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Artist draws on experiences with alcoholism for new Arts Centre Washington exhibition

Artist Nat Hardy, a former social worker and self-taught multidisciplinary artist, has opened her solo exhibition "Nat Hardy: ISM – Art with Heart" at Arts Centre Washington. The exhibition draws on her personal experience with alcoholism and recovery through a 12-step program, featuring over 30 pieces including a central work titled "The Journey." Hardy won the 2024 Spotlight Washington Open Exhibition at ACW, earning this solo show as her prize.

I'm bringing my Bottoms exhibition to my home city

Sunderland-born artist photographer Dean Raymond Gooch is bringing his debut solo exhibition, "Bottoms," to his home city at the National Glass Centre's NGCA gallery. Opening January 31, the show features large photographic works, screenprints, and risograph prints that explore gay identity and communities through pop art, advertising, and fashion photography. Gooch, a recent University of Sunderland graduate and current MA student, was nominated for the New Blood Art - Emerging Art Prize 2025 and received The Lizzie Rowe Award. A second exhibition, "Smoke and Mirrors," opens simultaneously, featuring 15 contemporary artists who challenge traditional landscape representation through digital and mixed media.

We've brought a new fine art gallery to Sunderland city centre to celebrate local creativity

A collective of 26 local artists has opened a new fine art gallery called Twenty-Four North East in Sunderland city centre, transforming the former Sweet Home Alabama shop on Fawcett Street. The gallery launched with a busy opening night attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Sunderland, featuring works ranging from screw art by Darren Timby to SAFC fan scenes by Chris Cummings and pieces by Dr Ron Lawson, creator of the Molly sculpture. The gallery operates Tuesday to Saturday, selling original fine art from £90, prints, and cards, and plans to host workshops.

We're transforming an empty Sunderland shop into an art gallery to celebrate city's creativity

A collective of artists in Sunderland, England, is transforming the former Sweet Home Alabama shop on Fawcett Street into a new art gallery called Twenty-Four North East (24NE). Led by Sunderland artist Ken Devine, along with Graham Bowes, Darren Timby, and others, the group has leased the unit and is renovating it with donated paint from Albert's Place. The gallery will operate as a permanent independent retail fine art gallery, funded and run by the artists themselves, selling original artworks with zero commission. It is set to open on November 20 with a winter exhibition and will be open Wednesdays to Saturdays for shows, classes, workshops, and art sales.