The well-regarded Winchester-based artist is excited to announce that a gallery in Salisbury’s Fisherton Street will be hosting her carefully curated view on how trauma can irrevocably alter one’s perception of landscapes and safe spaces.
Opening with a private viewing on Thursday, July 17, members of the public are invited to visit the gallery from Friday, July 18, to Saturday, August 2 (10am until 5pm) and explore the emotional, creative, and healing process that her works of art capture. Several private commissions have also been loaned back for the show.
Blending soft, vibrant, colourful and beautiful landscapes with personal storytelling, Miss Willington has created a series of poignant paintings that attempt to convey how intimate partner violence can alter the world around us.
Describing it as a feminist twist on a landscape exhibition, from lush countryside vistas to scenes of the natural world, the artist aims to evoke the same sense of overwhelming sadness and loss that can completely transform a person’s view of places and spaces.
She said: “As a trigger warning, none of the paintings display graphic or shocking imagery, but do discuss themes of assault, personal to the women interviewed. I wanted to be able to illustrate the lasting damage of how a trauma can alter perceptions of everyday landscapes to those impacted. There are social commentaries linked to unequal power dynamics and how, through my own personal experience, I have begun to rebuild and challenge patriarchal systems.”
Lauren began her artistic career at just 15 years old, undertaking commission-based portrait work through word of mouth.
Originally trained in Textiles and Fine Art, Miss Willington completed a BA in Fine Arts with the Winchester School of Art in 2018.
In recent years, she has focused on establishing roots as an artist within the local community, exhibiting with regional galleries, such as the Tate Modern, during the biennial exhibition We Built a Boat in 2018, where she participated in a collaborative installation which involved constructing a physical rowing boat alongside visitors and fellow artists, exploring themes of community, collaboration and construction.
In December 2024, one of her designs was selected for the official Friends of Winchester Cathedral Christmas cards—a festival piece rooted in heritage, place, and handcrafted detail.
Many of her works are stocked in local galleries such as Forest & Cove in Romsey as well as her Etsy store Kindesignprints. Alongside her artistic career, Lauren also works as a professional picture framer, which offers creative exchange and collaboration with fellow artists in the area.
To view her portfolio or to get in touch go to laurenwillingtonart.com. To visit her etsy store: etsy.com/uk/shop/kindesignprints