A Brush with the Past

31st January - 30th March 2025

Wimbledon Museum and Common Works Gallery present a new collaboration exploring Wimbledon Common through artists past and present. Generously sponsored by Robert Holmes & Co.

Artists exhibiting

Click here for artists’ details and links to their websites
and social media

Mel Barrett

Alastair Gordon

Tracey English

Jane Bain

Elizabeth O’Farrelly

Lauren Pencil

Josette Britton

Kate Appleby

Katie Preston

Katharine Rowe

WORKSHOPS: A Brush with Nature

Join us for two workshops on Wimbledon Common.
More information and booking here.

Sketching workshop with local landscape artist Katharine Rowe
Friday 28th February, 2pm–3:30pm
Explore a variety of techniques for sketching and recording a place on paper. Suitable for all, from beginners to experienced artists.

Drawing and exploring: a family workshop
Sunday 16th March, 2pm–4pm
For families with children aged 7+

Begin with a visit to the exhibition, then head to Wimbledon Common with illustrator Louise Hung to learn sketching techniques in nature.

WHEN & WHERE

31st Jan to Sunday 30th March

Wimbledon Museum, 22 Ridgway (corner of Lingfield Road), Wimbledon SW19 4QN

Open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2:30pm to 5:00pm

Free entry

Visit the Wimbledon Museum website for more details

Ten contemporary artists have each drawn inspiration from works of art in the museum’s collection, reinterpreting the perspectives of intriguing figures such as Belgian refugee and anarchist Aloïs de Laet, suffragette Hilda Bather, and renowned stained glass designer Hugh Arnold. The result is a vivid connection between past and present, bringing new life to scenes captured by past painters and offering visitors a fascinating variety of views of the common’s timeless landscape

Wimbledon Common has inspired artists for centuries with its sweeping landscapes, tranquil woodlands, and rich history. This exhibition breathes new life into these iconic scenes as today’s artists respond to the works of the past, offering fresh perspectives on familiar vistas. Visitors will witness a compelling fusion of traditional and modern styles, highlighting the enduring significance of Wimbledon’s unique environment.

Visitors will be encouraged to respond to the paintings themselves, and to visit the Common afterwards to make their own sketches.

Silver Birches by Alistair Gordon, 2024