Abbot Hall presents Legacy, a solo exhibition by contemporary artist Charmaine Watkiss. Discover a collection of powerful drawings exploring the connection between people and nature.

London-based artist Charmaine Watkiss (b.1964) examines history and cultural tradition through the unifying language of plants and their properties. Inspired by historical research, Watkiss explores the relationship between ancestry, botany and the cosmos.

Drawing mainly with pencil, she adds colour and texture with watercolour and ink. Each piece shows how people and nature are intertwined, emphasising the importance of both biodiversity and cultural diversity.

Watkiss’s work has featured in high-profile group exhibitions including: The Wisdom Tree at Leeds Art Gallery, Drawing attention: emerging British artists group show at the British Museum and Breakfast Under the Tree, curated by Russell Tovey, at Carl Freedman Gallery. Last year, she was selected as a commissioned artist for the 12th edition of the Liverpool Biennial 2023. This year, her work is included in group shows at the Venice Biennale, Perez Art Museum Miami, Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Drawing Biennial, London.

An installation of Watkiss’ impressive life-sized drawings and sculpture, originally commissioned for Liverpool Biennial 2023, ‘uMoya: The Sacred Return of Lost Things’, will also form part of the exhibition.

This exhibition is included with gallery admission.