 and 1963, spanning the period when O’Keeffe established herself as a major figure in American Modernism. O’Keeffe worked with her agent and long-term friend Doris Bry (1920 – 2014) to produce this sublime collection of photogravures of the drawings, which charts key trajectories and motifs in her practice.

Yoga For Menopause And Beyond
2026-06-08 11:00 - 2026-08-10 12:30
A series of 3 community sessions offered by specialist yoga teacher, and psychotherapist, Claire Hesketh, aimed at supporting women of all ages from peri- menopause onwards. In these 75-minute offerings Claire uses the teachings of yoga to gently explore what is happening beneath the surface as our hormonal shifts impact our wellbeing- physically and emotionally – and how we can best support ourselves to live with energy, optimism and peace of mind as we grow older as women.
Claire offers a particular focus on life after menopause – our Second Spring – and invite you to share

A little evidence-based menopause education
Gentle yoga movements specifically chosen to assist with calming the nervous system and reconnecting with the wisdom of our bodies.
Pranayama
Meditation
Readings and poetry to inspire and support our reflections
Deep relaxation with restorative yoga poses to nourish the body and the mind.

Each sessions stands alone – addressing a different element of this rite of passage – and any women can attend all three sessions. Dates available in June, July & August.
What to bring:
Please wear comfortable clothes, bring a yoga mat and a small pillow with a blanket or two that can be rolled up for support in our restorative poses.

Claire Hesketh is a local psychotherapist and after a lifelong career within mental health in the NHS now combines her private psychotherapy practice with the teachings and gifts of yoga. Having returned to the Wirral after many years living and working in the northeast Claire is keen to share the benefits of yoga with her new community here on the Wirral. She offers a calm holding space and specialises in yoga for menopause.
You can read more about Claire here www.clairehesketh.co.uk

BOOK HERE

Community Monday Noticeboard

Printing The 'Great Wave'
2026-06-13 10:30 - 15:00
Come along to the Williamson for a 10 minute drop-in taster experience.
Have a go at creating your very own print of Hokusai’s iconic Great Wave. Learn how to ink up the woodblock, align the ‘washi’ paper and apply the ink using traditional Japanese materials and equipment.
No booking required (first come, first served) All Materials Provided.
Equipment: Carved woodblock(s), brushes for applying ink, barens (for pressing the paper onto the inked woodblock)
Consumables: prepared paper, inks, nori paste, envelopes for taking artwork home.
Just £7 per postcard-sized print
The activity is suitable for anyone from 8 years and over. Children from 8 to 16 should be accompanied by an adult (18+). Please note that printing requires significant pressure, so smaller children and those with limited physical strength might require assistance.
Andy Green, founder and CEO of Wirral-based 3D Primo, is an educator who has lived and worked in Japan on and off since the 1990s. He’s a member of DoES Liverpool, where he has been developing a technique of laser-carving woodblocks for printing. He specialises in cross-discipline education and training – this activity combines art, technology and commerce.
Follow Wirral-based 3D Primo on Facebook and Instagram

The Garden as Muse: Curator Exhibition Tour
2026-06-19 14:00 - 15:00
Join Curator, Josh Mackarell, for a tour of our new collection exhibition, ‘The Garden as Muse’.
This exhibition traces how gardens have acted as sites of inspiration for artists for centuries, charting this through some of the Williamson’s most iconic artworks from both local and national artists.

FREE – However booking is essential.
Friday 19th June
2 – 3pm
BOOK HERE

The Williamson Café will be open for refreshments.

Wirral Singing Café - Coast To Coast
2026-06-19 18:30 - 20:30
Wirral Singing Café offers the local community a place where people can drop in for a drink and a sing along.
Musicians from the Singing Cafes have been performing at various venues on the Wirral for over 12 years. The musical repertoire is based largely around the songs from the 1940s to the 1980s with a bit of rock and roll dancing. Books of lyrics are also given out to audience members.
A number of Lead Singers support the music, and the main accompaniment is provided by a piano or guitar, we aim to provide a happy chatty place to meet friends, sing along, or just sit back and enjoy the music.
Cafes are held regularly at 8 different venues throughout the Wirral; some are weekly, and others are fortnightly or monthly.
Wirral Singing Café will be at the The Williamson Art Gallery & Museum on the 19th June at 18:30pm. This performance will be a mix of solo and duet pieces, together with audience participation songs. There is a wide variety of music, so whatever your tastes, you should find plenty to enjoy!

FREE – Donations are welcomed, No booking needed.

The Williamson Café will be open serving light bites & snacks as well as hot and cold drinks including alcoholic beverage.

Live Music from Acoustica 2
2026-06-26 18:30 - 20:30
Martin and Willy Simmons: Harp and Concertina – a unique paring in English folk music
Martin and Willy have been playing together for over 20 years in a ceilidh band, folk trio and various pub sessions. Recently they have got together to play English Traditional Music in a traditional way. The set includes many tunes that were incredibly popular dance tunes in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and are now being rediscovered by new generations.

Both musicians have come to their current instruments later in life after long careers playing brass and woodwind. Willy is a former professional saxophone player and also a flute and whistle maker and player before taking up the English concertina. Martin played the trombone in various bands for many years before turning to the Anglo concertina and more recently the folk harp.

MORE FROM ACOUSTICA 2

FREE ENTRY

Workshop: Encouraging Younger Volunteers in Heritage and Culture groups
2026-06-30 13:00 - 15:30
We’re inviting local groups and organisations to join us on 30th June for a practical and engaging session focused on Encouraging younger volunteers, delivered in partnership with Curious Minds and facilitated by Wirral CVS.
Younger people bring energy, fresh perspectives and new skills into the heritage and culture groups, but many organisations tell us they’re unsure how to attract, support and retain them effectively. This session is designed to help you bridge that gap.
During the session, you’ll:

Explore what motivates young people to volunteer
Understand common barriers and how to overcome them
Gain practical ideas to make your opportunities more accessible and appealing
Share experiences and learn from others across the sector
Whether you’re just starting to think about involving younger volunteers or looking to strengthen what you already offer, this session will provide useful insight and actionable approaches.

If you’d like to attend, please get in touch or secure your place via our website –
Encouraging Younger Volunteers – Wirral CVS
We hope you can join us for what promises to be a valuable and thought-provoking session.

The 3L's Choir - SUMMER CONCERT
2026-07-03 18:30 - 20:30
The 3L’s are back at the Williamson to perform a summer concert in aid of ‘WIRRAL WOMEN & CHILDREN’S AID CHARITY,
‘3Ls’ stands for Learning, Leisure and Laughter, – principles epitomised by this Choir. Made up of people from all over the Wirral. Including people who have sung in choirs all their life and people for whom singing is a new adventure.
On Friday 3rd of July from 6.30pm they will be performing a programme led by their music Director, Stella McGann.
These performances are to raise funds through your donations for the Wirral Women’s and Children’s Aid (Refuge). Please come along to support this excellent local charity.
The Wirral 3Ls Choir is part of an organisation of daytime learning and leisure activities, ranging from Art to Languages and Pilates.
The Williamson Café will be open during the performances for drinks and light bites.

FREE – Booking essential
BOOK HERE

Find out more about Wirral 3Ls

Peter Rainsford Presents
2026-07-17 11:00 - 12:30
A Miscellany of Music and Creativity, Coffee Concert.
Peter is founder and director of Tafelmusik music school in Oxton. Each month he brings a varied repertoire of music and performers to the Williamson.
Along side Peter and singer/songwriter Paula, this month we welcome back special guest Tenor – Terence Robertson.
Terence sang at our concert last November and made a stunning impression with his magnificent voice. In July he will be singing songs from Opera and Operettas including: The Desert Song by Sigmund Romberg and Nessun Dorma by Puccini.

Terence studied with Carlo Bergonzi and Luciano Pavarotti. He has sung with Scottish Opera, ENO, Opera North, Opera Holland Park and won great success in the role of Verdi’s Otello with Welsh National Opera.
The concert will also include music from Peter and a selection of songs from Paula.
This is the last concert of the season, and we look forwards to seeing all our coffee concert friends.

Tafelmusik website
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The Williamson café will be open serving hot & cold refreshments.

Live Music: Two Penny Piece
2026-07-17 18:30 - 20:30
We are excited to welcome Two Penny Piece for the first time to the Williamson.

Two Penny Piece consists of Ken and Chris.
Two friends that got together about 8 years ago to perform music together. They have a wide genre of songs , from ballads to country and much more.
They will be performing live in the famous Williamson Café. We know its going to be a great start to your weekend with a set that is sure to get you tapping your feet and singing along.

Friday 17th July
18:30pm
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Enjoy The Piano
2026-07-18 14:00 - 16:00
A varied selection of piano music played by local musicians.
Our ‘Enjoy the Piano’ concerts are going from strength to strength. They started as a small group of pianists playing to each other and they have developed into: ‘Classical’ Solos – Jazz Improvisations and even Piano Duets.
There is something for everyone to enjoy.
We are always happy to hear from musicians who would like to practice in front of a live audience. If you would like to take part in a session, please contact, Peter Rainsford – piedpiper2000@aol.com to book your place.

The Williamson Café will be open for refreshments.

Williamson Open 2026
2026-07-24 10:00 - 2026-10-10 17:00
The exhibition is now open!!!

The Williamson Open returns for 2026! Our much-loved annual exhibition showcases the best in art and photography made by artists across the Liverpool City Region.

Take It Home: Many of the artworks in the Open are available to buy. You can view and purchase artworks online as well as in-person this year.

View the Online Catalogue

On purchases made in the gallery, we offer the Own Art scheme.

Own Art is a national initiative, supported by Arts Council England, to make it easy and affordable for anyone and everyone to buy contemporary art and craft by providing interest-free loans.
Choose the artwork you love, apply for a loan from as little as £250 and pay it back over 10 months, completely interest-free.

Find out more about the scheme and eligibility criteria: www.ownart.org.uk

Please note that Own Art cannot be applied to online artwork purchases.

Costume Figure Drawing: Pre-Raphaelite Women
2026-07-24 18:30 - 20:30
A new monthly drawing class is coming to the Williamson!
From next month, themed ‘Costume Figure Drawing’ classes will be starting Friday 24th July.
Whether you are looking to start a new skill or a seasoned pro all are welcome to join in. Informal tutoring is available on request and refreshments available from the Williamson Café.

This months theme will be ‘Pre-Raphaelite Women’. Please bring your own sketching paper and materials.
No booking required, cash or card payments on the door.
Cash: Under 18’s £10| Adults £12 (0.17p surcharge on card payments)
Doors open at 18:20pm
For more information please email: Marieartlife@outlook.com

Creakin' Gates
2026-07-24 18:30 - 20:30
Creakin’ Gates will be performing live at the Williamson!

A local Acoustic folk, American roots music and Americana band from the Wirral. Creakin’ Gates have been performing together for many years and is a well loved band here on the Wirral.
Join us at the gallery for a night that is set to be electrifying and entertaining.

Friday 24th
FREE

See More & Hear More

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Creative Business Clinic - 1:1 Mentorship
2026-07-27 14:00 - 16:00
NEW to Community Mondays a monthly Creative Business Clinic: Free 1:1 Mentorship for Local Creators
Got a creative business idea, brand, or strategy you’d like to refine? Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, our free 1:1 Creative Business Clinic offers tailored advice to help you turn vision into action.
What We Cover:

Business Development: Talk through your creative, craft, or art business—from concept to execution.
Partnerships & Networking: Build meaningful relationships with organisations, voluntary groups, venues, or collaborators.
Financial Clarity: Develop budgets, review funding applications, or explore sustainable pricing models.
Brand & Communication: Sharpen your messaging, visual identity, or audience engagement strategy.

Why Attend?
This isn’t a lecture—it’s a collaborative, no-nonsense session led by you. As a business mentor and chaos architect, I’ll help you untangle challenges, spot opportunities, and leave with actionable next steps. Think of it as therapy for your creative hustle.
How It Works:

In-person only (for now).
60-minute sessions – book your slot online via the link below.
No free spot? Pop us an email, and we might set up a virtual meeting.
Confidential, judgment-free, and 100% free.

Who’s It For?

Emerging creators testing the waters.
Established makers hitting a roadblock.
Social enterprises or CICs aligning profit with purpose.
Anyone who wants to simplify, strategise, or scale their creative work.

Every 4th Monday of the month, 2:00 – 4:00 PM Book your session Now!
Community Monday Noticeboard

Medical Negligence
2026-07-31 18:30 - 20:30
“Get ready to be blown away by Medical Negligence – a six-piece band made up of friends, family, and a shared love of music (and yes, a medical background too!). 🩺🎵
Expect a stunning mix of guitars, harp, flutes, cello, mandolin, piano, percussion, and FOUR incredible voices weaving together unique arrangements that cross genres and generations. Add in their hilarious on-stage banter, and you’ve got a night full of music, laughter, and magic. ✨”

See More
Hear More

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The Williamson Café will be open for drinks (including alcohol) and light bites.

Blank Page Club - Youth Group
2026-08-03 13:00 - 15:00
A NEW free, gallery-based art club for young people comes to COMMUNITY MONDAYS, run by qualified Art Teacher Billie Fletcher.
If you are aged 13-19 and have an interest in Art, Design, or anything creative – then join the
club! We will be looking at Williamson Art Gallery’s collections and exhibitions and creating
our own works in response to what we see.
In our first session, we are looking at Japanese Woodblock prints (Ukiyo-e) inspired by the
gallery’s exhibition ‘Echoes of the Floating World’. Using collage, we will create beautiful
landscapes using Japanese paper, and add detail by drawing into our work.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, these sessions are for everybody and
Billie will be there to guide you through the process. The session is also a great opportunity
to meet some likeminded people and spend some time in the amazing Williamson Art
Gallery.
These sessions are completely free, and all materials are provided, all you need to do is
come along and be creative! The session will be on Monday 3rd August, from 1pm to 3pm.
– Parents and carers: if you would like to accompany your young person to the session there
is a lovely café on site!

Book Here (FREE – Places are limited)
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Community Monday Noticeboard

Emptiness In Sound Live Performance
2026-08-07 18:30 - 20:30
Cailiach and Eljae of Emptiness in Sound invite you into a transformative musical journey through sound, healing, and dance. Blending progressive house rhythms with sacred mantras, healing frequencies, and channelled vocals, their music creates a deeply immersive experience designed to awaken the body, heart, and soul.

Drawing on Caileach’s work as a quantum healer, meditation teacher and trained sound healer, alongside Laura’s gifts as an oracle and intuitive channel, their music and voices weave together ethereal soundscapes, medicine music, and ancient sacred vibrations with modern electronic beats.

Expect soothing melodies, uplifting grooves, light language, and powerful frequencies that guide you through the energy of the chakras, from deep inner presence to ecstatic dance.

Their latest album, Dance of the Chakras, is a celebration of healing through movement, sound, connection and the spaces in between, inviting audiences to dance, release, and remember. Inspired by ancient wisdom and futuristic soundscapes, their music weaves together medicine songs, light language, and progressive house rhythms to create a transformative and heart opening experience.
Friday 7th August
FREE

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Coming soon- Leonard McComb: Nature & Humanity
2026-08-14 10:00 - 2026-10-31 17:00
The Williamson Art Gallery & Museum will present the largest ever exhibition of work by one of the most important British artists of the 20th century, Leonard McComb.
Leonard McComb: Nature and Humanity will include the best works from the artist’s estate, as well as choice loans from major public and private collections, over 60 of the artist’s best pieces, including painting, watercolour, drawings, and sculpture, will be brought together. These will include ‘Rock and Sea Anglesey’, from Oriel Môn, which, measuring over 10 metres long, is the largest drawing on paper held by any UK public collection. There will also be a selection of choice loans from Manchester Art Gallery and the Royal Academy.
The loans are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the Weston Loan Programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections. The exhibition is a collaboration with Art Space Gallery| Michael Richardson Contemporary Art and the Estate of Leonard McComb RA.
Leonard McComb RA (1930-2018) received acclaim and accolades throughout his career for his work in different mediums including painting, drawing and sculpture. This exhibition at the Williamson will have a particular focus on McComb’s ecological outlook, which can be found throughout his work. Whether portrait, still life, landscape, or sculpture, McComb’s work demonstrates his beliefs on the beauty, energy, and interconnectedness of all life.
Curator Josh Mackarell says that “we are delighted to be able to bring this major exhibition of an important and celebrated artist to Merseyside. McComb’s work is not just relevant to our modern times for its beauty and technical brilliance, but also because its environmental outlook speaks to the fundamental debates of our time.”
The exhibition will open on Friday 14th August 2026 and run until Saturday 31st October.
