What’s on at Cambridge Artspace:
exhibitions, talks and workshops
November & December 2025
& January 2026
WINTER OPEN STUDIOS
29 - 30 November 11- 5pm
Mulled wine and mince pies 2 - 4pm both days
After a successful summer of Open Studios here at Artworks, we are very
excited to be opening our studios for a special winter weekend event.
13 of our resident artists will be opening their doors again and showing ceramics,
prints, paintings, illustrations and mixed media work. Come along and see
work in progress, treat yourself to a unique piece of art or get started on your
Christmas shopping!
Artists participating: Sara Paynter - ceramics; Jan Ayton - mixed media; Dell Olsen - mixed media; Susan Mealing - printmaking; Nicola Killen - Illustration; Jill Eastland - activist artist; Rachel Dormor - mixed media; Jill Ogilvy - painting; Idit Nathan - mixed media; Sarah Wood - film and text; Rachel Wooller - painting; Lizzy McCaughan - printed gifts; Lucie Bruijn - ceramics (Saturday only).
OPEN CALL: ANTIDOTE
Making, sharing, community and conversation are fundamental to Cambridge Artspace. ANTIDOTE, our new Open Call, celebrates the myriad ways that creativity sparks change, shifts our balance, and offers new perspectives on the challenges of our lives.
From your submissions, we will curate a public exhibition exploring themes in your work of healing and repair, flickers or floods of change within situations of conflict or pain.
Work in all formats is welcome, be they painted, drawn, carved, fired, printed, mechanical, digital or a new combination or form.
ANTIDOTE will take place at Cambridge Artspace: February 6th–8th, 2026
All works will be for sale unless you specify otherwise 25% commission will go towards Artworks studios.
Artists are responsible for the delivery, collection and insurance of work.
Submission deadline: 5pm, 7 January, 2026
Please complete the online submission form which is here.
ART GROUP: CAMBRIDGE BLACK CREATIVES
Cambridge Black Creatives is a unique arts group supporting black creative people in Cambridge. We are creating a transformational space for art making and honest discussion on racial issues.
The group usually meets monthly at Cambridge Artspace on the third Wednesday of the month, 6.30-8.30pm. Different activities are planned for each session. Materials provided.
New members, allies, and non-artists are all always welcome!
For more information and/or enquiries:
https://www.cambridgeblackcreatives.com
Follow on Instagram @cambridgeblackcreatives
What’s been on at Cambridge Artspace:
exhibitions, talks and workshops
Previously in 2025
BOOK LAUNCH, WORKSHOPS & DROP INS WITH TOBY SKETCH LOOSE
25th October 10-5.30pm
Join artist Toby for book launch workshops and sketching drop-ins - relaxed, creative sessions for all levels. Celebrate the release of his book Sketching in the City with live demos, tips, and inspiration. Bring your sketchbook and get involved!
For more details and to book your place visit Toby's website here
There will be:
-
Two light hearted workshops (each covering different topics from his book)
-
Two free drop-in sessions — say hello, bring your sketchbook, browse artwork
-
A mini exhibition of his paintings
-
Signed books for sale
-
Free tea, coffee & snacks all day!
-
Workshop One: 10:00 – 12:00 (ticket required)
-
Free Drop-In: 12:00 – 14:00 (everyone welcome!)
-
Workshop Two: 14:00 – 16:00 (ticket required)
-
Free Drop-In: 16:00 – 17:30 (everyone welcome!)
Group Size for Workshops: Small groups of 8-12 for relaxed, personal feedback
Workshop Price: £20 per session (drop-ins are free)
.jpg)
EXHIBITION: In Between Meals and Dreams
Yayen & Jessa GY, Mohammad Noureddini
1st-2nd November 10-5pm
Private view Friday October 31st 6-8pm
In Between Dreams and Meals examines how food and sleep—our most basic human needs—take on new meanings in migration. Through visual art and storytelling, the exhibition reveals how nourishment, rest, and identity intertwine for those living between cultures. Exploring the intersections of memory, adaptation, and survival, it presents food and sleep as acts of resilience, quiet rituals that not only sustain life but also carry stories of loss and renewal. This exhibition reminds us that even in displacement, the pursuit of belonging can inspire the creation of new homes and cultures.
AUTUMN WORKSHOP WITH JILL OGILVY
MIX IT UP! Confidence with Colour
8 - 9 November 2025
A playful, practical 2-day workshop for mastering colour mixing with confidence. Explore colour relationships, create harmony, and take control of your palette!
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced painter looking to refresh your approach, this workshop offers a hands-on, accessible way to build your confidence with colour. Through a series of guided exercises, we’ll explore how to mix clean, expressive hues, understand warm and cool relationships, hierarchy of colour temperatures, saturation vs. desaturation, and refine your palette so that you will learn how to group your colour values and evaluate your choices. No more muddy colours! You will develop your knowledge of colour, learning how to create tonal contrast, colour harmony and mood through colour exploration. You’ll also begin to develop your own unique colour palette that reflects your personal style and artistic voice.
Cost per 2-day workshop: £160 (20% discount when booked with still life workshop 4-5 Oct)
Some materials will be provided, but participants will need to bring their own painting equipment. A list will be provided. Hot drinks and snacks will be available but please bring a packed lunch.
More information is available on Jill's website here.
EXHIBITION & WORKSHOP: Rachel Dormor 100 Days
Preview: Friday 14th November 6-8pm
15 & 16th November 10-5pm each day
Rachel Dormor will be exhibiting a selection of expressive mixed-media works on paper that have been developed out of a 100 days practice over the summer. Come and see what she’s been making!
Journal making workshop, details to follow.
AUTUMN WORKSHOP WITH JILL OGILVY
DYNAMIC FORMS – Experimental Still Life
4 - 5 October
10am - 4pm Saturday and Sunday
An explorative, practical 2-day workshop to encourage a dynamic contemporary approach to still-life painting.
This lively and exploratory workshop invites you to reimagine still life as a dynamic and expressive practice. Combining drawing and observation of everyday items, we will explore new compositional possibilities in a playful and animated way, incorporating collaged elements to shift perspectives and disrupt the familiar. The focus is on experimentation rather than producing a finished painting; participants will investigate ways of translating three-dimensional objects onto a two-dimensional surface, discovering fresh approaches through bold arrangements and visual invention. Alongside composition, we will also consider tonal value, thematic intention, and meaning in still life painting, offering a rich space to reflect, take creative risks, and spark new ideas.
Cost per 2-day workshop: £160 (20% discount when booked with colour workshop 8-9 Nov)
Some materials will be provided, but participants will need to bring their own painting equipment. A list will be provided. Hot drinks and snacks will be available but please bring a packed lunch.
EXHIBITION & WORKSHOP: Cambridge Black Creatives Annual exhibition DIASPORA
11-12 October 10-5pm
Opening performances on Friday 10th October 6-8pm
An exhibition of artwork and poetry by Black artists and our allies in Cambridge. This year's show, DIASPORA, explores the themes of migration and belonging with a diverse range of work from oil painting to installation, from textile art to sculpture.
The opening will be on Friday 10th 6pm-8pm and will include poetry reading by Lee Codrington and the launch of his new collection of poetry.
On Sunday 12th at 2.22pm we will be running the workshop 'Deface Detourne, Decolonise'. A timely exploration of flags and their meanings.
EXHIBITION: Refugees Welcome Here
17-19 October 12 - 6pm
Opening Evening Friday 17 October 7 - 9pm
Cambridge Artworks welcomes refugees and asylum seekers.
This show brings together the work of studio artists based at Cambridge Artworks and refugees in Cambridge. Several of the Artworks studio artists have been working alongside refugees and creating art about displacement for many years, some are migrants or refugees themselves. This exhibition enables us to demonstrate our solidarity and continued support for refugees in Cambridge and the UK. In partnership with Counterpoints, find out more here
Contributing Artists:
Jan Ayton / Anna Brownsted / Rachel Dormor / Jill Eastland / Kiarash Khazaei / Susan Mealing / Idit Nathan / Mohammad Noureddini / Dell Olsen / Mojgan Rajabpour / Sally Todd / Sarah Wood / Rachel Wooller / John Yayen / Sanam Yousef / And women refugees attending Cambridge Women’s Resources Centre.
WORKSHOP: An Introduction to East Asian Calligraphy with Matthew James/ Yōsetsu
21 October 2-5pm
Discover the timeless art of East Asian calligraphy in this engaging hands-on workshop led by Matthew James, an award-winning British calligrapher.
Participants in this workshop will learn about the history of calligraphy in China and Japan, the equipment and materials used for calligraphy, and the basic techniques of brush writing.
£40 per person
EXHIBITION: UNSTABLE Mohammad Noureddini
in association with Counterpoints Arts
Find a review of this exhibition here:
6 - 7 September
10am - 5pm Saturday and Sunday
Unstable is an exhibition of drawings and prints by Mohammad Noureddini, exploring fragility, displacement, and the collective human body under systems of power. Figures gather, collapse, and reach out, suspended between resistance and submission.
Unstable presents a series of works that reflect on the precarious conditions of human life shaped by political forces. In these drawings and prints, groups of figures appear in states of mourning, collapse, or collective gesture. Their movements remain deliberately ambiguous: are they worshipping, protesting, reaching for help, or surrendering to authority? This uncertainty mirrors the instability of our times, where boundaries between solidarity and submission, power and vulnerability, resistance and despair are never fixed. Through stark compositions and raw mark-making, Mohammad Noureddini invites viewers to encounter these images as fragments of a larger unfinished narrative: scenes that resonate with questions more urgent than answers. What should be done?
EXHIBITION & WORKSHOPS: Gordon Shaw Retrospective
A Journey Towards
13-21st September
10.30-5pm daily
Gordon Shaw, known for his vibrant use of colour and expressional mark making, was a local painter and multidisciplinary artist. This retrospective explores the evolution of his long career, as someone who constantly strove towards experimentation, examination of the inner world and gentle integration of the human condition.
12th September - Private view
Wednesday 17th September - Linocut workshop information and tickets here
Friday 19th September - Late opening & drawing event 5pm - 8pm
Emma Louise Pratt - Koekoeā Studio: Exhibiting in Artspace for Open Studios, weekends 2,3 &4
Koekoeā Studio weaves storytelling, visual art, and research to explore identity, memory, and place. This year’s multimodal work continues an unfolding graphic novel, with large drawings, zines, and early animated sketches. The studio reflects on decolonisation, trauma, and belonging through experimental forms that invite connection, reflection, and collaborative imagining.
STUDIO PORTRAITURE MINI SHOOTS WITH KARL NATHAN HILL
Saturday August 9th to Sunday August 10th
Karl Nathan Hill is a portrait photographer whose work blends naturalistic lighting with emotional sensitivity. He is offering limited 30-minute portraiture sittings at Cambridge Artspace this August. Ideal for those who prefer a gentle, calm and considered experience.
Dates and times:
Saturday 09 August 2025
10:00 | 10:45 | 11:30 | 12:15 | 13:30 | 14:15 | 15:00 | 15:45
Sunday 10 August 2025
10:00 | 10:45 | 11:30 | 12:15 | 13:30 | 14:15 | 15:00 | 15:45
£95 - 2 Final Images
GUEST ARTISTS IN ARTSPACE
Paper Draper: Exhibiting in Artspace for Open Studios, weekend 1
Expect the unexpected! Nostalgic and vintage imagery is carefully cut and playfully rearranged, challenging perception and reality with a good dose of humour and imagination.
Preview/opening from 6-30pm to 8-30pm on Fri 4th July RSVP to Gina at info@paperdraper.com paperdraper.com
Find Paper Draper on instagram here
OPEN STUDIOS
Thank you to everyone who visited our open studios on the first three weekends of July!
We have been busy potting, painting, printing and making. Our studios are tidy and we are ready for your visit! There’s something to tempt you each weekend in July as ten of our studio artists will be participating in Cambridge Open Studios this July, and we have guest artists showing in Artspace.
Open each weekend in July 10-5, refreshments available, disabled parking only. Please check the guide for full listings but note there is an error regarding our guest artists, see below for correct dates. Other times/days by appointment with individual artists. We are venue 77 in the guide.
Cambridge Artworks Studios will be open for the first three weekends in July, with studios open between 10am and 5pm: 05 – 06 | 12 – 13 | 19 – 20 July 2025.
There will also be artists exhibiting in Artspace over all four weekends.
See our Open Studios Page for more information
EXHIBITION & FAMILY WORKSHOP
HeART of Gaza: a touring exhibition of children’s artworks from Gaza
Preview evening on Friday 20th June from 5pm to 7pm
Open 11am to 4pm, Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd June
There will be a family art workshop from 12.30 to 2.30 Saturday 21st June with Idit Nathan, Jill Eastland and Cathy Dunbar featuring games and art activities.
Followed by a parade from the gallery to the River Festival at 3.45pm – From the Sea to the River
Find out more about the exhibiton on instagram
SELLING EXHIBITION AND WORKSHOPS
4 WAYS – ‘FIGURE IT OUT’
4 Ways of Seeing Artists return to Cambridge with an exciting new exhibition entitled, ‘Figure it Out…’to include interactive workshops.
· Private View: Friday 23rd May, 6pm-8pm
· Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th May 11am-5pm. Workshops 2-4pm plus 12-2pm Sun
· Bank Holiday Monday 26th May 11am-4pm. Workshops 12-2pm
A defining feature of a 4 Ways Exhibition is the opportunity for visitors to speak directly with the artists and gain insight into their creative processes. This year, guests can participate in interactive workshops and live demonstrations led by the artists themselves:
Judy Logan – capturing stillness and movement, exploring the impact on the viewer.
Sue Law – using text as a powerful medium to infuse meaning into artwork.
Jill Ogilvy – demonstrating the power and impact of composition.
Deanna Tyson – showcasing how fragments and jigsaw shapes create striking visual narratives.
Visitors of all ages are invited to take part—children must be supervised, but adults are just as welcome to join the creative fun!
For more information and to book workshops see Eventbrite here.
Judy Logan @judylogan101artist
WORKSHOP
Stitch in Time sessions are back!
This series of events has emerged out of a wish to re-purpose the material stuff we live with. The sessions are facilitated by a trained tailor and an artist passionate about 'visible mending' and there are plenty of opportunities to learn from each other. Bring along any of your sewing or mending projects that may have been abandoned and get inspired in the company of others.
This time it's 'pay as you can' to help us cover costs. We welcome all levels of experience and provide some basic materials and refreshments. These popular sessions are 'pay as you can' to help us cover costs.
Thursdays 10th April/15th May / 12th June 18.30-20.30pm
ARTISTS' TALK
Pathways: Artist Practice Sharing
Join the conversation with artists Alexandra Baraitser and Richard Fraser as we explore the themes and thoughts behind their work.
Saturday June 7th • 2- 4pm free, booking essential.
The Pathways series has developed as a place to consider artists' approaches in depth, and discuss their thinking and their choices in a facilitated group. Seeing the display of their work, and joining the discussions can refresh your own ideas and understanding, whether you are also an artist, or simply interested in the communicative power of creativity.
Alexandra Baraitser meticulously documents through drawing and painting a wide range of designed objects including chairs, lighting, textiles, interior design, stations and bridges. Her paintings are a celebration of contemporary design and architecture and are based on images she selects from vintage magazines.
Richard Fraser is an architectural and topographic photographer. He is currently exploring the concept of the ’Transect’ as part of his ongoing ‘Fraser Project’, capturing our environment from a distinct perspective from coastlines through to the inner core of our urban areas.
WORKSHOP
Rooted in Wellness: A Creative Journey to Discover Your Tree of Life
Join us - Andreea Unwin, Registered Health Coach and Suzanne Morris, Visual Artist - for a unique workshop where we explore and nurture your wellness through the powerful visual metaphor of the Tree of Life. This hands-on experience blends creativity with self-reflection. You'll connect your playful and driven sides, aligning them with your life and wellbeing goals.
Date: 1st March 2025
Time: 10 - 3pm
Cost: £120
EXHIBITION & TALK
Family Matters: Holding You Up
March 21st - 23rd
10.30 - 5.30pm
Opening celebration Friday 21st 5:30 - 7:30pm
Discussion 2pm Sunday 23rd March
Four contemporary artists offer co-existing experiences of responsibility and creative play that sit at the heart of family. Join us to explore patterns of play, fantasy, support and constraint at work in these formative relationships, and reflect on what persists across generations beyond the families of origin.
To find out more, click here
Click on the button below to book your free ticket for the facilitated discussion on Sunday 23rd March
EXHIBITION
Xolu Dakar bi (the heart of Dakar)
Anna Wood (University of Cambridge) Djibril Dramé Ekaterina Golovko
March 27th - 30th
11 - 4pm
A mixed media exhibition engaging with plans to resettle a small informal settlement in central Dakar, Senegal. A collaborative project between Anna Wood (Research Associate, Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge) and Dakar-based photographers Djibril Dramé and Ekaterina Golovko, aimed at contributing to the preservation of the memory of the place.
To find out more click here