Folkloric Exhibition at Narrowly Gallery Newark

Folkloric Exhibition an exhibition exploring myth, legend and folklore took place in Newark Nottinghamshire. With 9 artists from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire exploring these themes through painting, printmaking, illustration and poetry. Curated by artist Charlotte Thomson-Morley.

Working in collaboration with Narrowly Newark Gallery (Instagram – @narrowlynewark). A Victorian alleyway converted to a community gallery space. The exhibition ran for 1 weekend only, from 11am til 4pm on the 20^th and 21^st September 2025, with free entry for all.

Artists

Charlotte Thomson-Morley
JC Middlebrook
Fiona Holmes/Minifi’s Oddities
Suzanne Curtis
Steve Larder
Sarah Louise Powel-Kaplan
Indy Townsend
Lucy Bronwen Davies
& poet Kate Burns.

The Exhibition

The exhibition was a huge success with a lot of support shown from the local Newark creative community. It was attended by people from as far afield as Lincoln, Mansfield and Grantham. The work on display included lace art inspired by Nottingham’s lace-making history, paintings in watercolour and acrylic, lino printmaking, 3D textile art made from recycled materials and intricate illustrative pieces created digitally and using pen & ink and beautiful poetry.

Charlotte Thomson-Morley, the lead artist, has family links to Newark –

“When I first visited the gallery I knew it was the perfect, quirky venue for an exhibition exploring the weird and magical nature of folklore and our relationships with these stories. From Robin Hood, to the mysterious Trisantona – Goddess of the River Trent, to folkloric figures from the wider UK and from our varied cultural heritages. There has been a huge revival of interest in folklore in the UK and we were thrilled to share our stories over such a beautiful weekend.”

Aims

To bring together likeminded artists to exhibit in a supportive gallery space.
To showcase art exploring folkloric stories, myths and legends that have meaning to to the artists.
To show these themes explored through a wide variety of different mediums in an interesting and immersive way.
To create opportunity for the artists involved to gain recognition and sell art.
To create opportunity for the artists involved to forge new friendships and creative connections. Both between each other, likeminded members of the public, other local creatives in attendance and the gallery owners.
To test public-interest in Folklore as a theme for further exhibitions and events.
To explore the viability of events outside of Nottingham city centre, in a non-conventional gallery space without passing trade.

Art in the Garden

People popped by to have create a painting or greeting card throughout the weekend at our watercolour workshop table.

Additional art prints, zines, jewellery and sculptural pieces by the artists were for sale in the garden area, with the weather being mostly on our side!