Enamel work by Zsuzsi Morrison

Playing with Fire
15 November 2008 - 4 January 2009

A major exhibition of contemporary enamelling in the UK.  The makers in this show have been selected from an open competition and are a mixture of established and emerging makers, working in traditional and contemporary applications, at the cutting edge of their field.  The challenge for each exhibitor was to show pieces that take their previous work into new territories.

Playing with Fire is a collaborative exhibition developed by The Devon Guild of Craftsmen with the University of the West of England (UWE) and the British Society of Enamellers.  We are the first venue on the tour following the launch exhibition in Devon - don't miss the opportunity to see a range of exciting and innovative work.

Playing with Fire exhibiting makers are: Kathryn Adamson, Stephen Bottomley, Helen Carnac, Tamar de Vries Winter, Beate Gegenwart, Grace Girvan, John Grayson, Joan Mackarell, Jilly Morris, Zsuzsi Morrison, Liana Pattihis, Kimberley Scott, Ed Silverton, Jessica Turrell. 

Jewellery by Andrea Thorpe 

Christmas Craft
15 November 2008 - 4 January 2009

Our annual Christmas Craft Show provides an ideal escape from the High Street with a chance to browse our specially selected range of gift ideas.  Items on display include a stunning selection of contemporary ceramics, glass, metalwork and much more.  Once again this year we have an under £50 section where you can chose from a collection of unique handmade craft with a more affordable price tag!  Featuring jewellery by Andrea Thorpe, textiles by Sally Weatherill and beautiful embroidered gift boxes by Linda Marie Young.

Don't forget that Friends of the Gallery receive 10% discount on the items in the exhibition.

Photograph by Sue Packer 

Pets - Photographs by Sue Packer
10 January - 8 March

The images in the exhibition are beautifully studied portraits featuring people with the extraordinary catalogue of species commonly kept as companions, from the usual furry, four legged creatures to the more unusual including spiders and snails.

These images burst with the extraordinary characters and animals Sue has met.  Many of the photographs are clever and witty, but some look at the harder moments of owning animals.

A Harley Gallery Touring exhibition.

Also on show will be a selection of ceramic sculptures by Olivia Brown. 

Pet Passions
10 January - 8 March

If you love your pet then we've got a treat for you!  This exhibition includes the best of British contemporary designer/makers producing work for, and on the theme of, pets!  On display will be an amazing assortment of prints, jewellery, textiles and a whole lot more.  Whether you are looking for a gift for a friend or your pampered pooch this exhibition will provide you with plenty of choice!

Featuring jewellery by Hannah Louise Lamb, pet prints by Chris Davis and cuddly creatures by Donna Wilson.

Don't forget that Friends of the Gallery receive a 10% discount on items in the exhibition.

Thomas Peploe Wood (1817-1845)
14 March - 10 May

T.P.Wood, the son of a shoemaker, was born in Little Haywood, near Stafford in 1817 and died of tuberculosis at the tragically young age of 28.  He spent most of his short life working in Staffordshire, and proved to be a talented and prolific painter of local landscapes and buildings.

Featuring the latest research on his career, this exhibition is a fresh chance to see oil paintings, watercolours and drawings from the collections of Staffordshire Arts & Museum Service and the William Salt Library.  Using objects and costume from the County Museum collection, this lively exhibition will place T.P.Wood's work in the context of the artistic, cultural and social world of the 1830s and 1840s.

A Sense of Place
14 March - 10 May

This exhibition brings together artists and makers whose work is directly influenced by Staffordshire.  Featured artists have used a variety of materials to express a sense of place by investigating the environment, landscape and identity of our Creative County.

Including work by a number of local artists, Jennifer Collier will be exhibiting a new range of letter dresses incorporating Staffordshire addresses and Mark Lippett will be unveiling his recent paintings of Staffordshire buildings.

Don't forget that Friends of the Gallery receive a 10% discount on items in the exhibition.