Events, Workshops and Exhibitions Art Lovers Need to Know
Art aficiandos, plan your autumn/winter with our guide to what's on across the North East and Yorkshire
North Shields 800 Mural Trail
THROUGHOUT SUMMER AND ONWARDS
North Shields
elevationcio.com
To mark North Shields’ 800th birthday, Elevation have collaborated with mural artists to bring the town’s stories and spirit to life in this vibrant mural trail, displaying art on iconic buildings throughout the town and fish quay. We love Oceanus on the 55° Fisheries building which is inspired by the archeological discovery of altars (dedicated to the water gods Neptune and Oceanus) in Newcastle.
Stories of Home
13TH SEPTEMBER–1ST NOVEMBER
Venues across Hartlepool
culturehartlepool.com
The Northern Festival of Illustration is a celebration of storytelling and this year’s theme is Stories of Home. Taking place across Hartlepool, including in Hartlepool Art Gallery and The Northern School of Art, it aims to bring communities, creatives and art lovers together.
Turner Prize 2025
FROM 27TH SEPTEMBER
Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bradford
bradford2025.co.uk
The Turner Prize (named in honour of JMW Turner) is one of the world’s best-known prizes for the visual arts. We’re so excited that it’s heading to Bradford as the 250th anniversary of Turner’s birth is celebrated this year. The shortlisted artists are Nnena Kalu, Rene Mati, Mohammed Sami and Zadie Xa, and you’ll be able to see their work in the exhibition at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery before the winner is announced on 9th December.
Revisions
UNTIL 5TH OCTOBER
Whitby Museum & Pannett Art Gallery
pannettartgallery.org
Whitby might be the last place you’d expect to find Australian aboriginal art but the Pannett Art Gallery is making that possible with this exhibition in the town where Captain Cook (the first European to make contact with the eastern coast of Australia) honed his craft.
Art Group
15TH OCTOBER, 19TH NOVEMBER & 17TH DECEMBER
Tullie, Carlisle
tullie.org.uk
Tullie’s Art Group offers adults a great opportunity to join a laid-back art session guided by an artist. You can simply join in whilst working on your own project or take part in a task set by a guest artist or specific theme. October’s session is all about paper quilling (rolling, shaping, and glueing thin strips of paper to create shapes and designs) and December’s session is the perfect time to have a go at needle felting.
Seascapes Watercolour Workshop
18TH OCTOBER
Wath Court, Hovingham
ioneharrison.co.uk
There’s no experience needed for this course where all materials are provided (plus refreshments). Join artist Ione Harrison to experiment with colour and techniques to create an atmospheric seascape painting of Whitby from Sandsend whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or looking to refresh your skills.
On Belonging
FROM 18TH OCTOBER
Inspired by... gallery, Danby
northyorkmoors.org.uk
This new exhibition of drawings and ceramics by Aphra O’Connor captures feelings of belonging. Aphra has also created an art trail for the North York Moors National Park, which is now installed permanently at the Danby site – find out more here.
Living North’s Christmas Fair
23RD–26TH OCTOBER
Newcastle Racecourse
livingnorth.com
Don’t miss this jam-packed event when our four-day North East Christmas Fair returns once again to Newcastle Racecourse. As always we’ll be showcasing work by some of the region’s most talented artists. From well-known exhibitors including Sam Wood, Emily Ward and Sue Fenlon, to fresh faces such as Lizzie Robb, Anna Longville and Kallisae Arts, there’ll be plenty of unique creations to browse. See you there!
Home and Horizon: Isobel Rooke and Hannah Brophy
24TH OCTOBER–4TH NOVEMBER
The Station, Richmond
thestation.co.uk
Artists Hannah Brophy and Isobel Rooke are displaying landscapes and still life paintings in this exhibition, celebrating and challenging traditional subjects. They’re abstract artists and not afraid of experimenting with colour.
British Landscapes in the Bishop Trevor Rooms
UNTIL NOVEMBER
Auckland Palace, Bishop Auckland
aucklandproject.org
While The Auckland Project’s Mining Art and Spanish galleries attract art lovers from far and wide, did you know there are also some seriously cool paintings on display within Auckland Palace? This special exhibition explores the birth of British landscape painting by displaying works by 18th-century masters including Gainsborough, Reynolds, Stubbs and Wilson. It’s interesting to explore how they shaped the way we see the countryside.
North Yorkshire Open Studios
1ST–2ND NOVEMBER
Across North Yorkshire
nyos.org.uk
From the hills to the dales and the coast to the city, artists across North Yorkshire are opening their studios this November to offer you a unique chance to see their creations. Artists taking part this year include mixed media artist Beth Elsdon, painter Garth Bayley and printmaker Hester Cox.
Screen Print and Construct your own Lampshade with Millie Rothera
2ND NOVEMBER
Sunny Bank Mills Gallery, Farsley
sunnybankmills.co.uk
In this fun workshop textile designer Millie Rothera will guide you through a session of screen printing and you’ll leave with your very own lampshade, created by you.
The Secret Lives of Bottle of Notes: Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen
UNTIL 2ND NOVEMBER
Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art
mima.art
Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen’s Bottle of Notes is arguably Middlesbrough’s most iconic sculpture and sits just outside the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art. This special exhibition celebrates the giant steel bottle and also explores how public art shapes identity and place. You’ll see sketches, models and documents by the artists as well as new commissions by other artists.
The Boy with a Leg Named Brian: Memoirs by Pete McKee
UNTIL 2ND NOVEMBER
Weston Park Museum, Sheffield
sheffieldmuseums.org.uk
Sheffield artist Pete McKee is taking you on a nostalgia-filled journey through his 1970s childhood in this exhibition of his artwork which also features his ‘70s pop music playlist, a chance to play Space Invaders, and a Cartoon Workshop zone – now that’s immersive art at its best. Find out more here.
Lesley Barnes and Ross McAuley: Fashion Play
UNTIL 2ND NOVEMBER
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton
ysp.org.uk
Lesley Barnes and Ross McAuley’s playful sculptures (currently on display at Yorkshire Sculpture Park) stand out with bold patterns and eye-catching colours – a fun experiment of form, colour, and shape. Head to The YSP Visitor Centre to see the vinyl illustrations and fabric hangings, where one-of-a-kind artworks are for sale too.
Tom Hume: Retrospective
FROM 8TH NOVEMBER
St Cuthbert’s Chapel, Ushaw
ushaw.org
Tom Hume was a Durham-based artist and art teacher and this is the first comprehensive exhibition of his work. It’s been co-curated by Ushaw and the artist’s widow, Barbara. Visitors will see oil paintings, preparatory drawings and sketchbooks all highlighting Tom’s passion for portraiture, figurative subjects and abstract art.
Plant Dreaming
14TH NOVEMBER–19TH APRIL 2026
Leeds Art Gallery
artgallery.leeds.gov.uk
Featuring large-scale textiles, as well as ceramics, drawings, photography, and film, Plant Dreaming brings together works by contemporary artists that consider plants from a poetic or narrative perspective, rather than through a scientific lens. The works celebrate modes of knowledge that draw on the power of the imagination, stories, folklore, and ritual, encouraging us to reconsider the position of humans in our interconnected world. This exhibition features artists including Noémie Goudal, Aliyah Hussain, Jane Lawson, Yan Wang Preston, SHARP, Emma Talbot and Charmaine Watkiss.
Living North’s Christmas Fair
20TH–23RD NOVEMBER
York Racecourse
livingnorth.com
Don’t miss this jam-packed event when our four-day Christmas Fair returns once again to York Racecourse. As always we’ll be showcasing work by some of the county’s most talented artists. From well-known exhibitors including Schiewe Ceramics, Emily Ward, Sue Wood and Rosie Smith to Alex Ash and fabulous framing by Framette, there’ll be plenty of unique creations to discover. See you there!
Festive Wreath Making Workshop
24TH–26TH NOVEMBER
Bamburgh Castle
bamburghcastle.com
Head to Bamburgh Castle on selected dates in November and prepare for the most wonderful time of the year with their creative wreath making sessions. Northumbrian florist Sharon Wright from Anthophile Academy will offer guidance to help you create your own traditional wreath using a moss and wire frame, a variety of foliage including local ivy and decorations for your door.
Beyond the Visual
FROM 28TH NOVEMBER
Henry Moore Institute, Leeds
shapearts.org.uk
The exhibition celebrates the work of blind and non-blind artists who challenge the dominance of sight in art, and therefore the works on display can be experienced with more than one sense. From new commissions and historical work to contemporary creations, there’s plenty to discover.
Winter Makers Market
29TH NOVEMBER
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead
baltic.art
This November Baltic are teaming up with Endless Love Creative for a vibrant, fun and friendly makers market. Explore over 50 artist stalls showcasing design from both emerging and established independent makers - the perfect opportunity for inspired Christmas gift shopping. Discover a contemporary curation of one-of-a-kind pieces and handcrafted items including illustration, print, stationery, ceramics, textiles, glass, jewellery, botanicals, apparel, accessories and homeware.
Fuelling the Railway Revolution
UNTIL DECEMBER
Mining Art Gallery, Bishop Auckland
aucklandproject.org
Exploring the fascinating link between coal mining and the railways, this exhibition is perfectly timed for the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. Explore artworks from artists who witnessed this social and technological transformation and those who have been inspired by it since in Fuelling the Railway Revolution.
Nerys Johnson: Disability and Practice
UNTIL 6TH DECEMBER
Laing Art Gallery
northeastmuseums.org.uk
This exhibition celebrates the life and work of late local artist and curator Nerys Johnson. As you make your way through the exhibition and explore the thousands of works on paper, including sketchbooks, prints, and watercolours, you’ll learn more about Nerys’ experience with rheumatoid arthritis and the impact of disability on her artistic practice.
Art Herbarium
UNTIL 31ST DECEMBER
Abbot Hall, Kendal
lakelandarts.org.uk
Plant, mineral and animal forms are the focus of this exhibition where drawings and paintings combine to celebrate the natural world. Work on display includes creations by Winifred Nicholson, John Ruskin and Cumbrian artist Percy Kelly.
David Hockney: 20 Flowers For 2025 And Some Bigger Pictures
UNTIL 4TH JANUARY 2026
Salts Mill, Saltaire
saltsmill.org.uk
In the third floor gallery of Salts Mill, 20 Flowers For 2025 And Some Bigger Pictures by David Hockney features a series of 20 iPad flower paintings alongside large-scale works. Don’t miss the six-screen video installation showcasing his brushstrokes.
Future Tense: Art in the Age of Transformation
UNTIL 25TH JANUARY 2026
York Art Gallery
yorkartgallery.org.uk
Contemporary artists have come together to present Future Tense and we love the immersive artworks on display. Submergence (with 8,000 individually suspended LEDs) is our favourite – it was longlisted for the Aesthetica Art Prize in 2015 and has since been exhibited in more than 100 locations across six continents.
Pippa Hale: Pet Project
UNTIL 1ST MARCH 2O26
The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle
thebowesmuseum.org.uk
Northern artist Pippa Hale is showcasing a solo commission at The Bowes Museum, which takes the museum’s renowned ceramic collection and reimagines it to form an interactive experience. All members of the family will love the larger-than-life, soft recreations of animal figurines. You’ll also learn about the cultural stories behind the collection, and have a chance to create your own figurines to take away.
Whispers of the Wilderness: Exploring Wilderness Gardens
UNTIL 12TH APRIL 2026
Beningbrough Hall, York
nationaltrust.org.uk
We’re told this is Beningbrough’s most immersive exhibition yet, and visitors are invited on a journey to explore a variety of artworks, from Laura Ellen Bacon’s willow sculptures to historic artworks from the National Trust collection. Plus there’ll be a chance to sketch and immerse yourself in soundscapes too.
