Watts Gallery opened its doors in 1904, as the only gallery in the UK devoted to a single artist. George Frederic Watts, often hailed as ‘England’s Michelangelo’ for his powerful works and portraits. But our story is equally defined by his remarkable wife, Mary Watts. A visionary designer and artist herself, Mary founded The Potters’ Arts Guild at Compton, a progressive enterprise that brought together local craftspeople to create beautiful terracotta art.
Today, we are more than just a gallery. We house a fantastic collection of art, host a dynamic range of temporary exhibitions, and offer an inspiring year-round programme of talks, tours, workshops, and courses. We also actively support contemporary artists through our artist-in-residence programme and host our “Art for All” community programme, continuing the ethos of our artist-founders.
We believe in Art for All, by All.
As a registered charity, our mission to reach and inspire all audiences is made possible entirely by the generous support of our visitors, shoppers, Friends, Patrons, donors, and supporters. Every visit, every purchase, and every donation helps us keep George and Mary Watts’s pioneering vision alive for future generations.
