Art

Latest art news and highlights

The very latest news is posted on our Exmouth Arts Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/exmoutharts/

This year's Devon Open Studios was held from 6 to 21 September 2025. A variety of venues and studios across Devon opened their doors and welcomed visitors to see first hand their creative spaces. From painting to printmaking, pottery, glass, jewellery, sculpture, metal work, furniture making and more – there was something to captivate every taste and interest. See https://devonartistnetwork.co.uk/devon-open-studios/. The booklet can be downloaded from https://devonartistnetwork.co.uk/DOS0010-2025-Guide-SCREEN.pdf
The 79th Annual Art Exhibition by Exmouth Art Group is being held from 9 October until 20 October 2025 at The Ocean on Exmouth's seafront. You can find out about it on the Exmouth Art Group website at https://www.exmouthartgroup.co.uk/exhibitions, and see below.
The new art gallery, Artisan Fine Art, has recently moved to the Artisan Art Gallery, No 1 Chapel Hill, Exmouth, EX8 1NY. See https://artisanfineart.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569182361718
Arty Boat has now moved to 46 Exeter Road, Exmouth, EX8 1PY. See https://artyboat.co.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556791417353

If you know of any news or events which you would like to see featured here, please email me, John Hunt, at john.hunt@gmx.co.uk

Devon Open Studios enters Second Week across East DevonThis September, Devon Open Studios has returned with 16 days of exhibitions and open workshops.

Local artist joins Devon Open Studios with new exhibitionDevon Open Studios returns from 6 to 21 September, with more than 400 artists welcoming visitors into 170 studios and venues across the county.…

Sea View Art Barn joins Devon Open Studios with exciting exhibitionThis September, a creative and artistic hub near Otterton will open its doors as part of the Devon Open Studios trail, from Saturday, September 13,…

Exmouth photo group welcomes new members after successful exhibitionHeld at the Premier Inn during the last weekend in August, the event drew in crowds.

Immersive art experience to open in Devon next monthThe exhibition features more than 300 of the artist’s works, paired with a specially curated soundtrack.

Devon Open Studios - Local artists

Artists in the Exmouth area participating in Devon Open Studios this year are:

Michael Buckland (Exmouth) (painting, drawing) - https://devonartistnetwork.co.uk/members/member/s-c-bforlifehotmail-co-uk/
Daphne Currier (Exmouth) -(collage, mixed media, painting, textiles) https://devonartistnetwork.co.uk/members/member/daphne-currier/
Annette Nettie Jane Art (Exmouth) (painting, textiles, mixed media, printmaking, sculpture) - https://devonartistnetwork.co.uk/members/member/annette-pearson/
Ray Balkwill (Exmouth) - https://devonartistnetwork.co.uk/members/member/ray-balkwill/
Mike Thompson Metal Sculpture (Exmouth)- https://devonartistnetwork.co.uk/members/member/mike-thompson-metal-sculpture/
Charlotte Ellis (Lympstone) - https://devonartistnetwork.co.uk/members/member/charlotte-ellis/
Laura Sissons - Makara Silver Jewellery (Lympstone) - https://devonartistnetwork.co.uk/members/member/lauraksissons/
Seaview Art Barn (Frances Carter. Phil Creek, Julie Dunster, Penny Silverthorne and Alison Summerfield(Otterton) - https://seaviewartbarn.co.uk/

Other artists in the Exmouth area who participated in 2023 and 2024 Devon Open Studios are:

Deborah Bailey, Sophie Coleman, Jane Hunter Ceramics and Ali Pawson (ceramics, mixed media, painting, textiles, sculpture, printmaking, glass) - www.glasswings.co.uk and www.sophiecoleman.co.uk
Louise Banks (painting) - www.louisebanksart.co.uk
Claire Belcher and Charlotte Ellis (painting, printmaking, wood, mixed media, pyrography) - www.seaglassgallery.co.uk/devon-openstudios-2023
Anna FitzGerald ( painting, sculpture, jewellery, mixed media) - https://www.visitexmouth.org/listings/sea-dog-art/, https://www.facebook.com/seadoggallery/, and https://www.facebook.com/AnnafitzGeraldAnna
Dawn Jordan Art (painting) - www.dawnjordanart.co.uk
Louise Kelly (painting)- www.louisekellyart.com
Claire Lowe Jewellery - https://www.clairelowe.co.uk/
Katherine Maher (collage, drawing, illustration, mixed media, painting) - https://www.katherinemaherarts.com/
Sally Rich BA MA (painting , printmaking) - www.sallyrichart.co.uk
Penny Roberts (painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, collage, digital, mixed media, cyanotype) - www.pennyrobertsart.com
Jo Salter (painting) - www.josalter.org
Angie Seaway (mixed media, painting) - https://sites.google.com/view/angieseawayartist/
Pip Spoerry (painting, mixed media)
Judy Stutchbury and Bernice Fynn (ceramics, painting)
Jo Talbot Bowen (painting, sculpture, printmaking, glass, collage, mixed media, verre eglomisee) - www.jotalbotbowen.co.uk
Izzy Webber - https://www.izzywebberart.com/

More details of most of these artists are on pages 21 - 23 of the 2024 Devon Open Studios booklet - https://devonartistnetwork.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DOS0005-2024-Guide-JUNE-2024-SCREEN.pdf

More local news and information

The Thelma Hulbert Gallery, based in Honiton, serves the whole of East Devon - https://www.thelmahulbert.com/
The Exmouth Art Group's website is https://www.exmouthartgroup.co.uk/ and is also immediately below. This includes details of its forthcoming Annual Art Exhibition.
Sea Dog Art Gallery and High Tide Cafe, Temple Winds, Exmouth: for art and a variety of other arts-related events (art curated by Anna Fitzgerald) - https://www.tiktok.com/@high.tide.exmouth , https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553400550647, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067161765964 , https://www.facebook.com/seadoggallery/, https://www.facebook.com/AnnafitzGeraldAnna
The ACED (Arts & Culture East Devon) website is impressive. Do take a look at it - https://www.aced.org.uk/
Exmouth's Abode of Love - see the Exmouth Journal article below, and for more more articles just scroll on down.

Local art and art-related organisations

Exmouth Art Group - http://www.exmouthartgroup.co.uk/
Exmouth Ceramic Group - https://www.exmouthceramics.org.uk/
Exmouth Photo Group - https://www.exmouthphotogroup.com/
Exmouth Pottery - https://exmouthpottery.co.uk/
Createxe: an arts group in Exmouth - see https://www.facebook.com/createxe365/
Devon Artist Network (which organises Devon Open studios every September) - https://devonartistnetwork.co.uk/

Recent art news:

Sidmouth exhibition to feature Exmouth artistsThe annual Artbeat exhibition is returning to Kennaway House, Sidmouth.

Exmouth artists to be featured in exhibitionAn art exhibition being held in September will feature work from two Exmouth artists.

Over 150 people attend Exmouth photo exhibitionExmouth Photo Group were delighted to hold their two-day print exhibition at the Premier Inn on 30th and 31st August. Over 150 visitors braved the…

Exhibition will showcase wide variety of photographsExmouth Photo Group hosts a free photography exhibition at Premier Inn, Exmouth, 30–31 August. Vote for your favourite print and meet local…

Exmouth Banksy thanks residents for vote to COP26 commissionIt was nearly a year ago local street artist Garf, (responsible for the much art around Exmouth including the Giraffe and Dentist, many Dinosaurs…

East Devon artist meets King Charles III at Buckingham PalaceAlan Cotton attended the event alongside his wife, Tricia, after being invited to Buckingham Palace by the King and Queen.

Budleigh annual art exhibit showcases local artworkThe Budleigh Salterton Art Club has held its annual exhibition in the town's public hall.

...and take a look at this website from Garf (Gary Cook): https://www.garfillustration.com/

Regular activities - but please check with the organisers

Most Wednesdays at 7.30 pm (but check on website): Exmouth Photo Group, The Salvation Army Hall, Sheppard's Row, Exmouth EX8 1PW. See https://www.exmouthphotogroup.com/meetings
Every Thursday at 9:30 am to 12.30 pm and 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm: Exmouth Art Group members come together at the Sea Cadets Hall to paint, create and enjoy workshops. See http://www.exmouthartgroup.org.uk/events
Exmouth Art Trail: This family-friendly interactive art trail has now come to an end. Information about it and associated art is on the Exmouth Lost & Found Art website - https://www.lostandfoundart.co.uk/ and at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExmouthArtTrail/ and https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Found-Art-trails-and-events-808520196149533/. The map is at https://www.lostandfoundart.co.uk/pages/get-your-map

Galleries, artists and classes

Artisan Fine Art, has recently moved to the Artisan Art Gallery, No 1 Chapel Hill, Exmouth, EX8 1NY. See https://artisanfineart.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569182361718
Arty Boat has moved to 46 Exeter Road, Exmouth, EX8 1PY. See https://artyboat.co.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556791417353
Createxe: an arts group in Exmouth with a Facebook page that features inspirational artworks and projects: https://www.facebook.com/createxe365/. Members can post their own work if they wish.
Ella's: Ella Slade, Sideshore, Queen's Drive Space, Exmouth, EX8 2GD. See https://ellasdevon.com/
Sally Rich: Exmouth Artist. See https://www.facebook.com/SallyRichIllustratedBooks/
Sea Dog Art Gallery and Cafe, Temple Winds, Exmouth: for art and a variety of other arts-related events (art curated by Anna Fitzgerald) - https://www.facebook.com/seadoggallery/, https://www.facebook.com/AnnafitzGeraldAnna
Seaway Gallery, Exmouth: features the work of local expressive landscape painter Angie Seaway, who also runs an 8-week course, "Print and paint" classes (Wednesdays from 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm and Fridays from 1.00 pm - 3.00 pm) and "Kids need art" classes (Saturdays from 10.00 am - 11.15 am). Details at https://www.facebook.com/exmouthuk/ and https://www.artrabbit.com/organisations/seaway-gallery

Please check details direct with these artists and galleries.

Is there anything that we have left out that you would like to see included? Please email john.hunt@gmx.co.uk

Local artists

Anna Fitzgerald ArtAnna Fitzgerald Art is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Anna Fitzgerald Art and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.

Sea Dog ArtSea Dog Art, Exmouth, Devon. 2,684 likes · 82 talking about this. A non profit art business in Exmouth. We run galleries exhibitions and community projects

'Garf' Illustrator/Cartoonist/Street Artist - Garf Blog, commissions to orderGary 'Garf' Cook Illustration, for original images, drawings, cartoons, book illustrations, gag jokes, advertising. Freelancer and conceptual illustrator, creative thinker, available for book, magazine, editorial, publishing and personal commissions.

Sally Rich ArtLuxury cards, cushions and canvases from an award winning artist based in Devon. Statement pieces for any home or workplace, produced at the highest quality.

Ella's Studio

Angie Seaway ArtistAngie’s paintings are a celebration of Britain’s obsession with the weather. She lives just minutes from the East Devon coastline and the influence of the ever-changing elements on the Devon landscape guide her work. Her painting reflects the dual impact of the weather on the landscape she is

Exmouth's Abode of Love project

A panel, including Exmouth artist Anna Fitzgerald and councillor Joe Whibley, selected 60 participants to complete this project - artists, performers, musicians, writers and designers. Read more about this in the Exmouth Journal - just click on the images below....

Transforming Exmouth’s seafront into a collaborative canvasExmouth residents are being invited to help turn a section of the seafront into an ever-changing work of art.

Some older news items

Archive

On Saturday 22 July 2023 at the Exeter Phoenix the exhibition‘Toys of Innocence and Experience’ took place. It unashamedly carries a title borrowed from the English poet, painter and visionary, William Blake. His illustrated ‘Songs of Innocence and of Experience’ is, perhaps, his most popular book of poems. In it he uses child-like verses as a vehicle for satire and social comment.

Here, toys take on that role. Either by playing with them, or on close inspection, participants discover that these toys aren’t so innocent. Indeed, some of the twenty-five toys in the show might possibly be found to be disturbing, or even shocking. At the very least they cannot be described simply as sculptures. They are more like stimulators for the formation of thoughts – thoughts about society and the world we live in.

The German artist, Joseph Beuys coined the term ‘social sculpture’. Cliff Gorman gave a multimedia presentation which focusessed on Beuys’ concept of ‘Social Sculpture’ and its significance for the world today.

More details at https://exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/toys-of-innocence-and-experience/