International Women's Day | Watts Gallery

International Women's Day

Exhibitions

Women of Influence: The Pattle Sisters

Discover the untold story of seven remarkable Anglo-Indian sisters who deeply influenced Victorian art, culture and society.

Lines & Lineage: Three Wood Engravers

Centred around the archive of Sarah Van Niekerk (1934-2018), this show features the works of two other incredible female wood engravers.

Women of 'Our Time'

Inspired by the Famous Women Dinner Service designed in the 1930s by Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, the Women of ‘Our Time’ Dinner Service imagine a range of contemporary guests that Mary Watts might invite to a dinner party.

"I was drawn to working at Watts Gallery because of Mary; having her at the heart of our story leads the way as we continue to explore, support and champion women artists today and into the future, and I’m so grateful to get to work alongside creative, powerful, inspiring women every day."
- Sarah Jarvis, Head of Learning and Engagement

Our Team

A photo of Sarah King, a lady with short blonde hair wearing glasses and a patterned shirt

Get to know: Sarah King, Chair of Trustees

Sarah King was appointed as Watts Gallery Trust’s Chair of Trustees in May 2023.

Get to know: Libby Whyte, Marketing Officer

Meet Libby, our Marketing Officer and find out some interesting facts about her.

Get to know: Penny Hines, Collections Curator

Discover more about our Collections Curator and her unexpected music taste.

Get to know: Megan Smith, Engagement Coordinator

Meet Megan, our Engagement Coordinator - and artist in her own right!

Get to know: Grace Lightfoot, Retail Manager

Find out more about our Retail Manager and what she gets up to in her free time.

Artists

Mary Watts

As an artist, designer, writer, businesswoman and philanthropist, Mary found ways for her art and creativity to support and inspire the people around her. She was the creative powerhouse behind two significant enterprises: the Watts Chapel and the Potters’ Arts Guild at Compton.

A woman in the sky sitting on a crescent moon

Evelyn De Morgan

Evelyn was born in 1855 in London to upper-class parents. The Pre-Raphaelite artist John Roddam Spencer Stanhope was her maternal uncle. It seems he paved the way for her to become an artist.

Bahareh Khomeiry

Potter in Residence: 2025-2026

Lauren Thompson

Artist in Residence: September 2023

Black and white tintype portrait of a woman standing by an old stone wall

Emma Brown

Artist in Residence: 2023

Sarah paints on an easel

Sarah Thien, Artist in Residence

Artist in Residence: April - May 2022

Ashleigh smiles at the camera and holds small black and brown dog, Merlin. Merlin wears a bright green jumper.

Ashleigh Fisk

Artist in Residence: October 2021 - March 2022

Nneka painting on an easel

Nneka Uzoigwe

Artist in Residence: June - August 2021

Articles

Victorian Marriage and Motherhood: The Pattle Sisters and their Families

Curatorial Advisor Hilary Underwood delves into the roles of women in the Victorian era.

Julia Margaret Cameron and the Birth of Photographic Art

Former Assistant Curator Eleanor explores the artistry of photographer Julia Margaret Cameron.

An Introduction to Women of Influence: The Pattle Sisters

Exhibitions Curator Corinna introduces us to the 'Women of Influence' exhibition.

'Happy Birthday Jane', from an Unexpected Admirer

Curatorial Advisor Hilary explores a connection between the Wattses and Jane Austen.

Meet the Maker: Gillie Muir

Behind the calm creativity of Watts Gallery lies another kind of artistry - in summer, the quiet hum of honeybees cared for by Gillie Muir, our resident beekeeper.

Volunteer Journey: Polly

Volunteer Polly describes what inspired her to start volunteering with us.

Meet the Maker: Lucy Burley

We speak with Lucy Burley about her decorative yet functional ceramics, inspired by the still-life paintings of Giorgio Morandi.

A graceful art nouveau terracotta statue of a woman, possibly a nymph or goddess, in shades of reddish-brown and muted green. She stands draped in fabric, holding large leaves, with a serene expression.

New acquisition: rediscovered treasures

We have been incredibly fortunate to have been gifted some very special Compton Pottery objects, by someone with a very special connection to Watts Gallery.

Get to know: Bahareh Khomeiry

We sat down with ceramicist Bahareh Khomeiry to find out more about her practice and what influences her work.

Pot plants and patriarchy: Jane 'Jeanie' Elizabeth Hughes (Mrs Nassau Senior)

Watts Volunteer Nicola Campbell explores the symbolism behind G F Watts's portrait, Jane 'Jeanie' Elizabeth Hughes, Mrs Nassau John Senior.

Let us imagine: Mary Augusta, Lady Holland

A good portrait is like a time portal, allowing us to connect with someone long gone. Volunteer Nicola Campbell explores Watts's portrait of Lady Holland.

Photo of a short, grey-haired woman wearing khaki coloured clothes, gardening whilst smiling at the camera. There is a young man to the left of her helping

Volunteer Journeys: Alison

Gardening Volunteer Alison tells us what drew her to volunteer at Watts Gallery.

A hand holding a bronze women-figure

Mary Branson, Daughters of Theia

Former Artist in Residence, Mary Branson, tell us more about her artwork Daughters of Theia. You can see it on display at Watts Gallery. on the right-hand wall of the Sculpture Gallery.

Painting featuring three daughters amongst clouds and rainbows

A Space of Her Own: Evelyn De Morgan’s Figures in Flight

Esme Wright considers Evelyn De Morgan’s unorthodox use of form and space in this blog post.

Paint drips on painting

A technical look: Lady Dalrymple

Painting Conservator, Alexandra Lawson, talks us through the analysis of the painting Lady Dalrymple (c.1851–1853) by George Frederic Watts.

A woman in a vivid green dress reclines on the base of a tree

Curatorial team in conversation: Virginia Dalrymple's Dress

Stacey Clapperton and Emma Coburn discuss one of the more unusual objects in the historic collection.

A terracotta celtic-style chapel with decorated tiles

The conservation of Watts Chapel

Our Collections Manager, Emma Coburn ACR talks us through the conservation work of Watts Cemetery Chapel.

Halima sat at her workbench concentrating on carving a vessel placed on a pillow

A visit to Halima Cassell's studio

We joined sculptor Halima Cassell at her home studio ahead of her solo exhibition From the Earth.

Our Collection

Photo of a spherical terracotta sculpture with curved ridges

Bo Orb, Halima Cassell

Bo Orb was commissioned by the Watts Gallery for the exhibition Halima Cassell: From the Earth (2023)

A watercolour image of women with her hair tied back

Self Portrait, Mary Watts

A terracotta figurine of Mary and Child

Mother and Child, Mary Watts

Painting of a young woman in a white blouse looking to the left

Object in Focus: Miss May Prinsep

Hilary Underwood, Curatorial Advisor focuses on Miss May Prinsep (1867-69) by George Frederic Watts in this blog.

Carved severed head of Medusa from above

Object in Focus: Medusa

Dr Melissa L Gustin, introduces us to G F Watts, Medusa, 1846-47, alabaster in this blog.

A half finished bust portrait of Florence Nightingale

Object in Focus: Florence Nightingale

In 1868, George Frederic Watts painted this half-length portrait in three-quarter profile of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), who famously worked as a nurse during the Crimea.

Object in Focus: Ophelia

Painted in 1863 and reworked in 1877, Watts's Ophelia provides the viewer with a double perspective.

A black and white photograph of Mary with three villagers decorating a highly-decorated panel wall.

Object in Focus: Mary Watts's Recipe Book

Desna Greenhow, author of The Diary of Mary Watts: 1887-1904, discusses Mary's notes on 'Cantoni's Lesson in Casting & making Piece Moulds'.

A man reclines with a woman leaning over him

Object in Focus: Endymion

Dr Beatrice Bertram discusses the painting Endymion by George Frederick Watts, painted in 1872.

Lady Dalrymple portrait, before retouching and after

Object in Focus: Lady Dalrymple

Dr Stacey Clapperton introduces us to this striking portrait, Lady Dalrymple (c. 1851 – 1853) by G F Watts.