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The Lake District, Cumbria, has provided inspiration for a whole host of artists throughout the years, so it may come as no surprise that we’ve got a rich arts and crafts scene across the area! Here, you’ll find a range of art galleries and exhibition spaces that host an ever-changing calendar of works in virtually every medium.
Discover pieces by local and nationally known artists at venues including independent galleries and studios, to museums and seasonal fairs. Some offer the chance to take a piece home with you, while others host regularly changing exhibitions as well as permanent art collections.
There’s even the opportunity to check out art in the great outdoors: there’s a sculpture trail at Grizedale Forest, for example, as well as open air exhibitions as part of festivals and events throughout the year.
If you fancy trying it for yourself, several galleries and studios also host workshops and classes. Often, you’ll be able to get inspired by the stunning natural surroundings of your venue as you learn a new skill or hone existing abilities.
As well as viewing some fantastic art pieces, here in Cumbria we also invite you to explore the studios and workshops where that work was made; and even meet the artists who create it.
Keep an eye out, too, for touring exhibitions to see something a little different while in the Lake District, Cumbria. Discover our galleries and exhibitions below.
Annie - A local artist who has worked in pastels, watercolours and acrylics for over 30 years. A…
A playful environment filled with vibrant colours, ambient sounds and digital creatures, inspired…
Meet talking rocks, find sunken trinkets and explore quarry portals at Signal Film and Media's next…
Now in its 12th year, the biennial New Light Prize Exhibition is an open art competition which…
Lakeland Arts' much-loved art collection includes paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture ranging…
An outdoor exhibition based on the award-winning book, Forty Farms by Lakeland Photographer of the…
Have you ever wished you could pick up a pen and create a beautiful piece of hand lettering? Why…
Eskdale Mill is a unique experience, nestled in one of the Lake District's most beautiful locations…
A new painting exhibition by Rebecca Scott is coming to Cross Lane Projects, Kendal. The Raft of…
Sublime Symmetry is an exhibition featuring 60 pots, tiles and vases from the De Morgan Collection,…
Introducing an ambitious new project, Epona-The Wild Pony of the North, this display showcases the…
Uncovering the story of a British artist and his influence on 20th century art during the inter-war…
A contemporary art gallery 9 miles east of Carlisle. located close to Hadrian’s Wall, the Scottish…
As Kay lives in Cumbria and Gillian lives in the Trossachs, textiles and walking are intertwined…
We are delighted to welcome back Sue Rowland, who will inspire you to create an original lino print…
The EVAN Gallery and Studios is a genuinely artist led creative hub. EVAN was established in 2017…
In this full day workshop, you will experience three distinct elements to creating your unique…
This new display delves into the Townend archive collection, a treasure trove of four hundred years…
Are you a crafter or interested in crafts? Would you like to take part in our free wellbeing…
Roman museum displaying the internationally significant collection of Romano-British altars,…
An exhibition of striking photographs exploring the complexities of gender and identity. The…
Inspired by the wild and beautiful Northern Fells and a shared history of drawing from life, local…
Occupying three floors within an historic building this bright and welcoming gallery showcases the…
What is a space? Where are the spaces? Who fills the spaces and why? Nolitex have been exploring…
You may leave the Lake District, but once you’ve been, it’ll never leave you.
Number of results: 67
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Ulverston
The Laurel and Hardy Museum celebrates the life and career of Stan Laurel, born in Ulverston.
Kendal
Russell Mills, himself a graduate and former lecturer at the Royal College of Art, will explore an extraordinary period in the history of both Ambleside and the Royal College of Art, when two disparate communities – one, essentially conservative,…
Penrith
Rheged is a gallery, café, cinema, shopping venue, workplace and creative space on the edge of the Northern Lakes.
Coniston
Meet Coniston's heroes, John Ruskin, artist, radical and seer and Donald Campbell, speed ace. View the fully restored Bluebird craft in the Bluebird wing of the museum. Discover the mineral wealth of the fells, all at 'the most thought provoking…
Bowness-on-Windermere
Connect with other visitors and explore the space through their illustrations and ideas. Engage your artistic side, drawing inspiration from the Arts & Crafts movement, beautiful features within the house and gardens and the current exhibition.
Sedbergh
Linocut and Wood engraving relief prints inspired by the Cumbrian Landscape
As a printmaker using linocut and wood engraving, I create relief prints here at the Mill in my studio on level 2. From my sketches of the landscape of Cumbria I am inspired…
Sedbergh
Contemporary Quilt Group is a specialist group within the Quilters' Guild. Its members are a diverse collection of quilters and textile artists, working at the cutting edge of our practice, creating innovative and dynamic art. Their mission is to…
East of Lake, Coniston
Come to an exhibition of radical and innovative textiles; from homewares to art and fashion from Blue Patch, the UK's Sustainable Business Community.
Pull My Thread captures the creative spirit of the new green economy. Displays include new bio…
Penrith
An unrivalled range of 1,2 and 3 day courses in the Arts, Crafts, Heritage skills, Baking, Textiles, Raku pottery, Wood /Stone carving, Willow & Wire, Ceramics, Glass, Silver and much much more.
Barrow-in-Furness
Meet talking rocks, find sunken trinkets and explore quarry portals at Signal Film and Media's next exhibition, Psychogeology, opening at Barrow Market on Saturday the 4th of May.
Troutbeck, Windermere
This new display delves into the Townend archive collection, a treasure trove of four hundred years of family documents. Explore snippets of young Ben Browne's life in the 1700's, after he moved from the Lake District to London, in letters sent to…
Brampton
Born and bought up in Yorkshire, Charlie and his family moved to Cumbria more than forty years ago, drawn by memories of many summers spent on the shores of Ullswater at Sandwick Bay.
Ambleside
Art gallery and art shop run by the Heaton Cooper family, selling original paintings and prints from 4 generations of the family.
Sizergh, Kendal
An outdoor exhibition based on the award-winning book, Forty Farms by Lakeland Photographer of the Year, Amy Bateman. You'll discover 40 large format panels displayed along our family and accessible farm trail. Low Sizergh Barn is one of the farms…
Brampton
An art exhibition by a local father-and-son artist pair, exploring both local landmarks in a new light, and challenging the imagination with stimulating new themes.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
7 reviewsStramongate, Kendal
A masterpiece of storytelling; 350 years of social history and a celebration of life, revolutions and remarkable people....made by 4,000 people. Facilities: Gift Shop, Cafe, Audio guides, Films, Interactive Displays, Children's Activities.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
191 reviewsWhitehaven
Imagine leaving the heart of Whitehaven's historic port and being taken back in time to an exotic tropical island's rainforest in the Caribbean, that is just the start of your great adventure in The Rum Story.
Kendal
An exhibition of striking photographs exploring the complexities of gender and identity.
The exhibition contains 42 contemporary giclee prints made from scans of Cahun’s original photographic self-portraits.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
178 reviewsSedbergh
As Kay lives in Cumbria and Gillian lives in the Trossachs, textiles and walking are intertwined within their lives. The steady rhythm of walking is echoed by the rhythm of stitch. The building up of layers with material and stitch and the…
Hawkshead
Come and discover all that Grizedale has to offer – take in Lake District landscapes, experience a whole range of contemporary art and enjoy an adventure, no matter your age!
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