Past exhibitions 2024

Quentin Blake: Book Covers

10 February – 11 May 2024

This exhibition featured 60 of Blake’s book covers from the 1960s to the present: from mid-century Penguin paperbacks to finely-crafted special editions and family-friendly poetry books. First editions were shown alongside reproductions of original artwork from Blake’s archive that show how he combines typography, dynamic layouts and his unique way of drawing to create playful designs.

Each cover is a new challenge for Blake. He has to capture the essence of a story without giving away too much of the plot or the ending. His illustrations need to be carefully balanced with the title and suitable for the printing process that will be used. At the same time, Blake’s designs must be eye-catching and appealing to the changing tastes of different readers.

This exhibition featured reproduction illustrations courtesy of Quentin Blake’s archive.
Quentin Blake: Book Covers is a touring exhibition from Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration.

Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration website: www.qbcentre.org.uk

Domestic Fantastic: Prints and Paintings by Chris Orr RA

10 February – 8 June 2024

Chris Orr is a painter and printmaker who lives and works in London. After graduating from the Royal College of Art in 1967 he embarked on a career in publishing and exhibiting limited edition prints and paintings. He taught at many art schools and was Professor of Printmaking at the Royal College of Art 1998 to 2008. In 1995 he was elected a Royal Academician. His work has been exhibited worldwide and is in numerous private collections as well as the collections of the Arts Council, the Tate Gallery, and the Science Museum. In 2023 he gave the complete archive of his nearly 400 published limited edition prints in a variety of mediums to the Royal Academy Collection. His work can be seen every summer in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

Rugby Collection selected by Chris Orr RA

10 February – 11 May 2024

Jason and his Argonauts

22 June to 7 September 2024

Jason Wilsher-Mills is an artist that uses fancy tech to create awesome, colourful art.

Jason wasn't always a digital whizz. He started out using oils, but later switched to making art with computers and tablets. Why? Because he's a superstar who adapted to challenges and embraced new ways to create after becoming disabled.

He's exhibited his art all over the world, including at V&A Late, Tate Exchange at Tate Modern and Liberty Festival London. He has produced commissions for Sky Arts, ITV, the British Council and the Houses of Parliament and was recipient of the prestigious Adam Reynolds Award 2020.

Jason's work celebrates his own life and experiences, including his northern roots, pop culture he loved as a kid, and the stories of other people like him. His art is often big, bright, and full of humour! 

Jason creates all sorts of cool stuff, from flat pictures to 3D sculptures, even hiding secret digital surprises in his artwork!

For more information about Jason visit https://www.jwmartist.co.uk

A 20-21 Visual Arts Centre Touring Exhibition

Gina Glover: A World of Fire and Ice

14 September - 16 November 2024

This exhibition uses powerful images to explore our relationship with energy and the natural world. It takes us on a journey from the past to the future, but mostly focuses on the urgent issues we face today.
From melting ice caps to efforts to clean up our planet, the exhibition shows us how our energy choices impact nature. It encourages us to think deeply about our reliance on both energy and the environment.
The exhibition is a mix of emotions – it makes us think, it worries us, but it also gives us hope. It shows that by working together, we can find solutions to the energy crisis.

The Rugby Open 2024

30 November to 20 February 2024

Rugby Open brings together a diverse range of high-quality contemporary art from emerging and established artists from the local area and includes dozens of pieces from across the arts, from paintings and prints to textiles and ceramics.

Artists from Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Coventry are invited to submit up to 3 pieces for the exhibition.  An independent panel of judges selects works for the exhibition.
There is an adult category and youth category (ages 14-19 years).