Abbot Hall

Abbot Hall Abbot Hall is one of Britain’s leading art galleries, set in a Grade I listed Georgian building Abbot Hall is one of the UK’s best small galleries.

Established in 1962 in a Grade 1-listed Georgian building it has an outstanding collection of British art which explores themes of landscape and identity. The gallery reopened on Saturday 20 May 2023 with a major exhibition by internationally renowned artist Julie Brook. What is it That Will Last? (20 May to 30 Dec 2023) is an exhibition of film, drawing and photography spanning recent works made

by Brook in the Outer Hebrides, in the Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan and Cumbria. The gallery offers inspiring art exhibitions and activities for children, young people and adults to experience first hand. The upstairs galleries command views of the River Kent and Kendal Castle and are perfect spaces for showing contemporary work. It is part of the arts and heritage charity Lakeland Arts. Visit abbothall.org.uk

🚨 The Charmaine Watkiss: Legacy exhibition closes at 4pm today! 🚨This is your last chance to experience Watkiss’ stunnin...
01/02/2025

🚨 The Charmaine Watkiss: Legacy exhibition closes at 4pm today! 🚨

This is your last chance to experience Watkiss’ stunning drawings exploring the relationship between ancestry, botany and the cosmos.

⏰ Don’t miss out—plan your visit today. https://bit.ly/3wXQJCa

📸 Captured by CaRo Studio

Join us for the first ever Bumps and Brushes workshop at Abbot Hall this morning! This creative workshop is designed for...
25/01/2025

Join us for the first ever Bumps and Brushes workshop at Abbot Hall this morning! This creative workshop is designed for expectant parents, featuring a guided sketching tour of the Charmaine Watkiss: Legacy exhibition led by an artist-guide.

After sketching, head to the cosy Coffee bar in the Creative Space to add finishing touches and splashes of colour. You’ll also have time to explore other exhibitions at your own pace after the session.

📅 25 January�⏱️ 10:30am – 12pm�🎟️ Free for pregnant people—check-in at the ticket desk. Partners welcome with an admission ticket.

📸 Captured by Astrid Mohr and CaRo Studio

⏰ Reminder: Bumps and Brushes workshop is tomorrow! Explore the Charmaine Watkiss: Legacy exhibition at Abbot Hall in a ...
24/01/2025

⏰ Reminder: Bumps and Brushes workshop is tomorrow! Explore the Charmaine Watkiss: Legacy exhibition at Abbot Hall in a relaxing, creative workshop designed for expectant parents. Join us for a guided sketching tour with an artist-guide, followed by a creative session in the Coffee bar in the Creative Space.

📅 25 January, 10:30am – 12pm�🎟️ Free for pregnant people—there’s still time to reserve your spot! Partners can join with an admission ticket.
We hope to see you there!

22/01/2025

Business planning and lunch at the lovely cafe at Abbot Hall in Kendal. There are some beautiful exhibitions on at the moment, lots of botanicals!

Join us for Bumps and Brushes on 25 January! Explore the Charmaine Watkiss: Legacy exhibition at Abbot Hall with a guide...
22/01/2025

Join us for Bumps and Brushes on 25 January! Explore the Charmaine Watkiss: Legacy exhibition at Abbot Hall with a guided sketching session, perfect for expectant parents seeking a mindful, creative experience. No sketching experience needed—just relax, draw, and enjoy the wellbeing benefits.

📅 25 January, 10:30am – 12pm
🎟️ Free for pregnant people—reserve your spot now! Partners can join with an admission ticket.
🔗 https://tickets1.lakelandarts.org.uk/ |24071

Did you know Abbot Hall is currently showcasing the largest gathering of Charmaine Watkiss' work in a public gallery? Th...
20/01/2025

Did you know Abbot Hall is currently showcasing the largest gathering of Charmaine Watkiss' work in a public gallery? There’s still time to explore this thought provoking exhibition before it ends on Saturday 1 February.

Charmaine Watkiss' stunning artwork is inspired by archival research, delving into the fascinating connections between ancestry, botany, and cosmology. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience her visionary work in person.

📅 Exhibition closes 1 February
📍 Abbot Hall
🎟️ Included with gallery admission.
🛑 Please note Abbot Hall is open Wednesday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm.

📸 Captured by CaRo Studio

There's still time to confirm your place on the Visible Mending Workshop starting at 12pm today.  Spark your imagination...
18/01/2025

There's still time to confirm your place on the Visible Mending Workshop starting at 12pm today.

Spark your imagination with a tour of the gallery, then dive into the art of visible mending with local textile artist Richeldis Messam in our cafe in the Creative Space.

Learn simple yet effective techniques to transform your clothes into unique, long-lasting pieces that you'll cherish for years to come. No experience needed, and all materials are provided—just bring your creativity and maybe a garment that needs mending!

🎟️ Included with gallery admission—reserve your spot at the ticket desk!

Photograph captured by Paul Mitchell for Visitlakedistrict.com.

Our first workshop for 2025 is happening tomorrow! Join us for the Visible Mending Workshop led by local textile artist ...
17/01/2025

Our first workshop for 2025 is happening tomorrow! Join us for the Visible Mending Workshop led by local textile artist Richeldis Messam and pick up simple yet effective techniques that will transform your clothes into unique, long-lasting pieces you’ll cherish. We can’t wait to see your amazing creations!

There's still a few places left - book your spot here: https://tickets1.lakelandarts.org.uk/ |24065

16/01/2025

We’re excited for what’s coming up this month. What are you most excited to attend at Abbot Hall? Let us know down in the comments 👇.

📸 Moments captured by ca.ro.studio and visitlakedistrict.com. Credit: Johannes Pretorius

Find out more: https://shorturl.at/DDVDd

Have you heard the good news?! The Charmaine Watkiss Legacy exhibition has been extended until Saturday 1 February! Don'...
15/01/2025

Have you heard the good news?! The Charmaine Watkiss Legacy exhibition has been extended until Saturday 1 February!

Don't miss your chance to experience Watkiss' emotive works that explore the connection between people, legacy and nature.

Plan your visit to Abbot Hall today.

Abbot Hall is open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am - 4pm.

Join us for a peaceful morning at Abbot Hall with our Bumps and Brushes workshop. No art experience needed—just a chance...
13/01/2025

Join us for a peaceful morning at Abbot Hall with our Bumps and Brushes workshop. No art experience needed—just a chance to relax, connect with other parents-to-be, and enjoy some creative time in an uplifting and positive environment.

📆 Saturday 25 January
⏱️ 10:30am - 12pm
📍 Abbot Hall, LA9 5AL
🔗 Find out more via the link down in the comments.

Photo captured by CaRo Studio.

📣 We’re hiring! 📣Are you or someone you know our next Senior Curator? Check out or website for more info on the post and...
10/01/2025

📣 We’re hiring! 📣
Are you or someone you know our next Senior Curator? Check out or website for more info on the post and how to apply.

LakelandArts.org.uk/careers

We’re looking forward to seeing you on Saturday for this month’s Sketch and Stroll: guided art tour . There are only a f...
04/12/2024

We’re looking forward to seeing you on Saturday for this month’s Sketch and Stroll: guided art tour . There are only a few places left - book now to avoid disappointment.

📸 Credit: Astrid Mohr and Rowan Roberts

Head over to  for a bit of Christmas shopping this December. You’ll find a fantastic selection of art supplies, books, j...
03/12/2024

Head over to for a bit of Christmas shopping this December. You’ll find a fantastic selection of art supplies, books, jewellery, prints and stationery, much of which is made by local artists and makers.

Gift memberships and vouchers are also available.

Abbot Hall is part of a registered UK charity.

Visiting, shopping, donating and grabbing a coffee supports local arts, culture and heritage.

Abbot Hall is open Weds-Sat, 10-4. A small selection from our shop is available online at LakelandArts.org.uk

What’s on at Abbot Hall this DecemberEvents*Sketch and Stroll*Festive craft sessions*Winter solstice storytimeExhibition...
28/11/2024

What’s on at Abbot Hall this December

Events
*Sketch and Stroll
*Festive craft sessions
*Winter solstice storytime

Exhibitions
*Legacy | Charmaine Watkiss
*Intervention & Renewal | Johannes Pretorius
*Agri-Culture | Queen Katherine School
*Ecology Gallery | featuring Russell Mills
*Portrait Galleries and Art Herbarium

(art gallery, gift shop and coffee bar) is open Wed-Sat, 10-4
Admission gives visitors unlimited entry for 12 months

Abbot Hall is part of a registered UK Charity

Book tickets online at Lakelandarts.org.uk



lakedistrictculture

From Venice to Kendal, Charmaine Watkiss’ art has resonated with people across continents, transcending borders and cult...
13/11/2024

From Venice to Kendal, Charmaine Watkiss’ art has resonated with people across continents, transcending borders and cultures. Her upcoming talk at Abbot Hall invites you to pause, reflect, and consider life from another perspective through her art.

On 22 November, Charmaine will chat with Isabel Seligman about the stories that live within her drawings—exploring the interconnectivity between ancestry, botany and cosmology.

🗓️ 22 November | ⏰ 5:30 – 6:30pm

📍 Abbot Hall | 🎟️ Grab your tickets via Kendal Mountain Festival

We are saddened to hear of the death of the artist Frank Auerbach (1931-2024). His beautifully sensitive and vital depic...
12/11/2024

We are saddened to hear of the death of the artist Frank Auerbach (1931-2024).

His beautifully sensitive and vital depictions of the human form have been a much-loved part of the Abbot Hall collection since 1997.

In 1939 Frank Auerbach was sent by his German-Jewish parents from Berlin to school in England for his safety. His parents were killed in the Holocaust and after he left school Auerbach came to London in 1947 aged sixteen and enrolled at art school.

As an artist the commitment to his subject was clear: “To record the life that seemed to me to be passionate and exciting and disappearing all the time.”

Auerbach’s Reclining Head of Julia, pencil, graphite and chalk on paper, 1994 is currently on display at Abbot Hall as part of our collection exhibition.

©️ The artist’s estate
Image credit

Abbot Hall will remain open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm. Please note we’ll be closed from 2–13 February for ...
05/11/2024

Abbot Hall will remain open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm. Please note we’ll be closed from 2–13 February for deep cleaning and collections care. We’re excited to welcome you and take you on a unique, magical art journey!

Address

Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kirkland
Kendal
LA95AL

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+441539637940

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Our Story

Winner of the Art Gallery of the Year Cumbria Life Culture Awards 2017, Abbot Hall Art Gallery is a Grade 1 listed building with a national reputation for showing contemporary and historical works.

Conveniently located in Kendal town centre, Abbot Hall enjoys a pretty riverside setting. Just a stone’s throw from the leafy Abbot Hall Park and Kendal Parish Church, it makes for an inspiring day out for all.

On permanent display at Abbot Hall is an impressive collection of eighteenth and nineteenth-century art. In the elegant period rooms visitors will discover a selection of works by Cumbrian born artist George Romney, one of the greatest eighteenth-century portrait painters. The centre piece is what many perceive to be his masterpiece, the beautiful The Gower Family: The Children of Granville, 2nd Earl Gower (1776-7).

Also permanently exhibited is The Great Picture – an impressive triptych commissioned by Lady Anne Clifford (1590 – 1678) in 1646. It depicts the story of her life-long struggle for, and untimely succession to, the family inheritance.