To coincide with the Gallery reopening, we are excited to present a major solo exhibition of new work by artist Emma Richardson. Spanning the gallery’s entire east wing, this show features a striking series of oil paintings that delve into the themes of desire, transcendence, and the sublime through a distinctly female lens. Known for her visceral use of paint and layered surfaces, Richardson creates large-scale, seductive works that blur the boundaries between the bodily and the celestial. Her immersive visual world draws on baroque drama, sci-fi atmosphere, influences ranging from writer Annie Ernaux to female surrealist artists, and her own lived experience as a touring musician. This exhibition holds particular significance in Southampton, where Richardson was born and lived for much of her life. A regular visitor to the Gallery, Richardson has selected works from the city’s collection, to be shown alongside her own, highlighting both the influence and relevance of specific artists, and creating a dialogue between contemporary and historic voices.

This exhibition will bring together a selection of works on paper that have been digitised and made available online during the Gallery’s temporary closure, as part of the Arts Council England supported Unlocking Collections project. The display will feature a range of media, with paper as the main support, including watercolour, drawing, prints and photography. ​Due to their light-sensitive nature, many of these works cannot be frequently displayed, and some have not been exhibited for many years. Preparatory sketches will also be shown alongside final paintings, including several drawings and plans for In the Park (St James’s) by Malcolm Drummond, offering a fascinating insight into an artist’s creative process. ​

Take inspiration from Emma Richardson’s exhibition, Levitate Me and create your own mixed media pieces with acrylic paint, inks and collage. With guidance from experienced artist and teacher, Abi Kremer, you will also consider and explore thrilling, impactful visuals from your own experience and take these on an experimental journey. Bring a photo or object that originates from natural form (could be flowers/shells/rocks) to use as a starting point. The day will begin with an opportunity to sketch in Emma Richardson’s exhibition, and continue in the Gallery workshop. You may be surprised by your outcome! All art materials are provided, but you may wish to take your sketchbook into the exhibition. CANCELLATIONS In the unlikely event that we cancel a session, we will offer a full refund. Unfortunately tickets are otherwise non-refundable. Please contact us if you wish to transfer your ticket to a friend if you cannot attend for any reason. If you have any questions about the event please contact us at [email protected] or give us a ring at 023 8083 4536.

Join artist Debra Marsh to experiment with different art styles and materials in a fun and accessible way. A great way to encourage your child’s creativity without making a mess at home.

Take time out for yourself, switch off your phone and slow down at this creative group for grown-ups. Each month, the group will work with a different point of inspiration and explore different media with a focus on experimentation and exploration. All materials are provided.

Work at your own pace with individual feedback and tuition on hand from Peter at these relaxed and friendly sessions. You are welcome to bring your own materials, although we will supply the basics. Suitable for all levels of experience except absolute beginners to drawing. These sessions run from 11am – 4pm with a short break for lunch.

Join Southampton based artist Alex Sutherland to experiment with different art materials and ideas and have some fun! Each monthly session we will take our inspiration from the artwork on display an our collection. Adults are welcome to drop their child off or to stay for these sessions. You can book for each session individually or receive a discounted price when booking all four. If you would like to book for a different date to that on this page, please click on a date in the list below or go back to our main events page to browse. Dates for summer 2026 are as follows: 9 May 13 June 11 July 8 August

Join textile artist and teacher Mary Eynon to try your hand at batik. Inspired by ocean forms and the movement of water, we can create a batik fabric piece of art and decorated with inks. This could be transformed into a scarf or a decorative wall piece.’ All levels of experience are welcome and all materials are provided. Please do bring a plastic / waterproof bag to take your work home in. Inspired by walking and the landscape, Mary captures her environment through a variety of mediums to express the natural beauty of her surroundings. She says, “_My practice is about my entire being and what it means to be me, embracing my desire to explore and discover._” She aims to convey the senses and feelings felt while walking and immersed in the landscape. Much of her work is open to the viewer to feel the tactile qualities so the imagery is no longer a personal aspect.

Learn how to capture the likeness of an individual in the inspirational environment of Southampton Art Gallery. Open to all levels of ability from beginner to experienced artist, you’ll be supported and encouraged to develop your individual style of portrait drawing. Please note, this workshop takes place up in the Gallery, so unfortunately refreshments will not be available. There will be a short break for lunch. You are welcome to bring something with you to have in our foyer area or pop to the cafe, where you’ll receive a 10 percent discount.

Join experienced artist & tutor Emma Morrissey for our new series of workshops to take inspiration from the paintings on display in a walk around the Gallery. At this practical workshop, you will learn the basics of shape & form to create Lowry inspired cityscapes of Britain. Learn the process of mapping out form using his infamous ‘matchstick men’, about gestural line, composition & colour using charcoal & chalk.

Join award winning printmaker Katherine Anteney to develop your linocut skills and create your own edition of prints. Starting with simple black and white linocuts to explore the mark making possibilities this technique offers, we will then move on to colour reduction printing. Ideal for beginners and improvers alike. This course will run 10am – 4.30pm daily with a short break for lunch. You are welcome to bring some food with you or to pop out. Full joining information will be sent out at least a week in advance, but all materials are provided.

Kick off the summer with the first of our hands-on messy Art for All workshops. Take inspiration from the natural world and print a scaly tailed pangolin! We will design and print with a polytile printing block onto gorgeous collaged forest backgrounds. Did you know adults are welcome to take part too? Just purchase a ‘participant’ ticket below. If you are keeping a young person company, just book a free accompanying adult ticket. All people under the age of 16 years old must be accompanied.

Join artist Debra Marsh to experiment with different art styles and materials in a fun and accessible way. A great way to encourage your child’s creativity without making a mess at home. Mini Monets dates for Summer 2026 are: 30 May 27 June 25 July You can book for each session individually or receive a discounted price when booking all three. If you would like to book for a different date to that on this page, please click on a date in the list above or go back to our main events page to browse.

Take time out for yourself, switch off your phone and slow down at this creative group for grown-ups. Each month, the group will work with a different point of inspiration and explore different media with a focus on experimentation and exploration. All materials are provided. Dates for summer 2026 are as follows: 30 May 27 June 25 July You can book for each session individually or receive a discounted price when booking all three (please see the May 2026 listing for the discounted ticket). If you would like to book for a different date to that on this page, please click on a date in the list above or go back to our main events page to browse.

Join us to experiment with using palette knives and acrylic paint to create different effects. Fun, messy and accessible to all this is one to book early. Please note – acrylic paint does not wash out so please do dress for mess. Also… did you know adults are welcome to take part too? Just purchase a ‘participant’ ticket below. If you are keeping a young person company, just book a free accompanying adult ticket. All people under the age of 16 years old must be accompanied.

Bring alive the fabulous world of the Gruffalo and make your very own clay character to take home! Did you know adults are welcome to take part too? Just purchase a ‘participant’ ticket below. If you are keeping a young person company, just book a free accompanying adult ticket. All people under the age of 16 years old must be accompanied.

Felting is fun and fantastic! Be inspired by the new collection, tour the gallery and then learn the technique of felting. It will then be over to you to make your own felt pieces and pictures! Please bring a packed lunch and a drink. Please note you will be emailed a registration form which it would be brilliant if you could complete ahead of the session.

Do you love Comics and Cartoons? Get creative with a day designing your very own characters and bringing them to life! Led by artist and illustrator, Ali Eales. Please bring a packed lunch and a drink. Please note you will be emailed a registration form which it would be brilliant if you could complete ahead of the session.

Work at your own pace with individual feedback and tuition on hand from Peter at these relaxed and friendly sessions. You are welcome to bring your own materials, although we will supply the basics. Suitable for all levels of experience except absolute beginners to drawing. These sessions run from 11am – 4pm with a short break for lunch.

Be the talk of the beach this summer, with your own ‘designer’ tote bag. Using masking tape to section different areas, you can use a range of different colours, printing blocks and mark making materials to create a totally unique item. All materials are provided, along with aftercare instructions to keep your item colourfast. Did you know adults are welcome to take part too? Just purchase a ‘participant’ ticket below. If you are keeping a young person company, just book a free accompanying adult ticket. All people under the age of 16 years old must be accompanied.

Be the talk of the beach this summer, with your own ‘designer’ tote bag. Using masking tape to section different areas, you can use a range of different colours, printing blocks and mark making materials to create a totally unique item. All materials are provided, along with aftercare instructions to keep your item colourfast. Did you know adults are welcome to take part too? Just purchase a ‘participant’ ticket below. If you are keeping a young person company, just book a free accompanying adult ticket. All people under the age of 16 years old must be accompanied.

Create your own spiral labyrinth tile in clay; an ancient symbol of growth and self-discovery. Using your hands to carefully trace the labyrinth imprinted into the clay surface, you’ll create a unique and personal artwork inspired by ancient art and spirit. There is no need to book for this event – just turn up on the day between 10am and 12.30pm (last entry). Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. If you’d like to let us know you are coming, please book a free ticket below to receive updates. This event is free, thanks to funding from AHRC for the Avebury Papers Project. There is the option to donate to the gallery below. All donations are gratefully received. About the Project: The Avebury Papers is a four-year UKRI funded project to digitise, explore, and share the multimedia archive of Avebury’s Neolithic origins and ongoing investigation. To encourage creative reuse of the archive and inspire new stories, The Avebury Papers Project commissioned two artists, Gayle Chong Kwan and Kialy Tihngang to respond to the wealth of material making up the Avebury Papers, leading to the creation of the artworks Oneiric Archaeologies (Dr Gayle Chong Kwan) and The Bluest Eye (Kialy Tihngang).

Join us for a guided extended reality (XR) experience of Oneiric Archaeologies, an installation by artist Dr Gayle Chong Kwan, inspired by the Avebury stones. The installation centres around a circle of ten ‘stones’, each of which lead to a surreal landscape inspired by the historical and contemporary dreams of archaeologists about Avebury. At this drop in event, you will be able to navigate through the landscapes and dreams themselves using wearable works and XR controller; a multi-sensory exploration of entanglements in archaeology and dreaming through XR, tactile wearables, and ritual practice. There is no need to book for this event, but if you want to let us know you are coming and receive updates about the day, book a free ticket below. There is also the option to donate. Led by Mark Gillings and Alex Birkett from Bristol University About the Avebury Papers Project: The Avebury Papers is a four-year UKRI funded project to digitise, explore, and share the multimedia archive of Avebury’s Neolithic origins and ongoing investigation. To encourage creative reuse of the archive and inspire new stories, The Avebury Papers Project commissioned two artists, Gayle Chong Kwan and Kialy Tihngang to respond to the wealth of material making up the Avebury Papers, leading to the creation of the artworks Oneiric Archaeologies (Dr Gayle Chong Kwan) and The Bluest Eye (Kialy Tihngang).

This Special Interest Day (SID) is arranged to coincide with a major exhibition of 20th century art at Southampton City Art Gallery Art Then! British Painting 1910-1960. Participants will be taken on a private guided tour of the exhibition, hear a talk about Eric Ravilious and other artists featured in the exhibition by Arts Society and National Gallery expert Jo Walton and be treated to a behind the scenes talk given by gallery staff . Art Then ! will celebrate half a century of modern British art. Curated by Art Society speaker, David Boyd Haycock, and in collaboration with the Ingram Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art, it will feature over 90 artworks including paintings, sculptures and drawings exhibited in the newly-refurbished display rooms of the gallery. The exhibition features works by leading British artists of this period: Paul Nash, Eric Ravilious, Barbara Hepworth, Dora Carrington, Lucian Freud, Duncan Grant, Graham Sutherland, Dod Proctor and Lucian Freud, as well as showcasing works by number of less well-known but no less fascinating figures. The exhibition takes its cues from Herbert Reads Art Now book published in 1968 which looked at British artists response to the Modernist revolution. The SID is being held in the gallery which recently reopened after a major upgrade. We will have refreshments in the restored and repainted upstairs atrium. Our Special Interest Day will have three exciting elements: 1. A private tour of the Art Now exhibition displayed in the gallerys newly-updated rooms, conducted by SCAGs knowledgeable ex-curator, Tim Craven.This will be conducted in two groups of maximum 20 people with one group in the morning and one in the afternoon. 2. A talk on Eric Ravilious (whose Rye Harbour is on display) and his contemporaries by National Gallery and Art Society speaker, Jo Walton. This talk looks at Ravilious, war artist and great English watercolourist, alongside some of his contemporaries who were working on the Home Front in the Second World War. It will reference work on display in the gallery. 3. A behind the scenes talk by gallery staff highlighting the work of the gallery which is being arranged by exhibitions manager Dan Mathews.

Join us here at the Gallery this solstice weekend for a day of family friendly activities centred around the Avebury Papers. What’s happening: XR Experience with artist Dr Gayle Chong Kwan Join us for a guided extended reality (XR) experience of Oneiric Archaeologies, an installation by artist Dr Gayle Chong Kwan, inspired by the Avebury stones. The installation centres around a circle of ten ‘stones’, each of which lead to a surreal landscape inspired by the historical and contemporary dreams of archaeologists about Avebury. At this drop in event, you will be able to navigate through the landscapes and dreams themselves using wearable works and XR controller; a multi-sensory exploration of entanglements in archaeology and dreaming through XR, tactile wearables, and ritual practice. 3D Headdresses with artist Lucie Smith Let your creativity run free at this hands-on workshop. Work with willow, wire, organic materials and more to create your own unique head dress inspired by the Avebury stones. Postcards from Avebury Design and draw your own postcards inspired by Avebury and its stories with the Gallery team. How to book: There is no need to book for this event, but if you want to let us know you are coming and receive updates about the day, book a free ticket below. There is also the option to donate. This event is free, thanks to funding from AHRC for the Avebury Papers Project. About the Project: The Avebury Papers is a four-year UKRI funded project to digitise, explore, and share the multimedia archive of Avebury’s Neolithic origins and ongoing investigation. To encourage creative reuse of the archive and inspire new stories, The Avebury Papers Project commissioned two artists, Gayle Chong Kwan and Kialy Tihngang to respond to the wealth of material making up the Avebury Papers, leading to the creation of the artworks Oneiric Archaeologies (Dr Gayle Chong Kwan) and The Bluest Eye (Kialy Tihngang).

Perfect your printing skills. You will visit the gallery and be inspired by the collection. Then spend the day learning and creating artworks using different printing techniques including gelli plate, mono and press printing. Please bring a packed lunch and a drink. Please note you will be emailed a registration form which it would be brilliant if you could complete ahead of the session. CANCELLATIONS In the unlikely event that we cancel a session, we will offer a full refund. Unfortunately tickets are otherwise non-refundable. Please contact us if you wish to transfer your ticket to a friend if you cannot attend for any reason. If you have any questions about the event please contact us at [email protected] or give us a ring at 023 8083 4536.

Street Art is all around us. Learn all about the art and the artists who produce it. Take your inspiration from them and spend the day having fun and getting creativity with a variety of materials to produce your own street art. Please bring a packed lunch and a drink. Please note you will be emailed a registration form which it would be brilliant if you could complete ahead of the session. CANCELLATIONS In the unlikely event that we cancel a session, we will offer a full refund. Unfortunately tickets are otherwise non-refundable. Please contact us if you wish to transfer your ticket to a friend if you cannot attend for any reason. If you have any questions about the event please contact us at [email protected] or give us a ring at 023 8083 4536.

Join Southampton based artist Alex Sutherland to experiment with different art materials and ideas and have some fun! Each monthly session we will take our inspiration from the artwork on display an our collection. Adults are welcome to drop their child off or to stay for these sessions. You can book for each session individually or receive a discounted price when booking all four. If you would like to book for a different date to that on this page, please click on a date in the list below or go back to our main events page to browse. Dates for summer 2026 are as follows: 9 May [https://southamptonmuseumsandgallery.co.uk/events/young-ones-may2026/] 13 June [https://southamptonmuseumsandgallery.co.uk/events/young-ones-june2026/] 11 July [https://southamptonmuseumsandgallery.co.uk/events/young-ones-july2026/] 8 August CANCELLATIONS In the unlikely event that we cancel a session, we will offer a full refund. Unfortunately tickets are otherwise non-refundable. Please contact us if you wish to transfer your ticket to a friend if you cannot attend for any reason. If you have any questions about the event please contact us at [email protected] or call us on 023 8083 4536 (emails and phones are staffed weekdays 9am-5pm).