Winterbourne has been inspiring artists for decades. Our exhibition in the second-floor lift room, ‘Winterbourne in the Frame’ explores the wide variety of media that artists have used to celebrate the beauty of Winterbourne, from hand-dyed textiles to polystyrene.

When the house was opened to the public in 2010, the lift room on the second floor was fitted out as a kitchen. All the other rooms on the top floor were conference spaces, and the kitchen was used to service meetings. In recent years, parts of the top floor have been transformed into art gallery space, where we now host a rolling programme of exhibitions. The kitchen was removed, and in 2023 the lift room became available as a display space, this presented us with an opportunity to gather some depictions of Winterbourne which we already had in our collection. 

This display continues to expand, as we have acquired new works of art.  Let’s explore some of the highlights…  

‘Winterbourne Sunset’ by Sarah Cage doesn’t just depict Winterbourne – it’s actually made from Winterbourne!  Sarah is a member of the Weavers Spinners and Dyers Guild, and in 2016 she made this wall-hanging using natural dyes derived from plants gathered at Winterbourne.

Lesley Whelan was Artist in Residence at Winterbourne in 2003. In ‘Cow Parsley’, Lesley employed the unusual medium of extruded polystyrene to create this richly textured painting.

Roger Hale’s drawing is an exercise in simplicity. The oak tree at the front of Winterbourne House appears in its winter guise, devoid of leaves, but the shadow is every bit as powerful as the tree itself.

You will see this image reproduced on merchandise in the gift shop!  Sarah Moss was commissioned to make this lino-cut for our tea towels and tote bags, and it displays her extraordinary attention to detail.

Eleni McLoughlin developed her skills as a member of the Birmingham Society of Botanical Artists, which began at Winterbourne over 25 years ago. In this botanical illustration, she focuses on Corylus avellana, the hazelnut, which features in Winterbourne’s famous Nut Walk.

Helen Newton showed this vibrant picture as part of her exhibition here in 2024.  She works in gouache, and her unique approach to perspective enables us to see the garden laid out like a rug.

Winterbourne’s last owner John Nicolson stands among his beloved giant rhubarb in Carolyn Blake’s ‘The House Protects the Dreamer 13’.  Carolyn worked with Winterbourne’s archival photographs when preparing for her recent exhibition.

Next time you’re visiting the house, don’t forget to look in the top floor lift room!  You never know when a new exciting piece of artwork may appear.

Henrietta Lockhart
Curator