Promenade in the footsteps of early spa visitors as you view exciting exhibitions in the Mercer Art Gallery, from Harrogate’s Fine Art Collection to new shows of contemporary art.

Built 200 years ago as the Promenade Rooms, this magnificent building was a place for spa visitors to socialise. It later became a theatre, then Town Hall, before its rebirth as the Mercer Art Gallery in 1991.

You will find a wide range of ever-changing exhibitions, perhaps a national touring show of painting, photography, sculpture and crafts, or an exhibition drawn from the Harrogate District Fine Art Collection, and contemporary work by regional artists.

Exhibitions:

Look, Look Again

Mid Century British Art from North Yorkshire Council’s Art Collections and Goldmark Gallery.
22 January to 6 April 2025
Main Gallery

The Mercer Gallery will team up with the Craven Museum in Skipton and Goldmark, one of the U.K.’s leading commercial galleries to stage this major new exhibition exploring a fascinating period of mid-20th century British Art from the neo-Romantics to the explosion of creativity unleashed by the end of World War II.

The exhibition will showcase the best of the Mercer’s outstanding collection of pre- and post-war British art, augmented by works from the Roebuck Collection housed at Craven Museum and Goldmark Gallery’s own superb collection of works from that era which will be available for sale.

The exhibition’s title Look, Look Again! is taken from a quote by one of the most significant artists of the post war period - Prunella Clough (1919 – 1999). It suggests that visitors to the show will be met with the beautiful, the surprising, the exciting and the strange, with opportunities to try slow looking activities for a mindful experience of the artworks on show.

Clough’s work will feature significantly in the show thanks to a magnificent donation to the Harrogate Fine Art Collection by the Yorkshire based writer, artist and photographer David Morgan Rees (1930 – 2024). The Morgan Rees collection – which features 4 exceptional works by Clough – includes original paintings and sketches by the likes of Keith Vaughan, John Minton, Graham Sutherland, John Piper, Leonard Rosoman and John Craxton which will all be displayed in the show.

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Christopher Wood: Red Riding and other Grimms’ Fairy Tales

January 22 to March 31st 2025
North Gallery

Wood’s work features magical, symbolic figures and signs, what the artist calls ‘an exploration of the interior world of the imagination’. His latest series of prints is inspired by the disconcerting stories of Grimms’ Fairy Tales.

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Secrets of the Majestic

Exhibition at Harrogate’s Mercer Art Gallery
15 November 2024 – 31 March 2025

Inspired by the famous Gents' washroom of the Majestic Hotel, Secrets of the Majestic is an 88-page comic anthology exploring this opulent space, filled with intricate Victorian brassware, black-and-white tiles, and lavish wood panelling. Opened in 1900 as a luxury destination for spa visitors, the Majestic became an iconic Harrogate landmark—and its grand washroom a curiosity in itself. Sheffield-based artist Chris Mole gathered comic artists to create a collection of tales set in this unique space, blending horror, action, and fantasy. Successfully funded on Kickstarter, this anthology debuts at Thought Bubble Comic Art Festival 2024, alongside an exhibition of original artwork and pinups at the Mercer Art Gallery, with support from DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic.

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Adrift on a Painted Sea

Exhibition of paintings and graphic novel art by Tim Bird and Sue Bird
16 November 2024 – 30 March 2025, Mercer Gallery Studio

Adrift on a Painted Sea is a graphic novel by Tim Bird that explores family, loss, and art through his relationship with his mother, Sue Bird, a lifelong painter. This exhibition features Sue’s paintings—including botanical art, landscapes, and seascapes—alongside artwork from Tim's graphic novel, created in tribute after her passing. Also on display are Sue’s sketches and sketchbooks, capturing her creative journey from neighborhood scenes to North Yorkshire's coast. This exhibition offers a heartfelt look at Sue's art and celebrates her legacy.

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Entry is free!

Explore the gallery gift shop for a thoughtfully curated selection of high-quality and unique items. With gifts, books, stylish homeware, souvenirs, and greeting cards – perfect for treats and presents alike.

Card payments only.