Gallery

Exhibiting Now

Now in its 12th year, the biennial New Light Prize Exhibition is an open art competition which celebrates and promotes the best of Northern Art. 

It is open to artists born, living, or studying an art-based degree in Cheshire, Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland, or Yorkshire.

From the call out, a prestigious panel of judges have selected over 120 exciting artworks in an array of mediums for this the biennial New Light Prize Exhibition.

The Gallery at Rheged is delighted to be Cumbria’s hosting venue for this exhibition, where visitors can explore the wealth of northern talent, discuss the 5 award winners, vote for the Visitors Choice Award and purchase new work.

Open daily 10am to 5.30pm. Free Entry



Libby Edmondson’s Pop-Up Print Shop

Now open near our Gallery, visit our pop-up print shop dedicated to the vibrant work of Libby Edmondson with over 20 prints to choose from as well as a range of her Hare and Cheetah Sculptures.

All the artwork is available to take away on the day of your visit. You simply fill in the order form and take it the Gallery Desk where the team will be delighted to help.

Open daily 10am-5pm

We Feed The UK – Pop-up Portraits Exhibition

Until 15 April

A selection of We Feed the UK portraits, taken by photographer Louis Little, is currently on display in our community Gallery. We Feed the UK is a radical re-storying of regenerative farmers, food producers and grain rebels; custodians of biocultural diversity across land, sea, soil and seed. Their nature-friendly practices are the root of our future resilience, and the time is ripe to elevate these efforts in support of the regenerative farming transition right here in the British Isles.

Throughout 2023 The Gaia Foundation, who are leading on We Feed The UK, set up a pop-up portrait studio at three of the UK’s most-loved events celebrating the regenerative farming movement –  Oxford Real Farming Conference, Groundswell and Land Skills Fair. Here they met both the well-known and the unsung heroes of a thriving and hopeful sector; the people who are (re)growing an agri-culture to nourish people and planet.

Upon hearing these inspiring stories, The Gaia Foundation selected ten to amplify through a national arts project weaving together over 40 collaborators including ten critically acclaimed photographers and 10 award-winning spoken word artists, the Hot Poets.

A selection of 32 of the portraits are now on display at Rheged. They were taken by photographer Louis Little, who has worked alongside Martin Parr for a number of years, creating the infamous Parr portrait studios.

The 10 flagship We Feed The Uk exhibitions launch at the Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool on 8 February 2024, where the first story – ‘Agri-culture: a lineage of hedgerow ligging in Cumbria’ – will be exhibited, alongside previews of the nine other stories.

More at www.wefeedtheuk.org

Creative Classes

Colour, Texture and Pattern Weaving with Jan Beadle
16 Nov
|
£70
Enjoy a day weaving a scarf using a four-shaft table loom and beautiful coloured yarn.Jan…
Become a Weaver with Jan Beadle | 2 Day Course
19 Oct
|
£140
2 Day Course, 10-4pm each dayYou may know the basics, maybe you have set up…
Tartan Weaving with Jan Beadle
31 Aug
|
£70
This course is a perfect introduction to weaving for beginners. Enjoy a day of weaving a…
Create a Piped Cushion with Ashlea Ginesi
26 Oct
|
£50
New for our programme of creative classes, a chance to learn some sewing techniques with…
Introduction to Life Drawing with Catherine MacDiarmid
13 Oct
|
£65
Working direct from a life model, you will be guided through different drawing techniques using…
Painting Figures in Watercolour with Catherine Macdiarmid
29 Sep
In this creative class, you will learn the basic principles of painting people in watercolour;…
Introduction to Modern Calligraphy with Claire Gould
06 Oct
|
£65
Have you ever wished you could pick up a pen and create a beautiful piece…
Become a Weaver with Jan Beadle | 2 Day Course
11 May
|
£140
2 Day Course, 10-4pm each dayYou may know the basics, maybe you have set up…
Textured Embroidery & Abstract Mark Making class with Victoria Merness
21 Apr
|
£80
Taking inspiration from landscapes and natural themes, we will first explore abstract mark making with…
Creative Writing with Emma Thompson | Short Story Writing
20 Apr
|
£30
‘Find the key emotion; this may be all you need know to find your short…
Creative Writing with Emma Thompson | How to create Conflict and Tension
20 Apr
|
£30
A story or novel without conflict is dull and won’t engage the reader, and dramatic…
Cyanotype Coloured Animal Portraits with Artist David Lush
28 Apr
|
£65
Ideal for beginners, this class starts with a brief introduction to the cyanotype process, its…
Abstract Wet Felting Class with Victoria Merness
22 Jun
|
£80
Felt Making is the oldest craft in the world, and it can be used to…
Embroidery with Wool Workshop with Victoria Merness | For All Skill Levels
08 Sep
|
£80
This course is ideal as a progression if you have attended Victoria’s previous workshop, or…
Hand Embroidery & Applique with Victoria Merness for all Skill Levels
13 Jul
|
£80
Join Victoria for this creative class where you will learn how to embroider, embellish, and…
Create a Hand Sewn Roman Blind with Ashlea Ginesi | 2 Day Course
04 May
|
£140
New for our programme of creative classes, a chance to learn some sewing techniques with…
Natural Willow Plant Supports with Willowpool Designs
06 Apr
|
£85
Suitable for complete beginners and experienced willow weavers, this seasonal class invites you to create…
Create Botanical Prints in Full Colour. Linocut for beginners with Laura Sowerby
07 Sep
|
£90
Create an original botanical lino print in full colour, aided every step of the way…
Creative Writing with Emma Thompson | Establish and Develop Settings
11 May
Have you always wanted to write but you’re not sure where to start?  Or perhaps…
Creative Writing with Emma Thompson | Create and Develop Convincing Characters
11 May
|
£30
Have you always wanted to write but you’re not sure where to start?  Or perhaps…
Make a Freestanding Glass Wave with Roxanne Denny
14 Jul
|
£65
Learn the skill of glass fusing and express your creativity by making a decorative freestanding…
Make a Fused Glass Bowl with Roxanne Denny
30 Jun
|
£65
Learn a new skill and enjoy the freedom to get creative while making your own…
Fused Glass Christmas Decorations with Roxanne Denny
09 Nov
|
£65
Try your hand at glass fusing and have fun making your own Christmas decorations with…
Portraits in Watercolours with Catherine Macdiarmid
23 Jun
|
£55
Develop some different watercolour techniques that can be used for portraits. Photographs and photocopies will…
Excelling with Acrylic Paint with Catherine MacDiarmid
14 Apr
|
£55
Unleash your expression with acrylic paint in this workshop designed to expand painted mark-making skills.Working…
Wildlife Themed Introduction to Linocut with Sue Rowland
18 May
|
£90
We are delighted to welcome back Sue Rowland, who will inspire you to create an…
Create Botanical Prints in Full Colour. Linocut for Beginners with Laura Sowerby
27 Apr
|
£90
Create an original botanical lino print in full colour, aided every step of the way…
Colour, Texture and Pattern Weaving with Jan Beadle
20 Apr
|
£70
Enjoy a day weaving a scarf using a four-shaft table loom and beautiful coloured yarn.Jan…
Introduction to Modern Calligraphy with Claire Gould
19 May
|
£55
Have you ever wished you could pick up a pen and create a beautiful piece…
Honeycomb Weaving with Jan Beadle
13 Apr
|
£70
Honeycomb weaving creates a cell like structure which resembles the bee’s honeycomb. This class is…