With the appearance of summer there are an array of fantastic exhibitions and displays of artwork, sculpture, ceramics, and jewellery across the UK. Fortunately, our team of nationwide specialists are here to pick out their selections for this year’s calendar:
Cecily Brown: Picture Making
Serpentine Gallery
Running until 6th September
“I recommend this exhibition. Cecily Brown is a truly great painter and her work is little known beyond those of us already involved in the art world. Amazingly for such a major artist this is her first London show and is a must see …. It’s already open and runs over the summer into early September.”
Grima at the Tomasso Gallery
Tomasso Gallery, London
From 11th – 20th June
“I’m really looking forward to this year’s instalment of the Grima exhibition at the Tomasso Gallery. In what will be its fourth year, this week-long showcase of Andrew Grima’s work, including jewellery and watches from his iconic ‘About Time’ collection for Omega, and contemporary Grima Jewellery pieces is one of the best opportunities to see such a breadth of his work together. For our review of the 2025 edition of this special annual exhibition, take a look at our article here.
London Watch Week
Various locations, London
3rd-6th June 2026
“For those with a passion for horology, London Watch Week has you covered. Last year included events hosted by Bonhams, Pragnell, Oris, plus dedicated days to celebrate independents, and vintage wristwatches – organised by Lucy Cheesewright, Justin Hast and Tom Exton – this carefully curated event will cover numerous facets of the watch world.”
London Watch Fair
The Renaissance Hotel, Heathrow
14th June 2026
“If the Watch Week wasn’t enough, the London Watch Fair takes place just over a week later on 14th June and provides visitors with the chance to see (and buy!) vintage watches from some of the best dealers in the business. With seventy traders lined up for this specialist fair, this is a fantastic opportunity to see rare models, discover new collecting niches and make connections with dealers.”
The British Museum, London
September 2026-July 2027
“To say the upcoming Bayeux exhibition at the British Museum will be a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition would be an understatement – the Bayeux Tapestry hasn’t gone on tour since the Napoleonic era! This will be the first time it has visited the UK since its creation nearly a thousand years ago, so reserve your tickets promptly when they go on sale in July for the September opening.”
Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration
Clerkenwell, London
Opening 5 June 2026
“While not an exhibition I am really excited to visit the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration which officially opens in London this June. Illustration art is one of my greatest passions, so I am fascinated to see the programme of exhibitions in this unique dedicated space.”
Lady Lever Art Gallery, Liverpool
25th April – 1st November
“This exhibition is a celebration of the wide-ranging creative output of Arts and Crafts designer and maker, May Morris, the younger daughter of William Morris. A vibrant display of embroideries, wallpapers, watercolour designs, costume and jewellery will showcase her many talents.”
National Museum Cardiff
Until 28th June
‘It was a joy and a revelation to go to the Gwen John Exhibition at Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales in Cardiff, last week. The drawings are almost entirely from their own collection, which numbers more than 900 works, purchased from the artist’s nephew’s estate in 1976. The oils are borrowed from all over the globe. There are only 158 known. One observation I made after looking closely at so many tiny drawings, was that Gwen spent most of her time painting these portraits and still lifes in a small studio. There is little sense of space or depth in these drawings so, despite feeling “more at home in the country than in the town”, her landscapes are strangely ambiguous. She can’t cope with or describe the great outdoors. It isn’t intimate enough.”
Elizabeth 1, Queen & Court
Philip Mould & Company
14th May – 10th July
“This exhibition will include the earliest surviving life-size, full length portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, together with rarely seen works of some of the key figures from her close circle of courtiers and confidantes. This ‘cast’ of Elizabethan portraiture, rarely exhibited, will show a rare glimpse of how portraiture was used as a tool of power in the 16th century.”
Firsts London 2026 – London’s Rare Book Fair
Saatchi Gallery, King’s Road, London
14th – 17th May
“Firsts London is one of the world’s most popular and high-profile rare book events. Whether you’re a collector looking for the next masterpiece to add to your library, or a bibliophile who loves browsing second-hand classics, Firsts London is the event for you. Discover titles by distinguished authors, ephemera from celebrity readers and manuscripts from history’s great moments, all in the heart of Chelsea.
Are you new to the world of rare books, or just want an expert guide to the fair? Firsts’ selection of talks and tours are a great way to learn more about book collecting and make the most of your visit. From deep-dives into revolutions in printing, to perspectives on careers in the book trade, these free events are a chance to meet experts and learn some of the secrets of the trade.”
Photo London 2026
London Olympia
14 to 17 May 2026
“Photo London is the UK’s leading international fair for photography and image-based art. Each year it brings together the world’s most acclaimed photographers, galleries and curators alongside a new generation of emerging talent.”
London Olympia
16 May 2026
“The Other Photography Fair showcases photography in its many forms, with a special focus on vintage works from the 19th and 20th centuries. Supported by Vintage Photo Fairs Europe and sponsored by the Chiswick Auctions Fine Photographs Department, the fair gathers leading international dealers, collectors, and specialists under one roof.
Alongside historic photographs, visitors will find photobooks, rare cameras, and live wet plate collodion and cyanotype workshops, bringing early photographic processes to life.”
Fired Legacies: The Ceramic World of Rich Miller
Watts Gallery, Godalming, Surrey
Opening 5 June 2026
“As a novice potter and fan of the Channel 4 show, The Great Pottery Throwdown, I am looking forward to seeing Rich Miller’s first exhibition at Watts Gallery. The exhibition delves into his own heritage and an exploration of British colonial history, and unearths the narratives of trade, labour and identity that have shaped contemporary British society.”
Liz worked in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter for one of the UK’s leading regional jewellery auction houses whilst completing her FGA and DGA qualifications from the Gem-A, achieving top marks in each.
Stephanie has worked in the fine art and antiques industry for over 20 years. She is the former Department Director of Collectors sales at Bonhams Auctioneers. Stephanie was additionally the Head of Bonhams Entertainment Memorabilia department and is a recognised expert in Popular Culture.
Jonathan started his career in the art world at the legendary London picture dealer Thomas Agnew and then to Christie’s in King Street as Director, Auctioneer and Head of Modern British pictures where in recognition of his wide knowledge base Jonathan was also appointed head of British and Irish Art, International Director of the 19th European picture department and Deputy Chairman.
David Dallas joined Christie’s in 1969, where he was the youngest person in a Technical Department (Old Masters). He subsequently became deputy head of the Picture Department at Phillips Son and Neale and ended his auctioneering career as International Director (Global Head) of Old Masters at Bonham’s in January 2015.
Originally from San Francisco, California, Ashley Innes (née Crawford) is an experienced Asian art valuer and provenance researcher. Her specialties include ceramics, Buddhist antiques, Indian miniature paintings, Southeast Asian art, and musical instruments.
Jenny Serra
Jenny joined Doerr Dallas Valuations as Marketing Manager in July 2024. She has over 20 years experience as a Marketing professional, and worked for 8 years as a Marketing Consultant before joining Rachel and the team.