Private View: Saturday 6th December 2-4pm
Exhibition Dates: 1st December 2025 – 28th February 2025
Join us on 6th December, 2–4pm for the Winter Exhibition opening and enjoy live demonstrations from two of our featured artists. Jenny Mason-Gunning will guide visitors through the process of inking and printing, giving everyone the chance to create and take home a hand-printed keepsake. Meanwhile, Becky Haywood will bring the magic of glass to life, showing her flameworking and kiln-formed techniques as she shapes molten glass into unique, layered creations. Perfect for all ages, these demonstrations offer a rare opportunity to witness the artists at work and experience the thrill of creativity in action.
Below we give you an insight into our Artists and the work you can expect to find in the exhibition…
For our Winter 2025 Exhibition, Ironbridge Fine Arts is delighted to showcase the work of Dave Gunning, a master printmaker whose career has been defined by a profound dedication to Britain’s ancient monuments. Since making his first on-site drawing at Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber in 1984, Dave has spent over forty years travelling to prehistoric sites across the UK, creating etchings, prints, and mixed-media works that capture the texture, atmosphere, and enduring presence of these landscapes. His Jubilee series—produced for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden, Diamond, and Platinum Jubilees and now held in the Royal Collection—demonstrates both his technical mastery and his commitment to celebrating Britain’s heritage.
Exhibited widely in institutions including Wiltshire Museum and commissioned by the Palace of Westminster and the National Museum of Wales, Dave’s work continues to bridge history, craft, and contemporary artistic expression. The Winter 2025 Exhibition at Ironbridge Fine Arts presents his latest pieces alongside echoes of his celebrated Megalithic Connections series, offering visitors a rich and compelling exploration of Britain’s ancient sites through one of the country’s most esteemed printmakers.
Clare O’Hagan is an award-winning visual artist, printmaker, and filmmaker whose work draws inspiration from the dramatic landscapes of County Donegal and her early experiences growing up in Northern Ireland. Combining traditional printmaking techniques like linocut, woodcut, and etching with innovative digital processes, Clare creates work that is both visually striking and deeply personal. Her prints capture the beauty, drama, and emotional resonance of the natural world, blending technical mastery with a playful, experimental spirit, and will be featured this Winter at Ironbridge Fine Arts, both in the gallery and online.
Joshua Miles is a South African printmaker celebrated for his mastery of reduction block printing. Drawing inspiration from the landscapes of South Africa and Scotland, as well as impressionist and Japanese print traditions, he creates works of subtle light, layered tone, and serene atmosphere. Trained under the guidance of Cecil Scotness at the University of Cape Town and influenced early by his aunt Elsa Miles, Joshua’s prints reveal both technical precision and contemplative beauty. His reduction block prints will be featured in the Winter 2025 exhibition at Ironbridge Fine Arts, offering viewers a glimpse into his meticulous process and artistic vision.
B E C K Y H A Y W O O D
Becky Haywood is an artist captivated by the wild beauty of nature, drawing inspiration from the rich landscapes and native flora and fauna of rural Shropshire, where she lives with her husband and their beloved cat. Surrounded by the ever-changing countryside, her creative practice is infused with a deep appreciation for the natural world.
A self-proclaimed “glass geek,” Becky has been working with glass since completing her degree in 2009. Her passion lies in the art of flameworking, where molten glass, transformed into a glowing, fluid “blob” (a highly technical term, of course), is guided, shaped, and occasionally coaxed into submission. Alongside flameworking, she also works with kiln-formed glass, often incorporating copper to create striking, layered effects.
But Becky’s love of craft doesn’t stop at glass. A chance six-week printmaking course at her local college sparked an enduring fascination with print, opening up a whole new world of creative possibilities. Ever since, she has thrown herself into printmaking with the same energy and curiosity, always eager to experiment with new techniques and ideas.
With an ever-inquisitive mind and a hands-on approach, Becky’s work is full of surprises, sometimes even to herself. Among her pieces, you may spot the occasional creation that makes you wonder, “Where did that come from?” But that’s all part of the joy, exploring, discovering, and making.
Growing up, I was surrounded by printmaking, thanks to my lifelong printmaker father and art teacher Mom. The sights, sounds, and smells of ink, etching plates, and printing presses were my daily companions. At the age of 7, I created my first aquatint etching, a majestic whale, and that first-ever print reveal had me hooked for life.
As a child, I dreamed of becoming a printmaker. Drawing all the time. That childhood dream became my reality. Creating art isn’t just a choice for me; it’s an intrinsic part of who I am. I constantly produce new work because it’s a compulsion I can’t resist.
I permanently exhibit my work in my beautiful Gallery here in Ironbridge, which we have had for 18 years, before that I had a small Gallery in Ironbridge and before that, I was at the top of my garden.
Liz Gunning’s Raku pottery captivates with its vibrant glazes, organic textures, and playful forms. From elegant vases to charming hares and unique sculptural pieces, her work blends traditional techniques with contemporary artistry, celebrating the unpredictable beauty of the Raku firing process. Each piece is a testament to her skill and creativity, with surfaces that shimmer, crackle, and glow in ways that reflect both the spontaneity of the kiln and her careful attention to form. Liz’s creations invite viewers to explore their tactile and visual richness, offering a sense of wonder and connection to the elemental qualities of clay and fire.
C L A I R E W A L T O N
We are excited to announce our winter 2025 exhibition showcasing the exceptional work of Claire Walton, a graduate ceramicist with a rich background in the arts. Previously a tile maker and glazer for the Jackfield Tile Museum in Ironbridge, Claire has cultivated her expertise in various educational settings. Most recently, she has served as a Senior Ceramic, Plaster, and Glass Technician at Birmingham University, where she supports Degree and MA students, and currently as the Creative Arts Technician at Shrewsbury High School. Claire’s journey as an artist took a remarkable turn during the lockdown when she was selected as a Rising Star finalist at the New Ashgate Gallery in Farnborough. She also had the opportunity to exhibit and sell her work alongside fellow Rising Stars at the prestigious Chelsea Craft Fair. The Rising Stars initiative celebrates exceptional talent among new emerging makers in crafts, design, and applied arts. Visitors to this exhibition can expect to see Claire’s innovative ceramic pieces that reflect her deep appreciation for the craft and her unique artistic vision. This is a wonderful opportunity to engage with the work of a talented artist who continues to inspire the next generation of makers.
As a family-run independent Gallery, your continued support means the world to us and allows us to support a wide range of artists. We look forward to sharing this exciting celebration of incredible artists with you!
