The Old Lock Up Gallery

17/10/2026

Spotlight….

The Journey - until 8th Nov.

Selecting 2 pieces of work from this outstanding show and zooming in… observing… sharing… exploring… questioning.

The Road not Taken by Julie Barnes - acrylic on canvas. £2,500

Simple observations: the slant of the head, the shape of the spine, the droop of the shoulders and arms, the lack lustre expression on her face. The posture as a whole. The subdued colour palette. Real, touching, authentic

How would I feel in this body? In this painting? As this person - looking back - on the road not taken?

Picking up the Pieces by Anna Donovan - stoneware, porcelain slip, glaze, wire, gold leaf - £475

A combination of fragmented pieces, broken, brought back together, mended/stitched, kintsugi, gold, repair, bringing back together: faces - parts of self? Fragmentation, ancestors?
Beautiful and intriguing..

15/10/2026

It’s just TWO weeks until I’ll be hosting 41 ceramicists and potters from across the UK at Masson Mills for the weekend!

A celebration of exceptional handmade ceramics in Kilns Autumn Ceramic Fair!

Sharing the next 15 ceramicists with you here.. more to follow soon.

From beautiful functional ware and contemporary studio pottery to sculptural and decorative pieces, Kiln Ceramic Fair brings together an inspiring range of makers, all under one roof amazing roof!

📅 31st Oct & 1st Nov
⏰ 10am – 4pm
📍 Masson Mills, Matlock Bath, DE4 3PY
🎟 £3 Entry | Under 12’s Free

Whether you’re a collector, maker, pottery lover or enthusiast or simply looking for a wonderful day out, there’s something to discover around every corner.

📣 Help spread the love of handmade by sharing or reposting this post. Every share helps more people discover and support independent makers and small creative businesses.

We can’t wait to welcome you.
SO EXCITED!

psssst: is it too early to mention -
PRESENTS 🎁🎄

14/10/2026

The Journey…

Our current exhibition here at The Old Lock Up Gallery in the heart of Derbyshire.
Continues until 8th Nov.

This exhibition doesn’t hold back - it’s real and raw, beautiful and tragic, touching and deeply expressive. It embodies what it is to journey through life. What it is to be human.. it’s full of pieces of art to ponder, drink in and savour.

For a quirky gallery in a small village - it packs a mighty & beautiful punch of creativity.

This show isn’t about a literal journey - it’s a glimpse into our inner lived experiences.. the trials and tribulations of living.

Please do visit - you’ll be warmly welcomed: and guaranteed to not be disappointed: the gallery is open Friday - Sunday 10-4pm.

12/10/2026

In just under three weeks, I’ll be hosting 41 ceramicists and potters from across the UK at Masson Mills for the weekend!

A celebration of exceptional handmade ceramics in Kilns Autumn Ceramic Fair!

Sharing the first 15 ceramicists with you here.. more to follow soon.

From beautiful functional ware and contemporary studio pottery to sculptural and decorative pieces, Kiln Ceramic Fair brings together an inspiring range of makers, all under one roof amazing roof!

📅 31st Oct & 1st Nov.
⏰ 10am – 4pm
📍 Masson Mills, Matlock Bath, DE4 3PY
🎟 £3 Entry | Under 12’s Free

Whether you’re a collector, maker, pottery lover or enthusiast or simply looking for a wonderful day out, there’s something to discover around every corner.

📣 Help spread the love of handmade by sharing or reposting this post. Every share helps more people discover and support independent makers and small creative businesses.

We can’t wait to welcome you.
SO EXCITED!

psssst: is it too early to mention -
PRESENTS 🎁🎄

11/10/2026

What a lovely afternoon …

The Journey - opened yesterday afternoon here at the gallery and what a gorgeous start to the show.

I seem to be getting so into just enjoying the moment & soaking up the atmosphere that I clean forget to take photos of the openings when they’re in FULL swing!! So good to see a busy gallery/show.

Today’s been busy too!

This is an amazing show - I’m not just saying that because I feel that I ought too; it really is!!
I’m more than happy for you to pop in - explore the work in the show and fill your heart and boots. I can guarantee - you’ll love the exhibition & you’ll get a warm welcome.

39 wonderful artists - 64 amazing pieces of work.

The Journey - until 8th Nov: gallery open Friday - Sunday 10-4pm.

11/10/2026

08/10/2026

The Journey …

OPENS this Saturday 10th Oct: 2-4pm.

Over 40 artists and 64 pieces of work - beautiful, touching, honest, diverse expressions of what it is to journey through our lives.

Join myself and many of the exhibiting artists as we celebrate art, creativity and what it means to be human.

The exhibition continues until 8th Nov.
Open Friday - Sunday 10-4pm

04/10/2026

It’s the end…..

Of this year’s artists residencies! And what a wonderful time it’s been - thank you to all the artists that booked time here in this beautiful and enriching space. I’ve loved hosting each and every one of you and watching your creative process unfold - it’s been so inspiring for me.

It’s looking as though all of next year’s 10 weeks of artists residencies will be FULLY BOOKED shortly…

2027 marks five wonderful years of this wonderful addition to The Old Lock Up Gallery.

Now to start unboxing work for the next show: The Journey - OPENS 10th October 2-4pm: all of you are very welcome to join me & celebrate the opening of the show! Many of the exhibiting artists will be here for the celebration too.

28/09/2026

T h e J o u r n e y …

SO EXCITED to announce the exhibition dates for the penultimate show of 2026 here at The Old Lock Up Gallery - Cromford - Derbyshire.

- The journey is a profound metaphor for life, a metaphor that sees our lives as a process of moving through trials, tribulations, triumphs, ups and downs, transitions, and growth towards the ends of our lives here on earth. This process/journey focuses on the importance of our individual experiences, lessons learned, growth, development and personal transformation over mere goal & task attainment, often summarised as “the journey, not the destination”.

Exhibition dates: 10th Oct - 8th Nov 2026

Show OPENS 2-4pm: 10th October - all warmly welcome! Join us to celebrate art, creativity, human expression and THE JOURNEY.

This metaphor is often prevalent in narratives & stories that represent the “hero’s journey” or personal development, where the who we transform into and become is our true “destination”.

Selected Artists:

Victoria Reynolds, Naela El-Assaad, Carol Banks, Fiona Stewart, Anna Donovan, Geraldine Yvonne Smith, Cherie Yiu, Deborah Frith, Zoe Nelson, Kathryn Pallant, Claire Goodey, Helen Allanson, Sam Wellington, Anna Cu***ng, Lisa Banks, Nick Archer, Melanie Whitaker, Edward Bullinger, Ekaterina Mendor, Liz Dowding, Lynne Lamb, Julie Barnes, Lucy Lee, Nga Quynh Ngo, Sarah Parkin, Ann Bates, Charlotte Rees, Nick Lamb, Sharyn Sloan, Natasha Sephton, Catherine Rive, Doug Lemon, Anna Boyd, Stevie Cavana, Kim Sutherland, Liz Moffat, Linda Sharman, Lynne Tammadge, Charley Hellier.

Image: I Walk with the Clouds - Linda Sharman

27/09/2026