Louisa Waterford Prize Exhibition

The Louisa Waterford Prize takes place once every two years and culminates in an exhibition of the selected finalists work.

This year, around 30 submissions will be exhibited at Etal Village Hall, on Sunday, May 24, 10.30 am till 4 pm as part of the event. Visitors will have the opportunity to vote for the “People’s  Favourite”, and the panel of judges will select and announce the overall winner of the prize around 3.15 am that afternoon. Everyone is welcome to come along at any time to view the work and also to listen to the judges’ announcement.  As part of the event, there will also be at least two solo exhibitions by local artists at Etal Village Hall and at Lady Waterford Hall, at nearby Ford Village.

See work by Howtel-based artist Linda Scott Robinson and Northumberland textile artist Natalie Goodman at Etal, and join artist Kevin Nicholls and textile artist Carrie Buchanan-Brown at Lady Waterford Hall. Natalie and Kevin will both stage free demonstrations during the day.

Also at Etal, local artist Clare Brownlow (The Pheasant Feather painter) will open up her new studio and gallery at the old powerhouse (down the bank near the river) and at Ford village, sculptor Peter Fagan will also open up his studio so visitors can see his amazing work. Peter also runs the Old Forge vintage shop next door to his house, so you may need to find him to open up his studio, where he will give you a special tour.

Several other arts studios across Ford and Etal will be open as usual, not forgetting much more to do including three tearooms, two castles, Louisa Waterford’s own artwork at Lady Waterford Hall, a thatched pub, riverside railway rides and a working flour mill museum at Heatherslaw (between Ford and Etal), various beautiful riverside walks, bronze age sites, a heavy horse farm visitors centre, two breweries with visitor centres, and some of the best scenery in Northumberland! All making a perfect day out. Entry to the exhibitions at Etal village Hall and Lady Waterford Hall are free. Dogs are also welcome.