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The Old Lock Up Gallery - commercial art gallery

@theoldlockupgallery

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A soulful gallery - Connecting art lovers with art to fall in❤️with.Fri-Sun 10-4
workshops+residencies+ @kilnceramicfair
Created by Rachael Pinks:solo

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A sanctuary in the heart of the Peak District ..

This morning a couple visiting from London told me they’d needed to escape the city for a while. A change of scenery, a slower pace, a little breathing space.

The Peak District is one of Britain’s most visited national parks, attracting people from all over the world to experience its extraordinary beauty.

And here in the historic village of Cromford is The Old Lock Up Gallery.

Downstairs from the gallery space is The Bothy, a colourful little space filled with beautiful handmade ceramics, crafts and objects, each carrying something of the person who made it.

I believe there’s something deeply nourishing about handmade things. The imagination, skill, time and care that goes into creating something beautiful: holding them just feels good - feels different to conveyor belt/factory made ‘stuff’.

In a world of mass production and endless consumption, these objects offer something different. A connection to another human being, a little beauty in our everyday lives. Something that reminds us - to slow down, to take a moment, to savour beauty, to savour life…

The gallery is a destination in its own right. A place to discover, feel inspired and experience the joy of creativity.

Nourishment for the soul.

A soulful space - a space for those who are looking for something beyond the beige and grey of the modern world.

You’ll find work in The Bothy by:

Sue Blatherwick
Gael Cherry
Ally Kendrick Clew
Amy Cooper
Whittle and Weave
Tideline Ceramics
Kirsty Brown
Tony Yates
Jane Littlefield
Frances Spice
And others…. by @theoldlockupgallery

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a day ago

Spotlight….

The Journey - until 8th Nov.

Selecting 2 pieces of work from this outstanding show and zooming in… observing… sharing… exploring… questioning.

The Road not Taken by Julie Barnes - acrylic on canvas. £2,500

Simple observations: the slant of the head, the shape of the spine, the droop of the shoulders and arms, the lack lustre expression on her face. The posture as a whole. The subdued colour palette. Real, touching, authentic

How would I feel in this body? In this painting? As this person - looking back - on the road not taken?

Picking up the Pieces by Anna Donovan - stoneware, porcelain slip, glaze, wire, gold leaf - £475

A combination of fragmented pieces, broken, brought back together, mended/stitched, kintsugi, gold, repair, bringing back together: faces - parts of self? Fragmentation, ancestors?
Beautiful and intriguing..

@julietheartist1

@artist_anna_donovan by @theoldlockupgallery

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2 days ago

Over looking…

The millpond in Cromford: view from the Art Room @scarthinbooks by @theoldlockupgallery

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5 days ago

The Journey…

Our current exhibition here at The Old Lock Up Gallery in the heart of Derbyshire.
Continues until 8th Nov.

This exhibition doesn’t hold back - it’s real and raw, beautiful and tragic, touching and deeply expressive. It embodies what it is to journey through life. What it is to be human.. it’s full of pieces of art to ponder, drink in and savour.

For a quirky gallery in a small village - it packs a mighty & beautiful punch of creativity.

This show isn’t about a literal journey - it’s a glimpse into our inner lived experiences.. the trials and tribulations of living.

Please do visit - you’ll be warmly welcomed: and guaranteed to not be disappointed: the gallery is open Friday - Sunday 10-4pm. by @theoldlockupgallery

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5 days ago

A lovely visit…

To the depths of the glorious Derbyshire countryside today to visit the wonderful and talented - @sue_blatherwick_ceramics studio - to choose some gorgeous new ceramics for the gallery… always a treat!

If you’ve never visited Derbyshire - you need to! It’s literally awe inspiring..
And whilst you’re here pop into The Old Lock Up Gallery… both are beautiful, unique and make life feel so SO goood.. ❤️ by @theoldlockupgallery

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6 days ago

What a lovely afternoon …

The Journey - opened yesterday afternoon here at the gallery and what a gorgeous start to the show.

I seem to be getting so into just enjoying the moment & soaking up the atmosphere that I clean forget to take photos of the openings when they’re in FULL swing!! So good to see a busy gallery/show.

Today’s been busy too!

This is an amazing show - I’m not just saying that because I feel that I ought too; it really is!!
I’m more than happy for you to pop in - explore the work in the show and fill your heart and boots. I can guarantee - you’ll love the exhibition & you’ll get a warm welcome.

39 wonderful artists - 64 amazing pieces of work.

The Journey - until 8th Nov: gallery open Friday - Sunday 10-4pm. by @theoldlockupgallery

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8 days ago

The Journey …

OPENS this Saturday 10th Oct: 2-4pm.

Over 39 artists and 65 pieces of work - beautiful, touching, honest, diverse expressions of what it is to journey through our lives.

Join myself and many of the exhibiting artists as we celebrate art, creativity and what it means to be human.

The exhibition continues until 8th Nov.
Open Friday - Sunday 10-4pm by @theoldlockupgallery

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11 days ago

Today was a great day…

This is one of the parts of my role that I simply love.

I often get asked: do you have a plan?

I’m frequently surprised when people don’t see or feel how creative this process is.

Over the last 15 yrs - I’ve learnt to trust, to let go and to allow the show to unfold..

It’s an exciting and fulfilling process - for me.

Knowing that it will be pretty amazing & the pieces will come together organically - filling the space with the most tangible of vibes.

The Journey - the penultimate show of 2026 here at The Old Lock Up Gallery is hung, is filling the space - waiting to be explored.

Can’t wait to share it with you. ❤️ by @theoldlockupgallery

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14 days ago

It’s the end…..

Of this year’s artists residencies! And what a wonderful time it’s been - thank you to all the artists that booked time here in this beautiful and enriching space. I’ve loved hosting each and every one of you and watching your creative process unfold - it’s been so inspiring for me.

It’s looking as though all of next year’s 10 weeks of artists residencies will be FULLY BOOKED shortly…

2027 marks five wonderful years of this wonderful addition to The Old Lock Up Gallery.

Now to start unboxing work for the next show: The Journey - OPENS 10th October 2-4pm: all of you are very welcome to join me & celebrate the opening of the show! Many of the exhibiting artists will be here for the celebration too. by @theoldlockupgallery

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15 days ago

Growing up as a kid in the village, for me, nothing beats the solitude of listening to the sounds of nature, the sound of the river, the birds’ squeaks, the crickets’ cries, the trees dancing to the sound of the wind…
My ongoing residency @theoldlockupgallery is bringing back so many memories and a deep sense of nostalgia. Burning wood and roasting yam or meat used to be my favourite task as a kid. As I burn the chimney here, it brings a smile to my face and takes me down memory lane. Walking in nature and infusing all that nature into my developing body of work has been so inspiring and satisfying for me. So many ideas and sketches have come from it. I know I will be going back with so much inspiration.
Thanks Racheal for such an opportunity to relax and reflect on my work. This year has been so fast, filled with work, painting and creating and less time to reflect on my practice and my work.

#artresidency #urunwa_art #contemprarypainting #cromford by @theoldlockupgallery

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18 days ago

T h e J o u r n e y …

SO EXCITED to announce the exhibition dates for the penultimate show of 2026 here at The Old Lock Up Gallery - Cromford - Derbyshire.

- The journey is a profound metaphor for life, a metaphor that sees our lives as a process of moving through trials, tribulations, triumphs, ups and downs, transitions, and growth towards the ends of our lives here on earth. This process/journey focuses on the importance of our individual experiences, lessons learned, growth, development and personal transformation over mere goal & task attainment, often summarised as “the journey, not the destination”.

Exhibition dates: 10th Oct - 8th Nov 2026

Show OPENS 2-4pm: 10th October - all warmly welcome! Join us to celebrate art, creativity, human expression and THE JOURNEY.

This metaphor is often prevalent in narratives & stories that represent the “hero’s journey” or personal development, where the who we transform into and become is our true “destination”.

Selected Artists:

Victoria Reynolds, Naela El-Assaad, Carol Banks, Fiona Stewart, Anna Donovan, Geraldine Yvonne Smith, Cherie Yiu, Deborah Frith, Zoe Nelson, Kathryn Pallant, Claire Goodey, Helen Allanson, Sam Wellington, Anna Cumming, Lisa Banks, Nick Archer, Melanie Whitaker, Edward Bullinger, Ekaterina Mendor, Liz Dowding, Lynne Lamb, Julie Barnes, Lucy Lee, Nga Quynh Ngo, Sarah Parkin, Ann Bates, Charlotte Rees, Nick Lamb, Sharyn Sloan, Natasha Sephton, Catherine Rive, Doug Lemon, Anna Boyd, Stevie Cavana, Kim Sutherland, Liz Moffat, Linda Sharman, Lynne Tammadge, Charley Hellier.

Image: I Walk with the Clouds - Linda Sharman by @theoldlockupgallery

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21 days ago

DEADLINE EXTENDED 👇

because: to say that I’m ‘busy’ is an understatement at the mo…

plus I’ve made the ‘hanging fee’ £10…

The new deadline is 12th October: MIDNIGHT.

I’d love this show to be a cracking way to end the year - it’s been a tough year for many of us, as we see the craziness of this modern world unfold around us. It’s, perhaps, my final show that explores beauty… which has become such a rich resource and source of happiness for me. It takes a certain something to be able to connect with beauty when the earth is on fire.

There’s further info on the website: along with the submission form. But here’s a snippet:

An exhibition inspired by ‘1000 Beautiful Things’ by Annie Lennox… although I know it would be too big a job, for me, to bring together 1000 pieces of work together for the final exhibition of 2026 - 100 seems enough.

Exhibition Dates: 21st November - 20th December

Beauty is In essence, not merely a “shallow” or decorative concept in psychology; it is vital to health, wellbeing and for us to flourish.

‘Beauty, it turns out, is capable of launching not just an armada of ships, but a cascade of the same feel-good chemicals you get from being in love, eating chocolate, exercising, and having orgasms: dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, oxytocin. It also lowers stress, blood pressure, and heart rate.
In other words, aesthetics isn’t superficial. It’s biochemical. And it isn’t a luxury, but a deep human drive.
Furthermore, beauty keeps you aroused and interested in life, reinforcing behaviors that make you eager to sustain it, to remember that life is pleasurable and worth living.

You might feel it’s almost abhorrent/wrong/ to celebrate beauty and feel happy… yet:

Is it right to be happy in a world that’s broken?

Simone de Beauvoir went to Albert Camus worried that being focussed on one’s own happiness meant one had to detach themselves from the political reality around them.
But Skye Cleary argues that as long as our happiness is authentic, and not born out of ignorance or apathy, even existentialists are allowed to be happy. In fact, they should be.

Come hang with me in the final show of 2026: link is in the bio! by @theoldlockupgallery

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