Thursday 11 May 2023
Main Gallery building will be closed on Saturday 13 May
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we are unable to open the main Orleans House Gallery building on Saturday 13 May. The Stables Gallery will be open as usual, 10am until 5pm, with our…
Friday 5 May 2023
Families Imagine a Rewilded London
In February half term 2023, families joined us as part of our Let’s Get Creative programme, to reimagine London with artist Jane Plowright. The interactive exhibit invited visitors to physically walk into the picture with…
Friday 5 May 2023
Families in the Forest Revisited
We asked poet and creative Adam Kammerling to write about his experiences of delivering the Families in the Forest tour at Orleans House Gallery. Adam devised and delivered the activity from summer 2021 through to…
Saturday 22 April 2023
Earth Day 2023
“You can’t learn anything unless you have the wind on your face” – Liisa Holmberg (whose voice you can hear in the woods at Orleans House Gallery in Voices of the Ecosystem)
Thursday 6 April 2023
Meet the Artist: Finn Chatwyn-Ros
Meet Finn Chatwyn-Ros, our new artist delivering Richmond Art Service’s early years programme, Curious Tots. Finn is an early years music facilitator and songwriter with over 10 years’ experience working with babies, early years children…
Tuesday 4 April 2023
Join the Orleans House Gallery Team!
Are you looking for working arrangements that enhance your work-life balance? Do you enjoy delivering excellent customer service in thriving cultural venue? Do you like working as part of small team to complete a varied…
Sunday 19 March 2023
Art House Open Studios to return for 2023
Local charity Arts Richmond will coordinate this year’s open studios festival, Art House. Art House invites local artists to open their studios to the public and show their portfolio of work. We caught up with Catherine Sweet,…
Saturday 28 January 2023
Searching for an artist-facilitator to deliver our early years programme!
We are inviting applications for an engaging artist-facilitator to join our creative early years programme. This artist will lead on the planning and delivery of Curious Tots from April 2023-July 2024. Curious Tots is our…
Friday 20 January 2023
Meet the Artist – Andrew Merritt from Something & Son
Orleans House Gallery will see a new, immersive installation take shape at the end of this January. The exhibition, titled SupermarketForest, is by Andrew Merritt from artist duo Something & Son. We met up with…
Tuesday 3 January 2023
Young people and schools explore their local environment
In January 2023 we will be opening our new exhibition SupermarketForest. In the lead-up, throughout October and November 2022, we worked with schools and young people to explore the themes of the show and to…
Monday 2 January 2023
Curious Tots will be back soon!
We’ll be taking a short pause on our Curious Tots sessions. Don’t worry they’ll be back! We’re working hard on the programme and hope to bring you more fun, sensory early years sessions in the…
Saturday 5 November 2022
Calling creatives to develop new ways to tell our story!
Richmond Arts Service is seeking a freelance artist with experience and/or an interest in working with communities to evaluate and develop our public–facing storytelling programme at Orleans House Gallery. At present our stories are shared…
Thursday 3 November 2022
Calling Artists and Artist Facilitators to develop new workshops for our Education Programme
Orleans House Gallery is currently recruiting freelance artist facilitators to devise new workshops for our popular Education Programme.
Monday 26 September 2022
In Conversation with Mandeep Dillon
Mandeep Dillon is one of the artists selected for Orleans House Gallery’s 2022-2023 Emerging Artists Programme. We asked her some questions about her practice and Objects of Disquiet, the site-specific installation she put together for…
Sunday 18 September 2022
Bryony Benge-Abbott’s Cultural Reforesting Journey at Orleans House Gallery
During the summer of 2021, artist Bryony Benge-Abbott completed a residency at Orleans House Gallery. Find out from Bryony what she got up to.
Tuesday 13 September 2022
Applications now open – Christmas Shopping Weekend
We are delighted to announce that applications to take part in the hugely popular Christmas Shopping Weekend at Orleans House Gallery are now open. The annual event, which brings both national and local Makers/Designers and…
Monday 5 September 2022
Calling all artists living or working in Richmond Upon Thames
Orleans House Gallery is inviting submissions from artists living or working in the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames for our Winter Show. The open-call exhibition provides a platform for Richmond based artists committed to…
Monday 5 September 2022
Meet the artist: Julia Collar
Meet Julia Collar, our new artist delivering our Curious Tots early years programme. Julia is a neurodivergent sensory practitioner creating theatre, sensory stories, resources and sensory trails/tours for early years children and/or people with severe or…
Sunday 4 September 2022
Meet the artist: Abigail Hunt
Meet artist Abigail Hunt who will be leading the new cycle of Play:Make:Art, our popular session for 2-5 year olds and their accompanying adults. Abigail has over twenty years freelance experience teaching, facilitating and managing creative…
Wednesday 10 August 2022
Creative Facilitator Opportunity at Orleans House Gallery
Applications are now open for for a freelance facilitator to deliver workshops with local young people as part of our Cultural Reforesting programme this autumn. Orleans House Gallery recently received funding from NERC (Natural Environment…
Monday 18 July 2022
Announcing Emerging Artists Programme 22.23: Rudy Loewe
We are excited to announce the artists selected to be part of the 2022-2023 Emerging Artists Programme, designed for early-career artists in the first 10 years of their development. The successful artists will exhibit their…
Sunday 17 July 2022
Announcing Emerging Artists Programme 22.23: Bianca Raffaella
We are excited to announce the artists selected to be part of the 2022-2023 Emerging Artists Programme, designed for early-career artists in the first 10 years of their development. The successful artists will exhibit their…
Saturday 16 July 2022
Announcing Emerging Artists Programme 22.23: Anna Blom and Pía Ortuño
We are excited to announce the artists selected to be part of the 2022-2023 Emerging Artists Programme, designed for early-career artists in the first 10 years of their development. The successful artists will exhibit their…
Friday 15 July 2022
Announcing Emerging Artists Programme 22.23: Mandeep Dillon
We are excited to announce the artists selected to be part of the 2022- 2023 Emerging Artists Programme, designed for early-career artists in the first 10 years of their development. We had a total of…
Friday 17 June 2022
Mirror Shape Play – Exploring the Science Behind the Exhibition
Throughout the summer, Mirror Shape Play will change how you see the world around you. The interactive exhibition, created by Unit Lab, combines visual arts and science to create an unconventional playground where families can…
Friday 10 June 2022
Mirror Shape Play- Meet the Artist
Throughout the summer, Mirror Shape Play will bring Orleans House Gallery to life through play. The interactive exhibition, created by Unit Lab, combines visual arts and science to create an unconventional playground where families can…
Friday 10 June 2022
Calling artists to lead creative sessions with early years!
Applications are now open for freelance artists to join our Curious Tots and Play:Make:Art programmes from September 2022 – August 2023. Curious Tots is our creative and sensory workshop project for babies and pre-walking children…
Thursday 2 June 2022
Join the Orleans House Gallery Team
Join the Orleans House Gallery team! Two new Front of House opportunities have just become available. Do you enjoy delivering excellent customer service in thriving cultural venue? Do you like working as part of small…
Thursday 28 April 2022
We’re looking forward to the next 50 years
On 29th April 1972, at the end of a week in which Apollo 16 had landed on the Moon, Orleans House Gallery was opened to the public. The first exhibition was of paintings from the…
Friday 25 March 2022
Meet the Artist – Emma Thrussell
In late 2021, Orleans House Gallery worked with illustrator Emma Thrussell to design our new family gallery activity trail. As we launch the trail, we are happy to be able to introduce you to Emma. …
Monday 21 March 2022
In conversation with Alexandra Sivov
Too much Information… Or Not Enough is an exhibition of prints and paintings by Alexandra Sivov inspired by the use of images in mass media, specifically how the arrangement of seemingly unconnected scenes can uncover…
Thursday 3 March 2022
Our Emerging Artists Programme Returns for 2022!
Now, applications are opening again for the 2022–2023 programme. We want to support artists in their early career across different art forms and approaches. Artists are invited to submit works to sell, works in progress…
Tuesday 1 March 2022
Cultural Reforesting Explores – Sustainable Actions
Cultural Reforesting encourages everyone to explore the natural world through art. The 3-year programme was launched in 2021 with an exhibition called Remember the Future, which included four artist-research residencies, as well as various events…
Thursday 3 February 2022
Cultural Reforesting Explores – Mount Lebanon and the cedar tree
Cultural Reforesting encourages everyone to explore the natural world through art. The 3- year programme was launched in 2021 with an exhibition called Remember the Future, which included four artist research residencies, as well as…
Wednesday 19 January 2022
In Conversation with Sophie Gresswell
Saint roots and Tungi fruits is an exhibition of paintings by Sophie Gresswell, inspired by her recent research into her maternal ancestry. The show is currently on display at Orleans House Gallery as part of…
Friday 7 January 2022
Searching for new facilitators for our families programme
Orleans House Gallery is inviting applications from experienced and engaging artists to lead two Let’s Get Creative sessions this spring. Applications are now open and will close at 9am on Friday 21 January 2022.…
Friday 31 December 2021
Take The Time – seeing the forest from a new perspective
Hollie Folkard-Tapp is a PhD student at Imperial College London, researching the recovery of degraded tropical rainforests logging estates.
Thursday 16 December 2021
Christmas Opening at the Gallery
If you would like to visit the gallery over Christmas and the New Year, these are the dates: Friday 24 December: 10am – 1.30pm Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 December: Closed Monday 27 to Thursday…
Saturday 11 December 2021
Main Gallery building closed today
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we are unable to open the main Orleans House Gallery building today, Saturday 11 December. The Stables Gallery and Stables Café are open as usual, 10am until 5pm,…
Friday 5 November 2021
Take the Time – Mural Project, Heath Road, Twickenham
A mural, Take the Time, has appeared on the Heath Road railway bridge foot tunnel in Twickenham. An Oak Tree looks on as passers-by look back. The tree, an icon of the Borough of Richmond, has been given vibrant and colourful personality by the artist Bryony Benge-Abbott and…
Sunday 31 October 2021
Searching for a facilitator for our early years workshops!
Orleans House Gallery is inviting applications from experienced and engaging artists to lead our Curious Tots programme for very early years and their parents and carers. Applications are now open and will close at the…
Friday 29 October 2021
Llinos Owen: Thank Your Lucky Stars
Thank Your Lucky Stars is an exhibition of tapestries by Llinos Owen, inspired by her experiences throughout lockdown during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The show speaks to the impact long-term isolation has with regards to mental health and offers an abundance of original artwork…
Saturday 9 October 2021
Orleans House Gallery and Richmond Arts Service celebrate Black History Month 2021
Black History Month is a month of events in October which celebrate the culture, history and achievement of Britain’s African and Caribbean communities. This October Richmond Arts Service have worked with students from St Mary’s…
Wednesday 8 September 2021
Emerging Artists Programme
We are excited to announce three new artists to Orleans House Gallery as part of the 2021 – 2022 Emerging Artists programme, which will take place in the Stables Gallery between 9 October to spring 2022. The programme supports early-career artists…
Wednesday 1 September 2021
The Christmas Shopping Weekend at Orleans House Gallery – Applications Now Open!
We are delighted that after a brief (pandemic) pause in 2020, the hugely popular Christmas Shopping Weekend will once again be taking place at Orleans House Gallery on Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 December 2021.…
Thursday 19 August 2021
Calling all artists living or working in Richmond Upon Thames
Orleans House Gallery is inviting submissions from artists living or working in the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames for our November open call exhibition – Breaking Ground. Running alongside Richmond Literature Festival, Orleans House Gallery…
Wednesday 18 August 2021
Our Summer of Artists
This summer has seen Orleans House Gallery bursting at the seams with artists and opportunities for everyone to get involved. Our galleries and grounds have been a hub for artists this summer. Dancers, choirs, painters…
Monday 19 July 2021
Activities for Families this Summer
Making plans for the summer? Looking for things to do with your family? Come and visit Orleans House Gallery and enjoy our café, exhibitions, the grounds and events. Read below to find out more about…
Saturday 5 June 2021
Searching for new facilitators for our family and schools programme!
Orleans House Gallery is inviting applications from experienced and engaging artists for three new activity strands as part of our Children and Families and Schools programmes. Applications are open now and will close end of…
Wednesday 2 June 2021
How volunteering makes an impact – Volunteers’ Week 2021
In a special article for #VolunteersWeek2021, our volunteer Alla writes about her experience of volunteering at the gallery and how her time with us has made an impact on her career.
Friday 14 May 2021
New Activities for Families
Calling west London children and their adults! We’re launching a new programme of activities for children and families at Orleans House Gallery. From June, families will be able to take part in creative workshops throughout the year led by…
Friday 14 May 2021
Making Orleans House Gallery a home for artists this summer
The team at Orleans House Gallery have been counting down the final few days until we can fully reopen and welcome everyone back on site. Our mission is to bring thought provoking art to the borough of Richmond…
Friday 7 May 2021
How can artists help us renew our relationship with nature?
How can we renew our relationship with nature? Orleans House Gallery has set out a stall of experimentation and expansive collaboration for the coming years. We aim to open up our grounds and the artistic…
Wednesday 5 May 2021
Octagon 300 Virtual Tour
Octagon 300 opened in October in celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Octagon Room here at Orleans House Gallery. The exhibition has been a huge success and as the show comes down to make…
Sunday 2 May 2021
Top 3 At Home Family Activities
Family activities will be restarting in person on 6 June here at Orleans House Gallery. Until then, you can still take part in our at home activities.
Friday 23 April 2021
Looking Forward to Reopening
The pandemic has given us all a chance to rethink our lives and the team have used the last few months to consider what is special about Orleans House Gallery. The Gallery will continue to be…
Tuesday 13 April 2021
Artist in Focus: Ackroyd & Harvey
Innovative and prolific, Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey are internationally acclaimed for their multi-disciplinary work that intersects the realms of art, activism, architecture, and science. In anticipation of our new main gallery exhibition Remember the…
Wednesday 7 April 2021
Making art lets us imagine the future we want to create
Announcing our new exhibition and a three year programme connecting with our site and ecosystem. Orleans House Gallery and its Woodland Gardens sit amongst the ruins of a grand house and grounds. But all this is comparatively recent history. …
Sunday 4 April 2021
Sunday Afternoon Art – Playing with Perception
Sunday Afternoon Art is our monthly art activity for families, aimed at children aged 4 plus. We are very excited this month to invite Jonathan Roson, from arts collective Alice in Hackneyland, to create an…
Sunday 7 March 2021
Sunday Afternoon Art: Alexander Pope’s Grotto – Making textures and a 3D grotto
Join us for Sunday Afternoon Art and make your own textured grottos, by following the walkthrough below. Our family activities are aimed at children aged 4+ to complete with an adult. This activity is being…
Monday 1 March 2021
Calling early career artists, curators and collectives
We are now accepting proposals for exhibitions at Orleans House Gallery.
Sunday 7 February 2021
Sunday Afternoon Art – Create your own poetry inspired by Pope’s Grotto
Sunday Afternoon Art is our monthly creative activity for families with children aged 4 plus. Activities are designed for you to do together as a family.
Friday 5 February 2021
Collection Focus – Hidden History – The Borough’s Domestic Grottos
In the next article in our continuing Collection Focus series, volunteer Ella discovers the rich history of grottos in the borough through a series of Borough Collection artworks.
Sunday 13 December 2020
Thames Luminaries Virtual Lecture Series returns
Following the success of this year’s Twickenham Luminaries talks, we will be returning with a month of virtual talks from nine organisations based along the Thames.
Tuesday 8 December 2020
Collection Focus – Giovanni Panini, the Baroque and the Neoclassical
In our next Collection Focus, our volunteer Madeleine studies the painting by Panini in the Octagon Room and his position in the artistic movements of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Sunday 6 December 2020
Introducing Architectural Photography – Sunday Afternoon Art
Welcome to Sunday Afternoon Art. Sessions take place at Orleans House Gallery and involve creative arts activities for families with children aged 4 plus.
Tuesday 1 December 2020
Collection Focus – The Man Who Drew Our House
David, one of our Study Gallery volunteers, takes us through the story of this familiar scene of the gallery, drawn by an exceptional artist.
Tuesday 3 November 2020
Art Skills – Impressionism and Orleans House Gallery
In the next article from our volunteer Madeleine, we return to our Study Gallery to examine the Impressionist movement through a Richmond landscape by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot.
Thursday 29 October 2020
Octagon 300 – Baroque Art and Illusion
Our new main gallery exhibition Octagon 300 is influenced by Baroque art. The show, created by Jonathan Roson along with art group Alice in Hackneyland, is a celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Octagon…
Wednesday 21 October 2020
BIOdance – Enjoy a magical, theatrical walk this autumn and winter on Twickenham Riverside
From October 25 you will be able to download a free map on your smart phone, print a copy at home or collect a copy from Orleans House Gallery. Watch mini films and read interesting facts…
Friday 2 October 2020
Art Unlocked Q&A with Leigh Warnick
Art Unlocked 02-04 – A response to the unfurling of Covid-19 by the Artists, Designers and Makers of Richmond Art House Open Studios. Below, we asked Art Unlocked artist Leigh Warnick, a few questions about his…
Friday 2 October 2020
Art Unlocked Q&A with Ali Clarke
Art Unlocked, October 02-04 – A response to the unfurling of Covid-19 by the Artists, Designers and Makers of Richmond Art House Open Studios. Below, we asked Art Unlocked artist Ali Clarke, a few questions about…
Friday 2 October 2020
Art Unlocked Q&A with Gill Smith
Art Unlocked, October 02-04 – A response to the unfurling of Covid-19 by the Artists, Designers and Makers of Richmond Art House Open Studios. Below, we asked Art Unlocked artist Gill Smith, a few questions about…
Thursday 1 October 2020
Black History Month
Black History Month is a month of events in October which celebrate the culture, history and achievement of Britain’s African and Caribbean communities. In October 2020 Richmond Arts Service will be celebrating artists who have…
Tuesday 15 September 2020
Collection Focus – Twickenham by Moonlight
Our Study Gallery houses almost 100 artworks from the Richmond Borough Art Collection, including the subject of this week’s Collection Focus, Henry Pether’s Twickenham by Moonlight. Our volunteer Madeleine details the Pether family’s familiarity with moonlit…
Tuesday 8 September 2020
Collection Focus – Cardinal Wolsey in Disgrace and History Painting
Our Collection Focus series returns, with volunteer Madeleine detailing a captivating work from the Borough Collection, Cardinal Wolsey in Disgrace.
Sunday 6 September 2020
Sunday Afternoon Art – How to make an Origami Bird
Sunday Afternoon Art, our monthly session for families, is back today! You can find details of sessions to book in our What’s On page. Families will be completing a socially distanced trail of the gallery…
Sunday 30 August 2020
Art Unlocked: The Video Diaries
This October Art Unlocked, an exhibition and response to the unfurling of Covid-19, will fill Orleans House Gallery. Championing the work of one of Richmond’s most prolific creative assets, our visual arts community, Art Unlocked…
Monday 24 August 2020
Twickenham Luminaries: A Virtual Lecture Series
We are delighted to be collaborating with Marble Hill House, Pope’s Grotto, Strawberry Hill House and Turner’s House to deliver a week of online lectures about an important individual associated with each historic building. Talks…
Friday 21 August 2020
In conversation with Jonathan Roson
Jonathan Roson is the artist behind our next exhibition, Octagon 300. It celebrates the 300th anniversary of the Grade 1 Listed Octagon Room that is part of the Orleans House Gallery site. Here we find out…
Wednesday 5 August 2020
Face Coverings
As per Government restrictions, from Saturday 8 August face coverings are compulsory in galleries for adults and children over 11 years of age.
Sunday 2 August 2020
Sunday Afternoon Art – Viewfinders
Sunday Afternoon Art is our monthly art drop-in session which is usually held at the Gallery for families to take part in on the first Sunday of every month. The August session comes straight to…
Thursday 23 July 2020
Art Unlocked – Save the Date
Art Unlocked – A response to the unfurling of Covid-19 by the Artists, Designers and Makers of Richmond Art House Open Studios. 2 – 4 October 2020 at Orleans House Gallery.
Thursday 16 July 2020
#TheirOpenStudio20 Winners Announced
With hundreds of entries and just 3 places on the podium we are delighted to share the work of the winning students.
Wednesday 15 July 2020
In conversation with Roger Hutchins
This week we continue our ‘in conversation’ with artists featuring in our Beyond the Frame exhibition. This week we talk to Roger Hutchins, a local artist, illustrator and teacher. Roger tells us why he chose ‘Wedding…
Monday 13 July 2020
Found in the Orleans House Gallery Shop!
Learn more about the artists, makers and producers that are featured in our gallery shop. This week, we look at the Octagon Room mug that is a mainstay in the gallery shop.
Friday 10 July 2020
Children’s Art Week – Connecting Across Generations
We continue to celebrate Children’s Arts Week and this week’s theme of ‘Connecting Across Generations’. Today we share activities that you can do together. We have been sharing online activities for families to do together at…
Wednesday 8 July 2020
In conversation with Tahira Mandarino
In this Beyond the Frame interview we talk with a local artist who delights in the use of many different media to express their artistic vision. Welcome artist, author, educator, filmaker and yoga teacher, Tahira Mandarino.
Tuesday 7 July 2020
Collection Focus – Castelnau House
Volunteer Jason dives into the Borough Collection to look at a range of images that catalogue a forgotten landmark in Barnes – Castelnau House.
Sunday 5 July 2020
Children’s Art Week – The Natural World
To celebrate Children’s Art Week, Orleans House Gallery are sharing some of our favourite activities that relate to the natural world – the theme of this year’s children’s art week. We have been sharing activities…
Friday 3 July 2020
See Saw @ Home – Balance
Welcome to another See Saw @ Home – fun activities, encouraging you to See, Imagine and Create, for ages 5 and under to enjoy at home with a grown-up. This week our theme is Balance.…
Wednesday 1 July 2020
In conversation with Mandy Prowse
This week we speak with South West London artist, Mandy Prowse whose sculpture piece for our current Beyond the Frame exhibition was inspired by the fencing shoe of Victorian explorer, Sir Richard Burton whose 200th…
Tuesday 30 June 2020
Collection Focus – A View of the Wilderness
Kew Gardens and its iconic Pagoda is the subject of this week’s Collection Focus, as volunteer Richard looks at the history of the buildings depicted in this work from William Marlow.
Sunday 28 June 2020
Sunday Afternoon Art – Mindful Play 2
Sunday Afternoon Art is our monthly art drop-in session which is usually held at the Gallery for families to take part in on the first Sunday of every month. Whilst the Gallery is closed, we…
Friday 26 June 2020
See Saw @ Home – Mass and Volume
Join us on Friday for activities for under 5s to do together with a grown up. We will be exploring line, colour, shape, pattern, texture, design and composition, mass and volume and balance in fun…
Wednesday 24 June 2020
In conversation with Chris Frost
This week we are ‘in conversation’ with artist, illustrator and observant commuter Chris Frost, whose work exhibited in Beyond the Frame juxtaposes a side portrait of William Austin (1802-1857), adopted son of Queen Caroline, George…
Tuesday 23 June 2020
Collection Focus – The Art of Attribution
This week we bring you a unique Collection Focus article from volunteer Madeleine. Learn about how two artists were attributed to our portrait of Queen Caroline, and their artistic styles.
Monday 22 June 2020
Found in the Orleans House Gallery Shop!
Learn more about the artists, makers and producers that are featured in our gallery shop. We feature artist Jill Storey and her local scenes in this week’s article.
Sunday 21 June 2020
Sunday Afternoon Art – Mindful Play
Sunday Afternoon Art is our monthly art drop-in session which is usually held at the Gallery for families to take part in on the first Sunday of every month. Whilst the Gallery is closed, we…