 BORDERLAND VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITION & ART TRAILSaturday 2 May to Saturday 27 June
Borderland Visual Arts was established in the late 1990s to provide a network for practising artists living in and around Oswestry. There are currently over 70 members working in a range of art disciplines, including painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, metalwork, ceramics and textiles. This year forty BVA members are exhibiting at the Willow Gallery.
OPEN EVENING
Saturday 2 May, 4.30-6.30pm
All welcome
Meet the artists and discover the stories and inspirations behind their work. Also hear more about this year’s Open Studios, and enjoy the gallery in a lively, social atmosphere.
BVA OPEN STUDIO WEEKENDS
Saturday 13 June & Sunday 14 June
Saturday 20 June &Sunday 21 June
10am to 5pm each day
Two weekends of art for the public to see local artists at work in their studios, learn about different creative processes, and buy unique work directly from the artist.
Pick up your Open Studios guide
Available at the Willow, pick up a guide containing information on all participating artists along with details of where they are located and contact info. The guide is a handy size to carry with you while visiting venues, and also includes a map to help plan your route.
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DOUG ALLAN 1951-2026
At the Gallery we were very sorry to learn of the death of eminent wildlife photographer Doug Allan. David Attenborough’s favourite polar cameraman, Scottish-born Doug was renowned for working in some of the coldest and most ferocious environments in the world.
Doug was one of our guest speakers at the Willow Gallery’s gorgeous Nature Festival back in 2019, when we heard at first hand how he went about capturing scenes of polar bears, seals, penguins, walruses and other animals that populate the earth’s polar extremes - both above and below the ice. It was a memorable evening, and we all enjoyed sharing his amazing experiences.
Doug’s work brought audiences closer to the wonders of our planet. He leaves behind a visual legacy that few can match.
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A Way of Seeing with Reg Turrell
SPRING'S PALETTE
 After the rain and wind, it's been a relief to see the purples, orange and greens that have emerged in the last few days.
To start this painting, I covered the butterfly shape with masking fluid to protect it from ink and paint. For the purple of the honesty, I used purple lake acrylic ink dripped onto wet paper: this diluted the ink and allowed it to spread. Honesty leaves were picked and flattened. Thick, creamy greens were mixed in watercolour and applied to damp paper. The leaves were pressed into the paint while still wet, and cling film spread over the paper. Heavy books were piled on top to press the leaves into the paint and left overnight.
When the cling film and leaves were removed, prints of the leaves were left. To emphasise the leaves, I painted the negative spaces with indigo. The same technique was used to create the petals of the honesty flowers. Water-soluble Ink Tense pencils were used to draw in stems and more petals. Veins in the leaves were lightly scratched to highlight them. Finally, once all the paint had dried, I carefully removed the masking fluid and painted in the orange-tip butterfly. Orange and purple are a combination I would never have thought to put together. There is always something new to learn from watching what is happening in the garden!
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Footprints of the Lost Legions
Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland
by Stephen Hopper
Leeching along the cragged jaw of the Whin Sill - a scar of black basalt, born 295 million years ago - Hadrian’s Wall is a relic of empire. Pitched against the fearsome, war-painted Picts of Caledonia, Roman legions turned from conquest to endurance, raising a defensive wall 73 miles long.
Legends linger in its shadow. They say the lost Ninth Legion still patrols by moonlight, and a lone drummer beats from Sycamore Gap. And in the bleakness of garrison nights, men knelt before strange gods - Mithras of the secret flame, Cocidius, spirit of the wilderness - seeking warmth in mystery.
The Wall endures as a monument to conquest and ancestral communion between invader and native.Visit Stephen in his studio:
The Coach House Studio, Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant, Wales
Website: www.stephenhopper.net
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Art & Craft Workshops
Full information on our website
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 'Country Lane in Sunlight' Workshop in Acrylics with Mark Warner
Sat 9 May, 10am-4pm
£75 (Fully booked)
Mark will demonstrate painting techniques with a focus on capturing sunlight effects on foliage and creating a landscape using acrylics.
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 An Introduction to Eco-Printing on Paper & Fabric with Jane Hunter
Sat 16 May, 10am-4pm
£80, including materials
Students learn how to use natural dyes from leaves to create unique patterns on paper and fabric. Jane will also teach you the basic technique on paper and silk. |
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 Recyling Workshop: Narratives in Texture with Katherine Rogers
Sat 23 May, 10am-4pm
£70
Create innovative collage art using scrap materials such as cardboard and plastic. Students will explore the narrative of items often discarded without a second thought, and are encouraged to experiment with textures and forms. |
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 An Introduction to Visible Mending with Rachel Davies
Sat 30 May, 10am-4pm
£70, including goody bag to take home
Learn ways to give well-loved clothes a new lease of life with a range of mending techniques such as eyelets, patches and darning. |
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 Painting the Coastline in Acrylics with David Bannister
Sat 6 June, 10am-4pm - £75 (Fully booked)
You will learn techniques for painting sky, sea and land and be encouraged to develop a strong sense of composition and mood in your painting. |
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 Contemporary Portrait Painting in Acrylics with David Bannister
Sat 13 June, 10am-4pm - £75
Explore how character and mood can be conveyed through colour, tone and expressive mark-making as you develop a portrait that reflects personality, atmosphere and a contemporary approach to the human face. |
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 Logwood Natural Dye & Foliage with Jane Hunter
Sat 20 June, 10am-4pm
£80, including materials
Using some eco-printing techniques combined with logwood natural dye and various foliage to create wonderful images on paper and fabric. |
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 Secret Garden Hand Embroidery with Rachel Davies
Sat 27 June, 10am-4pm
£70, including materials
Follow step-by-step instructions to create a 'secret garden' with just two simple hand-embroidery stitches - combining traditional techniques with non-traditional outcomes. |
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 Mixed-Media Landscape with Free Machine Embroidery with Delny Fitrzyk
Saturday 4 July, 10am-4pm
£75 - bring sewing machine
(other materials provided)
Create your own textured, stitched landscape using mixed media techniques such as inks and bleach, watercolours, wax resist and experimental mark-making - before adding depth and detail with free machine embroidery. |
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 Weaving a Willow Hare Sculpture with Emma Baker
Saturday 25 July, 10am-4pm
£80
Students will be using dried black maul willow (a traditional basketry willow) and learning techniques that can be used to craft a wide range of animal sculptures. |
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Upcoming Exhibitions
'Stitch Unbound Summer 2026'
& Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Craft
Saturday 4 July to Saturday 29 August
'Stitch Unbound'
Twelve contemporary textile artists challenge the boundaries of fabric and form.
Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Craft
Within its membership the Guild encourages the finest design ability coupled with the highest quality of workmanship, whilst aiming to promote a greater comprehension and appreciation of design-led craftwork within Shropshire.
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Our Shop and Café
In our shop, see a wide range of work made by local artists and craft makers. Buy original contemporary art, prints, cards, jewellery, ceramics and textiles, along with work in wood, metal and glass. Gift vouchers can also be purchased. In our café, enjoy morning coffee, a light lunch or afternoon tea in a relaxing, creative setting. We are able to accommodate groups with advance notice. For table bookings, please contact 01691 657575.
Pictured: Sky Cat - Ceramic by MICHELE COXON
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Other local events and information
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Enjoy a nostalgic train ride on our local heritage railway, starting from Oswestry's Grade II-listed Victorian station building. The 1.75-mile route leads to Weston Wharf's period station and railway artifact display, café, picnic area and children's activity area. Also explore local attractions Stonehouse Brewery and Weston Pools. Back at Oswestry, visit the award-winning Cambrian Railway Museum.
Click here for timetable and here for tickets
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OSWESTRY COMMUNITY CINEMA See regular screenings now at Maona Cinema
Visit www.maonacinema.com for details and bookings
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HERMON ARTS Click HERE for upcoming music events
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Other local events and informationOswestry & Borders Repair Café
Bin it? No way!
Llanfyllin Public Institute
Saturday 23 May, 12-3pm
A team of skilled volunteer repairers give their time and expertise for free to help people fix items that might otherwise be thrown away.
You can also bring your repairs to the Midweek Mend sessions at the Climate Action Hub, 36 Bailey Street, Oswestry (Wednesdays 11am-2pm).
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Shropshire Wildlife Trust - Oswestry Branch
Local walks, May 2026
LLYNCLYS COMMON BUTTERFLY WALK
Saturday 9 May, 2pm start
Dr Simon Spencer will be leading this walk through Llynclys Common Nature Reserve to see Grizzled and Dingy Skippers and other spring butterflies.
Meet at Porth y Waen Band Hall car park, SY10 8LS
No charge
Butterflies need sunshine,
so the walk will be cancelled in the event of adverse weather
A LATE SPRING WALK AROUND MELVERLEY
Saturday 16 May, 2pm start
Join a guided walk through Holly Banks Nature Reserve and nearby rewilding projects. .
Meet at the Royal Hill pub, ST10 8ES
£3 members / £4 non-members
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 Immortalised in bronze...
A statue commemorating actor and writer Terry Jones is unveiled in his birthplace
Best known as a member of the British comedy troupe Monty Python, Terry Jones died in 2020 aged 77. Now, following a fundraising campaign backed by Terry's family, a bronze statue has been unveiled in Colwyn Bay, Conwy, capturing him as the nude organist, a recurring character he played in Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Fellow Pythons Sir Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam attended the unveiling and expressed their affection for the tribute. 'I know it's a bit silly,' said Sir Michael, 'to have a statue of a comedian. But it's something Terry would like - a subversive statue - and I'm quite pleased about that.'
Llandudno sculptor Nick Elphick, who regularly appears in the BBC series Extraordinary Portraits, created the design. His biggest challenge, he said, was to represent a larger-than-life character while making sure his smile was 'just right for the family'.
The life-sized sculpture shows Terry wearing a flapping tie and with wild hair, grinning as he strikes the classic organist pose. The organ merges into Terry's writing desk, loaded with nods to his multi-faceted career, including his medieaval history books.
Terry left Colwyn Bay as a child but kept close ties with the town, becoming a patron of Theatr Colwyn, and he would return to the area to raise money for the arts.
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 May Morris: Crafting a Legacy
Free exhibition
Lady Lever Art Gallery
Until 1 November This vibrant display of embroideries, wallpapers, watercolours, dresses and jewellery is a celebration of the wide-ranging creative output of May (christened Mary) Morris (1862-1938), the younger daughter of artist and designer William Morris and pre-Raphaelite model Jane Morris. Thus May grew up at the very heart of the Arts & Crafts Movement. She studied embroidery at what is now the Royal College of Art, and in 1893 published her instruction manual Decorative Needlework, the work showcasing her dedication to elevating embroidery from domestic craft to fine art. In her lifetime, however, her own nature-inspired designs were often misattributed to her father, resulting in the underestimation of her artistic influence. In 1885, aged just 23, she became the manager of Morris & Co’s embroidery department. She designed kits and special commissions for the firm’s British and overseas clients while supervising her small team of employees. At a time when the Victorian textile industry was notorious for exploitation, May provided fair pay and shorter working hours. She recruited and trained women from diverse communities and backgrounds, and her high standards ensured top-quality handwork. When her father died in 1896, May stepped down from this rôle to pursue her own career as a designer, maker, embroidery tutor, lecturer, editor and writer. A vigorous advocate for women artists, she co-founded the Women’s Guild of Arts in 1907. This created a much-needed professional forum for women, decades before they were admitted to the Art Workers’ Guild. May went on to advocate traditional craft practice to a wider audience, delivering influential lectures across the USA on the history of jewellery and mediaeval embroidery. May Morris devoted her life to crafting a legacy which continues to inspire designers, makers and educators today. This beautiful exhibition celebrates that legacy and brings together loans of artwork from various UK collections, including The William Morris Society, The William Morris Gallery, The Victoria and Albert Museum and Leicestershire Museums. Arts and Crafts metalwork from National Museums Liverpool’s collection are also on display.
Pictured: Portrait photograph of May Morris by George Charles Beresford c1909
At the Willow from 4 July to 29 August, step into the colourful world of contemporary textile art
Local embroiderer Alison Holt and fabric collage artist Suzette Smart once again join forces to bring together inspired stitchers from across the UK. There will also be opportunities to meet the makers - and to watch and learn from live demos. |
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 A vibrant, not-for-profit art space packed full of contemporary artworks from local and national artists. We host exhibitions, art classes, craft fairs and other community-focused events - bringing together creative individuals and art lovers from our local communities and beyond.
CONTACT US
Tel: 01691 657575
email: willowgalleryoswestry@gmail.com
Website: willowgalleryoswestry.org
Facebook: Willow
Address: 56 Willow Street, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 1AD
Gallery/Café open Tues-Sat 10am-4pm (3.30pm café last orders)
Closed: Sundays/Mondays/Bank HolidaysEditor: Hilary Moorcroft
May 2026
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