OPEN EXHIBITION

Image kindly offered by Rachel Gibson

Small and Beautiful:

A new exciting exhibition to kick off the Christmas season at Gallery Northwest by celebrating small yet beautiful 2D works from a wide variety of mark-making genres.

This open exhibition presents a wonderful opportunity for artists and art lovers to showcase/purchase exceptional and captivating small artworks created by talented local artists in our stunning Contemporary Art Gallery in Brampton.

The exhibition will be on display throughout the Christmas season of 2025 and will continue into the New Year, inviting visitors to enjoy and appreciate these unique pieces of artwork during this festive period.

Exhibition Details:

The exhibition is conveniently located in both of our inviting gallery rooms situated on the first floor. The exhibition will launch with a special ticket only Preview Event on Saturday 22/11/25, further details on this exciting event can be found below:

The Exhibition itself will be open to the public from Monday 24/11/25 - Tuesday 13/01/26 - opening times Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM on Saturdays.
Entry is FREE, and we welcome all visitors to come and explore the displayed artworks during these hours.

THE PREVIEW EVENT:

A special preview event for this amazing exhibition will take place on Saturday, November 17th, from 4 PM to 8 PM. This truly is an unmissable date to mark in your calendar, as it promises to be a delightful feast for all art lovers out there. In addition to the stunning array of Small and Beautiful creations showcased in the exhibition from handpicked local creators, this event offers a wonderful opportunity to find unique and special Christmas gifts.

Tickets are now on sale at only £5.00, this small fee grants entry to an afternoon and early evening of festivities, including a complimentary glass of wine or prosecco when you arrive, along with canapés and nibbles available throughout the night. Your ticket also provides an exclusive 5% discount on any of the exhibition artworks, as well as entry into a prize draw held at the end of the evening

A fully manned bar serving a variety of refreshments will also be available, complemented by live music from guitarist Dave Wood, who will be performing classical and acoustic guitar selections.
This is a fantastic chance to kick off the Christmas season in style, so be sure to secure your tickets now.

Parking:

Gallery Northwest does not have any parking facilities of their own; however, convenient on-street parking can be found all along Front Street as well as around the Market Place. Additionally, there are several free and payable car parks located in close proximity to the gallery. For those interested in more detailed information and a google map regarding parking options, please use the button below.

A CALL OUT to artists living and working within a 50 mile radius of Gallery Northwest in Brampton.

Please read the following guidelines and terms before submitting your form - Cut-off date for entries: Friday -17th October 2025

• Eligibility

  Our first Open exhibition will proudly showcase the rich and diverse talent of local artists, whether amateur or professional. All submitted artworks will be carefully and thoughtfully judged by a panel of artists and selected from your entries to present a varied and distinctive range of creative voices from across Cumbria and the Borders region.

  The names of successful artists will be announced at a later date, allowing us time to ensure a truly representative collection. If you would like to submit your work, the artwork submissions process is now live by using the form below (please read the following guidelines carefully) –

  We eagerly look forward to seeing your wonderful and inspiring art come to life!

• Small and Beautiful - guidelines

  Image Size:
  This exhibition welcomes all forms of artwork, with a maximum image size restriction of A4 paper size or 12 inches (30 cm) at the longest length, specifically for canvas or panel works.
  Please be aware that the specified dimensions apply solely to the finished image area itself and do not include surrounding frames or mounts, which are excluded from these measurements.

  Framing:
  All accepted artworks must be framed to an appropriate gallery standard to ensure a professional and cohesive presentation. Failure to comply with this framing requirement may unfortunately lead to your artwork being rejected and not accepted for display at the exhibition.

  Canvas Specifications:
  Deep box canvases with a thickness of 38mm or more are permitted for this exhibition. However, it is important that the sides of these canvases are fully painted; canvases with unpainted or unfinished edges will not be accepted under any circumstances.

  Hanging Requirements:
  Every work submitted must be fitted securely with D rings and strung with suitable hanging cord (no wires) to guarantee proper installation and safety. We are unable to accept canvases fitted with metal canvas plates or alternative hanging hardware that do not meet these specified hanging criteria.

  Gallery Commission:

  All artworks submitted must be available for sale. Please keep in mind that we apply a 40% commission on all sales, so kindly adjust your prices to reflect this deduction accordingly.

• How to enter

  To enter, you must live or work within a 50-mile radius of Gallery North West (GNW) located in Brampton.

  Cut-off dates for the Exhibition:
  You must send your applications to us by 17th/10/2025. We will not accept any applications after the cut-off date.

  How many works per artist:
  To allow as many artists as possible to be included in the Open Exhibition, we are restricting successful artists up to 3 artworks on display.

  Selection process:
  To make the selection process as fair as possible. You can provide us with up to 3 digital images of your artwork with your application, which can be either final pieces you intend to submit or, if these have not yet been produced, similar works that accurately represent the style and quality of your creations.
  All images provided must be of a sufficiently high quality to allow our selection panel to fairly and effectively evaluate your submission for potential inclusion in the exhibition.

  When preparing your images, please ensure each file is named using the following format: first name - last name - title of the work before attaching and uploading.

  • Failure to name your images properly can often result in your work becoming lost or misplaced, as administrators may be unable to correctly identify your images in relation to the name provided on your entry form.
    Additionally, failure to provide clear and well-presented images may lead to your submission being declined, as image quality and presentation are crucial for proper evaluation.

  Applications:
  All application must be made using the Form provided, we will not accept submissions via email or social media messaging, except in exceptional circumstances;

  Fees:
  There is a fixed, non-refundable fee of £10 (ten pounds) to cover administration costs. After you submit your submission form you will be redirected to a payments page l to pay your entrance fee by: BACS, PayPal or Credit/Debit Card

• Exhibition Preview and Prizes

  There will be prizes awarded by Gallery North West:

  1. £50

  2. £30

  3. £20

  For 3 placed works. They will be judged by a panel or artists and the winners will be announced at the end of the exhibition preview evening on Saturday the 22nd of November.

  In Addition, there will also be a People’s Choice award, gathered via voting slips throughout the exhibition period, and the winner announced at exhibition end.

• If Successful

  The Gallery will require the following information from each artist.

  Artist Profile:
  Every artist who has been confirmed and accepted for exhibition in the Open may be asked to provide the gallery with the following details if the information submitted on your entry form is not sufficient. This information will be used primarily for promotional purposes related to both the exhibition and the artist:

  • A short biography of the artist that outlines their work, artistic experiences, and sources of inspiration. This should be submitted in a text-only file format such as Word, RTF, or TXT.

  • A clear, high-quality photograph of the artist, or alternatively, a selection of clear images of their artwork that best represent their style and vision, intended for promotional use.

  • URL links to the artist’s own website, social media pages, or other online platforms if available, to help broaden their exposure through the exhibition’s promotional activities.

Submit your entry application here:

Cut off date for applications 17/10/25