Art in The Open: Exploring St Peter’s through Walks, Nature & Creativity

Feeling the winter blues? The colder months can be isolating, but Art in The Open invites you to wrap up warm, get outside, and reconnect with creativity through gentle walks, nature, and hands-on art-making.

This series of three affordable outdoor workshops takes place around St Peter’s, Roker, and the surrounding coastline. Led by local artists Liv Askwith and Claire Louise, the sessions explore sculpture, drawing, watercolour painting, and photography in response to the landscape, weather, and environment.

All workshops are beginner-friendly, materials are provided, and no previous experience is needed. Look out for our Pink Collar Gallery flag at each meeting point so you can easily find us.

Funded by Community Chest Sunderland Council.

Sculpture Tour & Frottage Workshop
Saturday 7th March | 12:00–2:00 pm
Meeting point: National Glass Centre café entrance (around the back)
Led by: Liv Askwith
Cost: £7.50 (all materials provided)

Discover St Peter’s public sculptures through a guided outdoor walk before trying frottage — a surrealist technique of creating textured rubbings using pencils, crayons, or pastels. This tactile and playful process encourages close observation and imaginative interpretation, turning everyday surfaces into unexpected works of art.

Get tickets here.

Windy Weather Watercolour Painting Session
Saturday 14th March | 12:00–2:00 pm
Meeting point: Outside Fausto Coffee Shop
Led by: Liv Askwith
Cost: £7.50 (all materials provided)

Inspired by the Impressionists, these outdoor watercolour painting sessions embrace whatever the weather brings — sunshine, wind, clouds, or sea mist. Participants will learn how to respond to changing light and dramatic coastal landscapes, using watercolour to create bold, expressive paintings in the great outdoors.

Get tickets here.

Good to Know
All workshops take place outdoors and will involve walking. Please wear sturdy, comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. Workshops may be cancelled in extreme weather conditions. Participants are responsible for personal belongings, including phones and equipment.

Pink-Collar Gallery is thrilled to be part of Rebel Women of Sunderland, a powerful and thought-provoking exhibition celebrating the bold, brilliant and boundary-breaking women who have shaped the city.

Updated for 2026, the exhibition brings together all 30 illustrations by Sunderland artist Kathryn Robertson under one roof for the first time. Her striking and instantly recognisable visual style captures the resilience, individuality and spirit of each featured woman.

Rebel Women of Sunderland celebrates extraordinary local women, past and present, from activists and artists to campaigners, pioneers and everyday trailblazers. Their stories are brought to life through immersive storytelling, vibrant visuals and a compelling podcast series.

Alongside Robertson’s work, the Rebel Women podcast series (produced by Professor Caroline Mitchell, We Make Culture and Lucky Penny Audio) gives voice to stories that have often gone untold, adding depth and intimacy to the exhibition experience.

The exhibition also features creative responses from women artists across the city. Pink-Collar Gallery, a Sunderland-based pop-up founded by curator Michaela Wetherell, presents recent projects including:

• A creative workshop programme led by artist Tallulah Lines with women supported by Wearside Women in Need

• Her Mark, a calligraphy project led by Auburn Langley exploring the overlooked creative legacies of medieval women

Also featured is Researcher in Residence Sophie Piper, introducing the work of Eileen “Dusty” Deste, an accomplished yet overlooked twentieth-century photographer. Visitors can interact with Deste’s 1961 photographs of the Pyrex Factory, rearranging them to explore how narratives of women’s work are shaped and reshaped.

The exhibition additionally includes work by the Older Women’s Artist Collective and Southwick REACH (Research Education Arts and Culture Home).

Join us in celebrating the courage, creativity and community of Rebel Women of Sunderland — and perhaps discover the rebel in you.

🎥 Pink-Collar Gallery Commission for The Culture House

Watch it online below!

We’re proud to present a new animated short film commissioned by Pink-Collar Gallery for the Culture House Expo Sunderland Pavilion.

This dynamic piece is part of our series of commissioned films contributing to the Culture House's pre-opening programme, spotlighting Sunderland’s vibrant creative community.

Animated by: Arlo Howard & Anthony Deligiannis
Audio produced by: Ynez Tulsen & Tanya Trayanovich

Featuring local artists Sullivan Alenezi, Ellie Clewlow, Jordan Quinn, and Sally Anderson, the film explores their inspirations, personal journeys, and how the city of Sunderland has shaped their practice.

Through bold animation and immersive audio storytelling, this project not only celebrates Sunderland’s cultural scene but also makes the case that creativity is for everyone—whether it’s a passion or a profession.

As part of the commission, Pink-Collar Gallery collaborated with students from University of Sunderland, offering real-world experience to emerging creatives and showcasing pathways to building creative careers right here in the city. 

Represented Artists & Support Programme

Pink-Collar Gallery is proud to support a growing roster of local artists:
Albert BC, Arlo Howard, Melissa Duncan, Emily Josephine, Sally Anderson, Jordan Quinn, Nora Nadvegi, Liv Askwith, Sullivan Alenezi and Pamela Ormston.

Our commitment goes beyond representation. We actively support artists’ career development through:

One-to-one mentoring

Help with funding applications and artist statements

Financial support for materials, marketing, and open call fees

Ongoing professional guidance as part of building long-term creative careers

As Pink-Collar Gallery grows, so does our mission to uplift emerging voices and foster a sustainable, inclusive art community.

Creative Pathways Events – Coming Soon

We’re developing a new series of artist-focused events designed to build networks, create opportunities, and support creative practice. Upcoming programming will include:

Artist networking and “Speed Arting” sessions

Creative day trips

One-to-one support for freelancers

Skill-sharing sessions and artist showcases

Selling opportunities for emerging creatives

Stay tuned for updates as we announce more dates and ways to get involved.