Gentle yet radiant, The Colour of Dreams explores how artists use hue, tone, and texture to hold memory, mood, and meaning. The exhibition invites visitors to slow down and experience colour as something lived and felt, a quiet conversation between material and imagination.
Among the artists featured are Jane Wood, whose sculptural assemblages made from found coastal materials speak of memory and belonging; Kate Lycett, known for her richly patterned and gold-leafed townscapes; and Gill Edwards, whose mixed-media paintings balance texture and intuition with joyful rhythm.
In the Solar Gallery, textile artist Hannah Lamb expands the theme spatially with [De]Constructed Cloth, a series of sculptural textile works that layer imagery and structure to reflect on the histories of making. The exhibition also includes the atmospheric paintings of Rachael Sugden, exploring connection and home; the colour-rich city studies of Jonathan Hooper; and the quiet, intuitive compositions of John Gamble.
Renowned landscape painter Katharine Holmes brings her deep-rooted relationship with the Yorkshire Dales to the exhibition, while Emma Westmacott’s slip-cast terracotta forms echo the sculptural lines of Brutalist architecture. Finally, Helina Bassey’s contemplative oil paintings dissolve the boundary between abstraction and landscape, offering moments of calm and poise.
“The Colour of Dreams brings together artists who each, in their own way, use colour as a way of feeling — to trace memory, to build atmosphere, to invite a kind of quiet joy,” says curator Andreea Chitan. “It’s an exhibition that moves gently between brightness and stillness, between seeing and sensing.”
Timed ahead of the festive season, The Colour of Dreams also offers visitors the perfect opportunity to discover unique, collectable artworks — meaningful pieces to live with or to give as thoughtful Christmas gifts that support both artists and Ilkley Manor House.
Exhibition details:
Venue: Ilkley Manor House, Castle Yard, Ilkley LS29 9DT
Dates: 29 November 2025 – 14 December 2025
Private View: Friday 28 November, 5:30–8pm
Opening hours: Saturdays & Sundays, 11am–4pm
Entry: Free, donations welcome.
