As the nights draw in and the year comes to a close, Hopton Hall Gallery is preparing for a busy and exciting festive season, with exhibitions, pop-up events, workshops and opportunities to discover work by artists and makers from across the region and beyond.
From contemporary painting and ceramics to jewellery, textiles and seasonal crafts, our programme offers plenty of opportunities to visit the gallery, meet makers and find something special for yourself or someone else this Christmas.
November at the Gallery
Our autumn programme continues in November with two exhibitions exploring very different approaches to the landscape and the painted image.
On the ground floor, we welcome Tim Rose, whose oil and watercolour paintings explore architecture, urban scenes and portraiture. Working primarily from direct observation, Rose is interested in capturing the atmosphere and immediacy of a place or person. His work has been widely exhibited across the UK, including at the Royal Watercolour Society, Royal Institute of Oil Painters and Royal Society of Portrait Painters.
Alongside this, Layered Landscapes brings together ten contemporary painters inspired by the Peak District. Bob Bernard, Pete Gill, Carol Hill, John King, Craig Longmuir, Chris Ray, Jill Ray, Victoria Reynolds, Greta Vilidaite and Gina Watkinson explore the region’s changing skies, moorland, stone walls and hedgerows through expressive and atmospheric painting. Three-dimensional work by Kathryn Watson completes the exhibition.
Both exhibitions run from 4 - 25 November.
We also begin our festive programme with a Watercolour Christmas Card Workshop with Alan Fernihough on 1 November, offering participants the chance to create their own Christmas cards and have them professionally printed with a personalised greeting.
Later in the month, on 28 - 29 November, we are delighted to welcome The Cabin of Makers from Belper for a special pop-up weekend. The Cabin is a collective of artists and makers working across printmaking, textiles, woodwork and jewellery. Their Pop Up Shop at Hopton Hall Gallery marks the official start of our festive season.
From 2 December, the gallery will be filled with Small Winter Works, a seasonal exhibition featuring more than 40 artists from the Hopton Hall Gallery programme.
With every work measuring under 40 × 40 cm, this intimate exhibition brings together an eclectic range of all media painting, drawing, collage, textile, and print making. From landscapes and portraits to abstract pieces and city scenes, it is a celebration of the variety and individuality of the artists we represent.
Small in scale but full of character, these works offer an accessible way to discover new artists and make particularly special gifts for Christmas. The exhibition runs until 27 January 2027.
Ceramics, Jewellery and Festive Making
December brings a series of special events to the gallery.
From 4 - 6 December, during the Ashbourne Lantern Parade, we welcome a ceramic pop-up from The Round House Gallery, featuring the work of Philip Evans Pottery. The Round House Gallery has been championing British studio ceramics since 1989 and continues to showcase exceptional craft potters from across the UK. We will also be opening late on Friday evening for the lantern parade.
On 9 December, artist and tutor Liz Wellby leads a festive workshop exploring metal foil embossing. Participants will create a trio of Christmas decorations using traditional and contemporary designs. The workshop is suitable for all abilities and includes tuition, materials, refreshments and a creative goody bag.
The gallery then turns its attention to jewellery with our Winter Jewellery Presentation, 11-13 December. This special three-day event brings together Susannah Brookes Jewellery, Jones Stones and Lizzie Kershaw, offering visitors the opportunity to discover handcrafted, contemporary and one-of-a-kind pieces, meet the makers and find something special for the festive season.
We round off our Christmas programme with Yuletide in Clay, running from 18-20 December.
This three-day celebration of contemporary ceramics features Heather Duncan, Gael Cherry, Ian Patrick Palmer, Dovedale Ceramics and Emande Ceramics, bringing together functional pottery, sculptural vessels and decorative pieces.
With expressive glazes, organic forms, tactile surfaces and traditional firing techniques, the exhibition celebrates the individuality and craftsmanship of contemporary ceramic practice. Whether you are looking for a unique Christmas gift or simply enjoy discovering beautifully made objects, Yuletide in Clay is a fitting finale to our festive programme.
Visit Hopton Hall Gallery This Christmas
With exhibitions changing throughout the season and a programme of special events bringing artists and makers into the gallery, there will be plenty to discover at Hopton Hall Gallery this winter.
We look forward to welcoming familiar faces and new visitors alike, and to celebrating the creativity of the artists and makers who make our gallery programme so special.
We hope to see you at Hopton Hall Gallery this festive season.
September 30, 2026
