About Summer at Watts: AiR studio takeovers

Tuesday to Sunday
7 - 27 August 2026
10:30 - 4pm

Susie Darnton
Friday 7 - Sunday 9 August

Drop in and join Susie in the studio to see original illustrations from her book ‘A Dance in the Moon Garden’ and enjoy trying your own sketches or maybe make a colourful mask. Susie will also perform some dramatic readings of her book at the bell tent on the lawn.

Susie Darnton was brought up in Godalming and attended Guildford High School, where she was in Watts House. She studied Fine Art at Newcastle University, gaining a First Class Honours Degree and achieving a British Academy Award for Postgraduate Study. Susie spent several years living in Venice, including working for the British Council at the Venice Biennale and an exhibition at Fenice Arts.
A return to England led Susie to a temporary part-time teaching post at Tormead School. This swiftly evolved into a full-time position, an elevation to Head of Art and lasted for 18 years. Susie then spent seven years as Head of Art at Cranmore, this part-time position afforded her the opportunity to set up ‘Barber’s Son – Hairdresser’s Daughter’ a exhibition collaborative in Margate. Susie now lives full-time in Godalming, tutoring Special Educational Needs and continuing with her own broad practice, which includes Picture Books.

Lucy Tipper
Tuesday 11 - Thursday 13 August

Lucy works with botanical natural pigments and dyes to create papers and drawings.

Kath Hitchings
Friday 14 - Sunday 16 August

Kath Hitchings is a textile artist who lives in Farnham. She loves to make rugs out of old clothes that might otherwise end up in landfill. Kath runs regular workshops from her colourful home which also featured last year on Channel 4's 'Outrageous Homes' with Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen. She also has an online course for anyone further afield and more information can be found @Knitchings Instagram

Kath is head of Creative Arts at St Joseph's Specialist Trust Cranleigh. Kath speaks regularly at national events on inclusion and creativity - venues including the Royal Academy and the National Association of Special Schools.

Kath also leads a free monthly local drawing group @drawfarnham on Saturdays 10 - 12pm.

Courtney Bae
Tuesday 18 - Saturday 22 August

Join Courtney in the studio to see her work in progress and perhaps even have your own portrait painted.

Courtney Jinsook Bae is a Korean-American artist, born in Australia and based in London. Bae paints in oil depicting raw and expressive portraits and landscapes. Bae graduated with a BA in Graphic Design from Southern New Hampshire Uniersity in New York in 2015. She gained national recognition in the UK when she was featured as a Semi-finalist on the national television series, Sky Portrait Artist of the Year in 2025.

Ella Hayward
Tuesday 25 - Thursday 27 August

Ella Hayward is an artist and art teacher. Ella will be running a collaborative mixed media drop in space to make and create a wallbased piece inspired by the chapel

Exhibitions

  1. Exhibition

    Beyond Strawberry Thief

  2. Exhibition

    The Art of Wallpaper: Morris & Co.