Art

Latest art news and highlights

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

• This year's Devon Open Studios is from 12 to 20 September 2026.  For two weeks each September, artists invite you behind the scenes of their creative practice. Discover beautiful studios, workshops and creative spaces in towns, villages and cities, across Dartmoor, Exmoor, and along the stunning North and South Devon coastlines. From painters, printmakers and ceramicists to jewellers, textile artists and sculptors, Devon Open Studios offers a unique opportunity to meet artists in person, learn about their processes, and buy directly from the maker. See https://openstudios.devonartistnetwork.co.uk/. The booklet can be downloaded from  https://openstudios.devonartistnetwork.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DOS0016-Event-Guide-AUGUST-2026-SCREEN.pdf . Details of local artist participating are below.

• The Art Explora Mobile Museum was in Exmouth and ran from 10 - 12 August  exhibiting 'Shaped by the sea'.  Click or tap on https://www.artexplora.org/en/mobile-museum-uk and the image below for more details. 

• Exmouth Art Weekend held between 1st - 4th May was a great success.  Details about it are at https://www.exmouthfestival.co.uk/artweekend/ and https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture/whats-on-art-weekend-exmouth-devon/ . You can read and/or download the brochure at https://www.exmouthfestival.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Exmouth-Art-Weekend-Brochure.pdf 

• The 79th Annual Art Exhibition by Exmouth Art Group was 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.

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 - Local artists

Artists in the Exmouth area participating in Devon Open Studios this year (up until 20 September) are:

• Hannah Woodman (Exton) (painting) - hannahwoodman.co.uk 

• Charlotte Ellis Art (Lympstone) (painting, printmaking) - charlotteellisart.com

• Kate Reeves Ceramics (Exmouth)  (Ceramics) - reeveskceramics.co.uk 

• Suzy Brunwin Felt Art (Exmouth) (textiles) - suzybrunwin.art@hotmail.com 

• Izzy Webber (Exmouth) (drawing, painting) - izzywebberart.com 

• Annette Nettie Jane Art (Exmouth) (collage, jewellery, mixed media, painting, sculpture, textiles) - af3ddesign@aol.com 

• Mike Thompson (Exmouth) (metal, sculpture) - mikethompsonmetalsculpture.co.uk 

• Louise Kelly (Woodbury Salterton) (painting) - louisekellyart.com 

• Sea View Art Barn (Otterton) -  Frances Margaret, Phil Creek SWAc (Hon) NAPA, Penny Silverthorne, Alison Summerfield SWAc (Hon), James Tatum, Jan Shayler, Doug Gilding, Ben Honey, Mary Donald and Teresa Creton- seaviewartbarn.co.uk 

More details about these artists are on pages 11-13 of the 2026 Devon Open Studios booklet - https://openstudios.devonartistnetwork.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DOS0016-Event-Guide-AUGUST-2026-SCREEN.pdf 

Local venues and information

• Artisan Fine Art is at the Artisan Art Gallery, No 1 Chapel Hill, Exmouth, EX8 1NY. See https://artisanfineart.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569182361718 

• Sea Dog  Bar, Temple Winds, Exmouth: for art and a variety of other arts-related events - https://www.seadogbar.co.uk/ 

• 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.

• 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. 

Recent art news: 

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

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 

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/