Sharon James Artist Studio Gallery

Sharon James Artist Studio Gallery A unique exhibition space in the heart of Purbeck. Showcasing artist Sharon James work's permanently Featuring work of local and national artists.

A purpose built gallery space that can accommodate both 2D and 3D work.

Mother, Grandmother, Father, Son, Grandaughter, Daughter, Mother Oil on Canvas20cm x 20cmWith a big canvas looming had a...
08/07/2026

Mother, Grandmother, Father, Son, Grandaughter, Daughter, Mother

Oil on Canvas

20cm x 20cm

With a big canvas looming had an itch that I wanted to scratch. I really enjoyed the weirdness of this. I didn’t over correct and used my own paintings as a starting point.
This is definitely something I want to explore further at some point.
How many nostrils?
It’s always interesting to scratch creative itches. I had no idea what it would look like.
I’d be interested to hear what you think about it.
I particularly like that my kids are perched on my Nans shoulder.
Also it’s interesting that many of paintings include paintings of my own paintings. Fun fact there for you!


18/06/2026

My actual face thanking you!

17/06/2026

A little update…
I honestly never expected to receive so much support so quickly. The donations, shares, messages and encouragement have completely blown me away. I am so grateful and genuinely humbled by your generosity.
As artists, we’re often told to keep pushing, keep applying, keep finding ways to make things happen. To see so many people get behind The Past Is Present means more than you know.
Behind the scenes, I’m deep into the final edit of the book and working on new pieces for the exhibition. It’s busy, exciting and sometimes a little daunting, but your support is helping turn this vision into reality.
Thank you for believing in the work, in Blackground, and in the importance of sharing these stories. Enjoy a sneak peek of new works.
More updates soon ❤️
https://gofund.me/d3d42ebdf

I am so grateful to everyone who shared my post yesterday and to those who have donated. If you’ve contributed, expect t...
14/06/2026

I am so grateful to everyone who shared my post yesterday and to those who have donated. If you’ve contributed, expect to see your name in print.
I wanted to explain why I’ve chosen to go down this route.
Over the past few months, I’ve spent days writing funding applications for small pots of money, with little success. I can keep applying and hoping for the best, or I can ask my community to help make this exhibition happen.
I know asking for financial support to put on an exhibition can feel indulgent. But hear me out.
Every day, it feels as though far-right rhetoric is creeping further into our communities. Blackground speaks directly to the impact this has on people like us. As a Black mother, artist and community worker, I worry about my family, my friends and the wider community.
This work is about creating space for conversation. It offers a mother’s perspective on the current climate and explores how the issues we face today connect to histories that are often ignored or forgotten.
The reality is that exhibitions like this cost money. Marketing, publishing and framing all add up. There was a time when I could absorb those costs myself. These days, with three children, there simply isn’t any spare money lying around. Kids need shoes.

If everyone who follows me donated just £1, the exhibition would be fully funded.
Thank you for believing in this work and helping me share it with a wider audience.
Link in bio.
https://gofund.me/34c64a4b4


Hi everyone — I just launched my fundraiser for ‘The Past Is Present,’ a collaborative exhibition with DEED at Lighthous...
13/06/2026

Hi everyone — I just launched my fundraiser for ‘The Past Is Present,’ a collaborative exhibition with DEED at Lighthouse, Poole during Black History Month. This project aims to showcase stories of history, identity, and belonging that deserve to be seen and heard. Your support will help bring the exhibition and accompanying Blackground publication into the world, sharing these important voices far beyond the gallery walls. Even a small donation or share can make a big difference in helping preserve and celebrate these stories. Please consider supporting if this cause speaks to you — together, we can make ‘The Past Is Present’ a reality.
Link in bio.

https://gofund.me/c73802e6a

Back in 2022, I painted portraits of my family. I was still very new to oil painting then and, although I was pleased wi...
30/05/2026

Back in 2022, I painted portraits of my family. I was still very new to oil painting then and, although I was pleased with them at the time, I’ve often felt I’d like to paint them again with the experience I’ve gained since.

My brother would have been 60 this year, so it feels right to start with him. There are more to come.

I also superimposed my nan’s face over my own just to see what it might look like. It was quite emotional, really. There’s something strange about spending days looking closely at the face of someone you’ve loved and lost. As I paint, little details come back to me – expressions, features, memories I’d almost forgotten.

It’s comforting and unsettling in equal measure, but also feels like a way of spending time with them again.
PaintingMemories

m really excited to be taking part in the Matrescence Festival — a celebration of motherhood in all its complexity, beau...
20/05/2026

m really excited to be taking part in the Matrescence Festival — a celebration of motherhood in all its complexity, beauty, exhaustion, joy and transformation.
Showing my IVF work in this space feels especially important. These paintings and prints come from lived experience; from navigating q***r motherhood, fertility treatment, identity, hope, loss and love.
So often IVF stories are hidden behind closed doors. To share this work alongside other voices exploring motherhood feels powerful, necessary and deeply affirming.
Motherhood isn’t one story. Matrescence makes space for all of them. 🤍



Komorebi StationOil on CanvasThe summer sun and independence. A day trip to London last summer. Like komorebi, sunlight ...
14/04/2026

Komorebi Station

Oil on Canvas

The summer sun and independence. A day trip to London last summer.
Like komorebi, sunlight passing through leaves, the light here is transient and partial, revealing itself gradually. Within the language of stations and transitions, this moment marks a quiet but decisive change. My daughter sits alone on the train, taking her first steps towards independence. This is a companion painting to Transitions and Train Stations.
My latest work is focused on the assertion of independence that steadily increases as my kids get older. Also acknowledging the importance of it.



Address

Sharon James Artist Studio 71 High Street
Swanage
BH192LY

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 5pm
Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+447561102978

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Sharon James Artist Studio Gallery posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Sharon James Artist Studio Gallery:

Shortcuts

Share

Category