What’s On May 2026: Members’ News
Welcome to the May issue of Members’ News. Our “Dictionary” exhibition at the Art Pavilion in Mile End has just closed but no rest for our members who are still busy exhibiting, hosting events and running workshops not just across the country but internationally.
Exhibitions & Events:
Ross Belton is currently showing his sculpture “INVASION” as part of Malton Sculpture Trail in Dalby Forest until 31st May 2026. The Dalby Forest Visitors Centre, Low Dalby, Thornton-Le-Dale, Pickering, YO18 7LT1. Open until 31 October: 9:30am - 5pm and November - 28 February: 9am - 4pm. The what three word location of “INVASION” in the Dalby Forest as part of the Malton Sculpture Trail is ///free.resold.toasters.
Nerissa Cargill Thompson has had her sculpture “Mind The Gap” selected for the Bolton Open at Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, Le Mans Crescent, Bolton BL1 1SE. Open until 17th May, Monday-Saturday 9am - 5pm, Sunday 10:00am - 4:00pm. A showcase of artists who live, work, or study in Bolton. Artworks include painting, drawing, print, textiles, photography, sculpture, mixed media and digital. "Mind the Gap" was originally created for the Prism "Edgelands" exhibition.
Julieanne Long work can be seen in “Metamorphosis” at Farfield Mill, Garsdale Road, Sedberg, Cumbria, LA10 5LW until Sunday 31st May, open Wednesday to Sundays 10am - 4pm. “Metamophosis” is a textile art exhibition to showcase work shortlisted for their textile competition.
Nerissa Cargill Thompson has been commissioned to created new work as part of Immaterial Collective for Your Salford 100: Contemporary Narratives at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Peel Park, The Crescent, M5 4WU. It can be seen until Sunday September 27th 2026, Tuesday - Friday: 9.30am – 4.00pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11.30am – 4.00pm. Immaterial Collective were excited to be invited to explore the archives to inspire new textile artworks as part of the centenary celebrations of the City of Salford. We will showing these alongside the items that inspired them. A collection of print artists were invited to do the same. Together we make up the Contemporary Narratives exhibition.
Sharon Kearley is taking part in the Weeftnetwork virtual exhibition launching on 1st April 2026. The Virtual Exhibition International Weaving presents its fourth exhibition with the theme ‘Entwine’. Woven art by23 weavers from Italy, UK, France, Denmark and The Netherlands can be seen in the virtual exhibition from 1 April 2026. Visit the exhibition online: www.artsteps.com/view/679617227b2a881ac76ddc0a
Willeke Klaassen is exhibiting in Vezelkracht (fibre power), a group exhibition of several artists making innovative art with textiles, at Saeckenborgh artist hub, Spoordreef 20-36 Almere, Netherlands until May 24th. Open Sat and Sun 1-5 pm.
Patti Taylor work can be seen in "Water", a themed group exhibition at Fronteer Gallery, Unit 4, Orchard Square, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S1 2FB, until 7th May 2026, 11am-4pm, Tuesday - Thursday and 2.15-5.15 Saturday. Patti’s watercolour, "Spurn Groynes III" came from one of her first visits to the fascinating area of Spurn Point, at the mouth of the River Humber.
Nerissa Cargill Thompson presents her first solo exhibition, The Problem Lies Upstream in Gallery 2, The Harris, Preston, until Sunday 5 July 2026, Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm (Thursday until 9pm), Sunday 11am - 4pm. A cautionary tale told through mixed media sculptures. Nerissa’s first solo show gathers all the sculptures from the Green Loop art trail into one place to highlight coastal plastic pollution. Nerissa will be running some workshops (see below) and giving a free talk as part of the Spark Artist Network programme of events.
Niki Chandler is taking part in “Cherry Blossom Project” at The Garden Museum, London SE1 7LB from 28 April - 21 May 2026. Open daily 10 - 5pm but check website for events that may cause early closure. The exhibition installation will move to two further venues in 2026 & 2027. This is an international installation project instigated by Sara Cook (Bojagi patchwork textile artist) in collaboration with the British Korean Society. The project is inspired by Cherry blossom festivals that bring people together to celebrate the arrival of spring. People gather and sit beneath the blossom laden trees, sharing food and experiencing the fleeting beauty of the flowers. Each participant, of which there are over 700 , has contributed a hand stitched string of x5 mandus (Korean dumplings) made from hand dyed Korean silk using traditional Bojagi techniques.
Sally Spinks is exhibiting in “Touchlines: The Delicate Boundaries of Care and Cloth” - 62 Group Exhibition on 3rd floor, 1912 Mill, Sunny Bank Mills, Town St, Farsley, Pudsey, LS28 5UJ from 1st - 31st May, open Thursday to Sunday 10am - 4pm. Preview 1st May 6pm. Each year, the group responds to a new brief for their annual exhibition. This year’s theme was developed in collaboration with Anna Turzynski, the Mill’s Arts Director, drawing on the site’s rich industrial and cultural history. In Touchlines, artists explore the subtle thresholds where contact is felt, withheld, or transformed. Set within the historic spaces of Sunny Bank Mills, the exhibition draws connections between textile labour, sporting cultures, and human relationships, asking how boundaries shape intimacy, care, and collective identity. The exhibition invites viewers to slow down and reflect on the quiet gestures, fragile edges, and resilient connections tracing the points where making meets lived experience.
Annie Taylor will be participating in Whitstable Artists and Makers Trail, an artists open house with 16 houses and 25 artists and makers across Whitstable. Annie is showing at House No.14 on the Trail Map, available to pick up around town for free, or see online Saturday 2nd May and Sunday 3rd May, 11am to 4pm. A popular two day artists open house giving visitors the opportunity to meet artists and makers in their natural habitats - and of course, to buy something unique!
Nerissa Cargill Thompson is participating in Saltaire Arts Trail. Find her at Venue 18, 50 George St, Saltaire, Sat 2nd – Mon 4th May 11am - 5pm. Explore the village discovering artists exhibiting in venues around the town including people's homes to get a real sense of how art could fit into your own home.
Helen MacRitchie will be opening her studio for Oxfordshire Artweeks. Find her at Meadow House Park Farm, Waterstock OX33 1JT from 2 - 10 May, 11am - 5pm (Tues - Fri), 10am - 5pm (Sat), 10am - 4pm (Sun)
Closed Mon. In her studio you’ll find a selection of functional pieces and artworks – textile hangings and framed work. As it is a working studio, she will probably be sewing or designing with many pieces in process for you to see. Free entry.
Helen MacRitchie will also feature in Oxfordshire Artweeks with Oxfordshire Craft Guild at St Barnabas Church, 50 Cardigan Street, Jericho, Oxford OX2 6BG from16 - 25 May, 10am-5.30pm (Sun 17th Noon-5.30: Sun 25th 2pm-5.30). Based in the beautiful and historic St. Barnabas church in Jericho, the Oxfordshire Craft Guild exhibit a wide range of skills across a variety of different crafts by 16 gifted makers. Dazzling jewellery, innovative textiles, practical and beautiful ceramics and glass, and delicate and unusual wood carving. Gifts for yourself and others in one place. Free entry.
Julieanne Long and Maria Walker have had work selected for “Waiting to Exhale” at The House of Smalls, 103 Henderson Row, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 588, May 16th - 20th June. Mon/Thursday/Friday/Saturday 11am - 6pm, Sunday midday - 5pm. “Waiting to Exhale” is an exhibition focusing on those moments of time between chaotic events in the news, or in our lives, trying to grab a few moments of precious calm. Julieanne’s piece, “Land and Sea”, references outdoor areas, places of calm, places to think and reflect, taking the opportunity to exhale.
Nerissa Cargill Thompson is participating in Ashbourne Art Trail from 30th - 31st May 2026, 10:30 am - 3:30 pm. Visitors can follow the Artbourne trail through Ashbourne’s historic streets, exploring venues and discovering work from all 100+ participating artists. From painting and printmaking to ceramics, sculpture and photography, the trail showcases a wide range of work from local and regional creatives. Every artist will be on hand across the weekend, giving visitors the chance to meet the makers, watch demonstrations, and learn more about their work. Alongside the trail, there will also be live music, street food, artist demonstrations and creative workshops, creating a vibrant festival atmosphere throughout the town. Wristbands are £5, with free entry for under 12s. Check the programme to find out where Nerissa is.
Workshops
Nerissa Cargill Thompson will be running a series of workshops in conjunction with her exhibition at The Harris in Preston. There will be Plastic Fusing workshops for families during half term and for adults as part of late opening on Thursday 28th May. These are bookable on The Harris website along with her Coastal Textures workshop on 14th June.
Ross Belton: Discover the beauty of nature’s palette in this five-day natural dyeing textiles course at V&A Academy: Natural Dyeing: A Heritage of Colour Course at V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL from Monday 27 July 2026 – Friday 31 July 2026. This fabric course uncovers the history of natural dyeing in the V&A’s collections, giving you behind-the-scenes gallery tours with V&A textile curators and exclusive object-handling sessions – bringing the history of natural dyeing to life through hands-on learning experiences. Booking Now Open. Please note the course runs in July and prior booking is essential.
