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The Lake District, Cumbria, has provided inspiration for a whole host of artists throughout the years, so it may come as no surprise that we’ve got a rich arts and crafts scene across the area! Here, you’ll find a range of art galleries and exhibition spaces that host an ever-changing calendar of works in virtually every medium.
Discover pieces by local and nationally known artists at venues including independent galleries and studios, to museums and seasonal fairs. Some offer the chance to take a piece home with you, while others host regularly changing exhibitions as well as permanent art collections.
There’s even the opportunity to check out art in the great outdoors: there’s a sculpture trail at Grizedale Forest, for example, as well as open air exhibitions as part of festivals and events throughout the year.
If you fancy trying it for yourself, several galleries and studios also host workshops and classes. Often, you’ll be able to get inspired by the stunning natural surroundings of your venue as you learn a new skill or hone existing abilities.
As well as viewing some fantastic art pieces, here in Cumbria we also invite you to explore the studios and workshops where that work was made; and even meet the artists who create it.
Keep an eye out, too, for touring exhibitions to see something a little different while in the Lake District, Cumbria. Discover our galleries and exhibitions below.
Heallreaf 5 presents their latest exhibition of handwoven tapestry. Using centuries old weaving…
Tapestry weavers from England and New Zealand come together in this fourth international touring…
A contemporary art gallery 9 miles east of Carlisle. located close to Hadrian’s Wall, the Scottish…
A collection of mixed media pieces aimed to inspire and initiate thought provoking conversation…
A free Exhibition at the first floor of Windermere Library which tells the heritage of pioneering…
The Gather is a “bureau des guides”, a community of qualified outdoor leaders focused on providing…
Roman museum displaying the internationally significant collection of Romano-British altars,…
If you’re visiting the Ambleside area why not pop into the Old Courthouse Gallery? We have a…
Join us at Ravenglass Railway Museum in 2025, as we celebrate 150 years of the Ravenglass and…
We are pleased to announce that our new Shipyard Town gallery is fully open. We are honoured to…
The EVAN Gallery and Studios is a genuinely artist led creative hub. EVAN was established in 2017…
Don't miss this opportunity to delve into the life and legacy of Alfred Wainwright at The Armitt…
Eskdale Mill is a unique experience, nestled in one of the Lake District's most beautiful locations…
You may leave the Lake District, but once you’ve been, it’ll never leave you.
Number of results: 62
, currently showing 21 to 40.
Penrith
Rheged is a gallery, café, cinema, shopping venue, workplace and creative space on the edge of the Northern Lakes.
Crosby-on-Eden
Whether you see yourself as an aviation enthusiast or simply a curious explorer, Solway Aviation Museum has something to offer. Based on the site of RAF Crosby-on-Eden, a former WWII fighter base, the museum has been painstakingly created by a team…
Sedbergh
This new body of work explores the ever-changing Lakeland landscape. The work is abstract, painted from memory and includes familiar shapes; field patterns on the fellside, ancient gate stoops weathered by the elements, a hog hole in a wall, the…
Sedbergh
Each summer at ArtyBird, we film our Creative Textile suite of courses. Soon my shell became the focus and star of them – surprising us on how inspiring just one shell can be.
This is a special shell, one that my husband brought me back from his…
Bowness-on-Windermere
Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house is a rare architectural gem in the heart of the Lake District and offers a perfectly preserved snapshot of early 20th-century living.
Grasmere
A visit to Dove Cottage today transports you back to this remarkable period of ‘plain living and high thinking’. The sights, sounds and smells bring to life the bustling family home the Wordsworths would have known over 200 years ago.
20-24 Front St, Brampton
Jennifer Guest
Jennifer gained a BA(Hons) in Art and Design from East Anglia University, and then went on to have a career as a therapist and author. Returning to making art, Jennifer now creates drawings as a full-time artist from her Scottish…
Bowness-on-Windermere
A magical indoor attraction that brings to life all 23 Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit tales. Meet all your favourite characters and find out more about Beatrix Potter herself.
W Strand, Whitehaven
FEATURING 11 UNSEEN PERCY KELLYS
EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY – SOME OF WEST CUMBRIA'S MOST WELL-LOVED AND DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS, SHOWCASING THE POWERFUL REPRESENTATIONS OF THE AREAS LOCAL INDUSTRIAL PAST.
The Beacon Museums collection includes over…
Brampton
A contemporary art gallery 9 miles east of Carlisle. located close to Hadrian’s Wall, the Scottish Borders, Eden Valley, and English Lake District, so it should be no surprise that we have a wealth of artistic talent to call upon.
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, Ravenglass
Join us at Ravenglass Railway Museum in 2025, as we celebrate 150 years of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway with a special anniversary exhibition! Discover the fascinating history of La'al Ratty, from its origins in 1875 as a vital industrial…
Cockermouth
Come along to Wordsworth House for a fun-filled session with the kids, brought to you by Wordsworth Grasmere and the National Trust.
Join the team from Wordsworth Grasmere on site for songs, play, craft and a story exploring our planet, and on…
Stramongate, Kendal
A masterpiece of storytelling; 350 years of social history and a celebration of life, revolutions and remarkable people....made by 4,000 people. Facilities: Gift Shop, Cafe, Audio guides, Films, Interactive Displays, Children's Activities.
Brampton
Gallery Northwest is honoured to be hosting a truly unique and captivating exhibition, which will feature ten amazing and extremely successful female artists from Cumbria and South West Scotland. This event presents a fabulous opportunity to witness…
Kendal
Lakeland Arts' much-loved art collection includes paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture ranging from the 1700's to the present. In our refreshed collection galleries discover the stories of our extraordinary collection pieces and the people…
Braithwaite, Keswick
A rusty 'tin shed' beside a dramatic waterfall in a remote valley just outside Keswick – this building is a tribute to human engineering and ingenuity, and it has a powerful story to tell about humanity's impact on the planet. Before closing in…
Kendal
Kendal Museum is one of the oldest museums in the UK, founded in 1796 by William Todhunter. The Museum has a long history in Kendal Town and has occupied various sites but has been at its current location (previously a wool warehouse) since 1913.
Sedbergh
A collection of mixed media pieces aimed to inspire and initiate thought provoking conversation that may lead to action and ultimately, positive change.
If you had no access to pharmaceutical medicine, would you know what to forage for in…
Sedbergh
The International Textile Exhibition is back with new work from around the world. Oceans is the inspiration for the work entered into the competition from internationally renowned textiles artists. There is a stunning array of figurative and…
Barrow-in-Furness
We are pleased to announce that our new Shipyard Town gallery is fully open. We are honoured to tell the stories of the men and women who made Barrow great and a world leader in engineering. There is so much to do and see in the gallery including…
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