From 2025, Steve des Landes has been Artist in Residence at the Williamson. With a studio in our Art Room, his intention starting the residency was to work on larger-scale paintings.
He will be hosting Open Studio sessions every Friday evening, 6 – 8:30pm. Between these hours you can drop into his studio, see what he’s working on and ask any questions. No booking required, just pop into the gallery on Friday evenings.
Love books? Love talking about books? Love Books & Banter!
Books and Banter is an opportunity to talk about books guided by theme, with no specific book set to read. Discussions around the subject are facilitated but not restricted, and tangents are welcome.
The theme of February’s meeting is Marmite – books you love or hate
Free to all – no need to book, just come along!
Take a look at the list from January’s session
BEGINNINGS
The Williamson Café will be open and serving refreshments, including alcohol.
Peter Rainsford Presents – a Miscellany of Music and Creativity.
Peter is founder and director of Tafelmusik music school in Oxton. Each month he brings a varied repertoire of music and performers to the Williamson.
As well as a musical talk from Peter and songs from singer/songwriter Paula, this month’s special guest is local pianist Keith Peris.
Keith is appearing again by popular demand.
His program will include works by Beethoven and Tchaikovsky.
Paula will be singing some of her thoughtful songs and peter will be presenting one of his popular ‘Musical Appreciation ‘ talks.
Tafelmusik website
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‘3Ls’ stands for Learning, Leisure and Laughter, – principles epitomised by this Choir. Made up of people from all over the Wirral. Including people who have sung in choirs all their life and people for whom singing is a new adventure.
On Friday 21st November from 6.45pm they will be performing a programme that focuses on songs of love and friendship, led by their music Director, Stella McGann.
These performances are to raise funds through your donations for the Wirral Women’s and Children’s Aid (Refuge). Please come along to support this excellent local charity.
The Wirral 3Ls Choir is part of an organisation of daytime learning and leisure activities, ranging from Art to Languages and Pilates.
The Williamson Café will be open during the performances for drinks and light bites.
Find out more about Wirral 3Ls
A varied selection of Piano Music played by local musicians.
Our Enjoy the Piano sessions are going from strength to strength, and we are always happy to hear from musicians who would like to take part in the concert.
If you would like to take part in a session, please contact, Peter Rainsford – piedpiper2000@aol.com to book your place.
The Williamson Café will be open for refreshments.
Split Level music with Phil Chisnall and Lynne Strange.
The duo specialise in strong vocal harmony accompanied by Phil’s haunting guitar, performing a broad range of contemporary covers as well as Phil’s own critically acclaimed, self written songs.
They have performed at many local venues and folk clubs, where their unique blend of musical entertainment captivates any audience.
We are looking forward to welcoming Split Level music back to the Williamson.
The Williamson Café will be open for drinks and light bites.
Spinoffs performances at the Williamson are always hugely popular and we’re happy to welcome them back in December.
They’re a group of eight friends who originally just met up on a weekly basis to play their instruments and sing together for the pure fun of it. They started with no intention of performing in public; that was 8 years ago…
They continue to enjoy playing a range of music together whilst raising money for local charities and do hope you will enjoy listening to their Christmas Set.
Live Music by E n B a couple who enjoy singing and playing instruments together return to the Williamson. They perform an eclectic mix of songs from the likes of The Houghton Weavers
to the Killers via John Prine and Cat Stevens.
E n B will be joined by Pam & Keith bringing together the sounds of the Acoustic Guitar and Violin. Showcasing original music and covers of your favourite hits.
These two vibrant duos will be performing in the Café which is set to be a fabulous Friday evening.
The Café will be open for drinks and light bites.
Wirral Pop Orchestra & Wirral Big Band Presents: A CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Join us at the gallery for a delightful afternoon of music from two fabulous local bands.
Wirral Big Band and Wirral Pop Orchestra were both started in 2019 by Jan Modelski, an accomplished musician who is passionate about community music, bringing local musicians together.
Wirral Pop Orchestra strays away from the conventional classical classical repertoire exploring the world of Pop, theatre, films and musicals. Wirral Big Band play all things jazz, swing and pop in a Big Band style.
Both bands have enjoyed many successful gigs at a variety of local venues, and we’re delighted to welcome them back to the Williamson for a fabulous festive performance.
The Williamson Café will be open where you can perchance a ‘Festive Mini Afternoon Tea’ and other refreshments.
Born in Birkenhead, Philip Wilson Steer was a pioneer of impressionism in Britain during the late nineteenth century. Studying in Paris in the 1880s, he was exposed to this radical way of painting after seeing works by the likes of Degas and Manet. With his loose approach to painting and depictions of scenes that were seen as indecent for the time, Steer was widely ridiculed on his return to London, but eventually gained acclaim and prestige with the increasing influence of the New English Art Club and his teaching post at the Slade School of Art. Later in his career, Steer was inspired by masters of English landscape painting, such as Constable and Turner, with examples of these works being found in the exhibition.
As well as showcasing the Williamson’s collection of Steer, this exhibition will bring his work into conversation with both his contemporaries and local artists who followed in his footsteps. This will showcase his personal approach to colour and painting, but will also show the limitations of his radicalism, largely through his approach to depicting women.
The Williamson’s collection of works by Steer has long been considered a highlight of our collections, which we are delighted to be able to display a significant number of in this exhibition.
EVENTS:
Curator talks on Albert Richards & Philip Wilson Steer – dates throughout 2025
Info & Booking