Watts Gallery

Watts Gallery - Dates for your diary

Flower Fairies The Magical World of Cicely Mary Barker comes to a close this month on Sunday 27 April. Discover the artist behind the iconic Flower Fairies books through Cicely’s delicate illustrations and sketch-es, with playful moments along the way. Explore the exhibition in more depth with our final lunchtime curator tour on Thursday 3 April. Continue the magic into the Watts Gallery woodlands with an outdoor Tree Fairy Trail.
At Watts Contemporary Gallery, visit the Spirit of Charleston which features the works of 10 artists embracing the exuberant spirit of Charleston Farmhouse near Lewes, created by the Bloomsbury Group’s Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant in the early 20th Century. All works for sale. FREE entry. The gallery is located above the Watts Gallery Shop. Runs until Sunday 6 April 2025.
Opening on Thursday 10 April, Watts Contemporary Gallery presents Handcrafted, an exhibition bringing together the works of eight craftswomen working in a variety of media in celebration of Mary Watts’s 175th birthday anniversary.
The Easter holidays are fast approaching. Get creative as a family and join us to celebrate the final weeks of the Flower Fairies exhibition during Spring Family Days on Thursday 10, Saturday 12 and Tuesday 15 April. Embrace the arrival of spring at Clay Club on Sundays.
Themes change fortnightly (see website for details)
DON’T FORGET, COMPTON RESIDENTS GET 50% OFF ADMISSION! VALID WITH A PROOF OF ADDRESS.
www.wattsgallery.org.uk.

Mary Watts was mentioned in BBC podcast You’re Dead To Me: The Arts and Crafts Movement: William Morris and his circle. The episode of the comedy-history podcast, hosted by Greg Jenner, is well worth a listen for anyone who wants to learn more about this movement and the artists at its forefront. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00274qh.

Nestled in the beautiful Surrey Hills, Watts Gallery first opened its doors to the public in 1904. It is unique in the UK being the only purpose-built art gallery created for the display of works by a single artist, the great Victorian artist G.F. Watts (1817-1904). Over one hundred paintings and sculptures are on permanent display; spanning a period of 70 years, they include portraits, landscapes and major symbolic works.

Perched on a hillside, overlooking the Gallery sits Limnerslease, the Autumn and Winter home and studio of G.F. and Mary Watts, originally built in the Arts & Crafts style. Limnerslease recently underwent a major restoration project. Don’t miss the chance to join a guided tour and glimpse the start of this nationally important project.

To this day, the legacy of G.F. and Mary Watts lives on, with artists working onsite and a contemporary gallery selling artwork by local and national artists. Watts Gallery also runs an extensive events programme for families, adults and young people, offering the opportunity to improve your art skills, attend a lecture, or meet one of the artists in residence.

George Frederic Watts 1817 - 1904

The English symbolist painter and sculptor George Frederic Watts lived in Compton during the latter years of his life.

George Frederic Watts occupies a unique place in the history of British painting. Famous in his day as a painter and sculptor, he gained the nickname of ‘England’s Michelangelo’. His aim was to re-invent British history painting in a grand manner, making images that were both uplifting and thought provoking. He believed art should also be accessible to everyone, not just the rich, so he gave many of his pictures to public galleries, helping to found the Tate Gallery in 1897.

Watts was a serious individual, so it may therefore come as no surprise that his marriage to the teenage actress Ellen Terry, was short lived. In later life, he married Mary Fraser-Tytler (1886) who was 36 years his junior. Mary devoted the rest of her life to her husband, both during his life and after his death.

In 1891 Watts made Limnerslease his winter retreat and it remained so until his death in 1904. Mary Watts, the inspiration behind the move to Compton and the Chapel, continued to live there until she died in 1938.

Shortly before his death in 1904, G.F. Watts saw the opening of the first and main portion of 'Watts Picture Gallery'.

Cicely Robinson is Curator.

G.F. Watts - Lion & Tiger Fighting. 1830. Aged 13

Watts Chapel

Watts Gallery