What a Day! Our Autumn Fayre Was a Great Success!

September 27, 2026 / SerenArts Gallery / Leave a comment

Yesterday’s Autumn Fayre at Tithebarn Workshops was an absolute triumph, and we honestly couldn’t have asked for a better turnout and the perfect weather.

From the moment we opened, the Workshops were buzzing with visitors enjoying everything our creative community has to offer. The atmosphere was fantastic all day, with a wonderful mix of familiar faces, new visitors and people discovering the Workshops for the first time.

There was plenty to see and do, with our open studios, fantastic independent stalls, artwork, handmade goodies and lots of lovely things to browse. And, as always, there was plenty of opportunity to stop, chat and soak up the wonderfully relaxed atmosphere that makes our events so special.

🎶 Live music kept things lively throughout the day.

🍻 The Garden Bar was doing a great trade and proved, once again, to be the perfect place to sit back and enjoy the day.

☕ Vixys Café was open throughout the day and was absolutely buzzing, keeping visitors fuelled with its usual warm welcome.

🍴 And a huge thank you to Cyprus Kitchen, the fantastic food truck, which was on site serving up delicious food and doing a roaring trade throughout the day.

🎨 Our artists and makers welcoming visitors into their creative spaces and offering drop in courses.

🛍️ And our brilliant stallholders brought an amazing selection of independent products, gifts, artwork and crafts.

We’d also like to give a very special thank you to BBC Radio Wiltshire for helping us spread the word about the Autumn Fair last week. Their promotion helped us reach even more people, and we’re hugely grateful for their support.

And what can we say about our stallholders, artists, musicians, café, food truck and everyone else who helped make the day happen? Thank you! Events like this don’t just happen by themselves, and we really appreciate all the time, effort and enthusiasm that everyone puts in.

But most of all, thank you to YOU — the people who came along.

Whether you visited an open studio, bought something from one of our wonderful independent traders, enjoyed the music, grabbed a coffee and a bite to eat, had a drink in the Garden Bar, met up with friends or simply came along for a wander and a bit of inspiration, your support means so much to everyone here.

There was such a fantastic buzz around the Workshops that it reminded us once again why we love doing these events.

Creative people. Independent businesses. Great music. Good food and drink. Lots of lovely visitors. And a brilliant atmosphere.

That’s what the Workshops are all about.

So, from everyone here at Tithebarn Workshops — THANK YOU!

You made yesterday’s Autumn Fair one to remember.

And after a day like that… we’re already looking forward to the next one!

Just When You Thought the Art Fairs Were Over…

September 4, 2026 / SerenArts Gallery / Leave a comment

Well, we thought we were done.

After a busy year of art fairs, exhibitions, packing, unpacking, driving, hanging, selling and generally wondering where on earth we keep finding the energy to do it all again… we thought 2026 was finally winding down… And then Manchester happened!

Completely out of the blue, we were offered a late cancellation stand at Manchester Art Fair – and after a little bit of discussion we decided to say YES!

Manchester, here we come!

Manchester Art Fair takes place at Manchester Central from 19th–22nd November 2026, and this year’s event is shaping up to be a big one. The fair has expanded to four days, with an exclusive preview evening on Thursday followed by a new public opening on Friday, before the traditional Saturday and Sunday. There will be more than 180 exhibitors and around 600 artists, bringing an enormous variety of original art together under one roof.

And Serena will be right in the middle of it all at Stand 747.

We’re really excited about this one because Manchester is a completely new audience for us. We’ve travelled all over the country with Serena’s paintings over the years, but this will be our first time exhibiting at Manchester Art Fair – and we’re looking forward to seeing how her colourful, atmospheric works go down with the Manchester crowd.

There should be plenty to see, too. Alongside Manchester Art Fair is The Manchester Contemporary, bringing together independent galleries and artist-led spaces from the UK and internationally, with a programme of talks, workshops and collector events. In other words, if you’re interested in art, there should be plenty to keep you occupied for the weekend!

We’re not quite sure what we’ll be taking yet. We’re already imagining Stand 747 gradually filling up with colourful figurative works, atmospheric Scottish landscapes and all those little glimpses of places that Serena somehow manages to turn into something completely different with her work.

Once again we will be hoping to stay in Vinnie (our beautiful campervan!), although the nearest campsite is about 1/2 an hour away. It will definitely make it more of an adventure though! Getting ready and then hopping on the tram to head to the city centre.

If you’re anywhere near Manchester in November, we’d absolutely love you to come and say hello. Come and find Serena at Stand 747 at Manchester Art Fair, 19th–22nd November 2026, at Manchester Central.

And if you’ve never been to an art fair before, this could be a pretty good one to start with.

Bradford on Avon Through an Artist’s Eyes

August 26, 2026 / SerenArts Gallery / Leave a comment

Living and working in Bradford on Avon, you might think Serena would paint it all the time. After all, it’s right on our doorstep. We have the River Avon, the old stone buildings, the bridges, the hills and the beautiful countryside surrounding the town. There is inspiration everywhere.

But, as I regularly remind Serena, she doesn’t actually paint local scenes nearly as often as she should! We have a running joke about it! Whenever one of her Bradford on Avon paintings sells quickly, I can’t resist saying, “See! I keep telling you — you need to paint more local scenes!”

Seeing the familiar differently

There is something lovely about seeing somewhere you know well turned into a painting. Bradford on Avon is full of those little moments that can catch an artist’s eye. The river looks completely different depending on the light (and the height of the water!), the old honey-coloured buildings glow in the sunshine, and an evening sky can transform the whole town into something much more atmospheric.

Even somewhere you’ve walked past hundreds of times can suddenly look different because of a particular reflection, shadow or combination of colours. That’s often when Serena starts thinking, “I could paint that.” Although thinking it and actually having the time to paint it are two very different things!

It’s not about copying what you see

Serena’s paintings aren’t simply trying to reproduce a photograph, she paints how a place feels to her. Colours might be changed, buildings simplified, details left out and the light exaggerated (always with some added colour!). The finished painting is her interpretation of the place rather than a photographic record of it. And this is probably why she sometimes resists my suggestion that she should paint more Bradford on Avon. Serena much prefers painting something that has come from her head and heart, rather than sitting down because I’ve told her that another painting of Bradford Bridge would probably sell!

A town full of inspiration

The wonderful thing about Bradford on Avon is that there really is no shortage of inspiration. The river, the bridges, the old streets and buildings, the hills, the trees and the countryside all provide endless possibilities. Then you add the changing seasons and the light, and the same view can become an entirely different painting. And when one of those paintings finds a new home, it’s particularly satisfying. Often the buyer recognises the view straight away. Perhaps they’ve lived here for years, walked along the river every day or simply fallen in love with the town during a visit. The painting then becomes more than just a picture. It becomes a little piece of somewhere that means something to them.

Here are a few of Serena’s Bradford on Avon paintings — the town we are lucky enough to live and work in.

the town bridge bradford on avon by serena pugh

the bullpit bradford on avon by serena pugh

Choosing the Perfect Frame

August 5, 2026 / SerenArts Gallery / Leave a comment

If you’ve ever visited our gallery, you may have admired one of Serena’s paintings without giving much thought to the frame surrounding it. That’s exactly as it should be.

A good frame shouldn’t shout louder than the artwork. Instead, it quietly does its job, complementing the painting and allowing it to shine.

People are often surprised to learn that framing isn’t simply a case of picking a colour that looks nice. It’s actually one of the final artistic decisions in the life of every painting.

Once Serena has finished a piece, the oils need time to dry before we can frame it. At the moment, the studio shelves are lined with paintings patiently waiting for that moment—bright florals, peaceful landscapes, little treasures destined for Art in the Pen next week. It’s always a slightly nerve-wracking sight, especially when the exhibition is getting closer and the drying time can’t be hurried along!

serena pugh art in the pen 20th anniversary

What happens next is very much a team effort.

Serena chooses the frame colour. As the artist, she instinctively knows what will best complement each painting. Sometimes a black tray frame gives a contemporary piece the strength it needs. Other paintings come alive in a soft oak finish, while others suit a crisp white that keeps everything feeling fresh and light. There isn’t a formula—every painting tells us something different.

Once the decision has been made, it’s over to me.

I fit each painting into its tray frame, carefully positioning it within the shadow gap that creates the floating effect we love so much. The back is neatly sealed with framing tape, the correct hanging hardware is fitted, and finally it gets one last inspection before it’s ready to meet its new audience.

It’s a process that most visitors never see, but one that we genuinely enjoy. There’s something rather satisfying about watching a finished painting settle into the frame that was clearly meant for it. Somehow, it suddenly feels complete.

As I write this, our shelves are looking rather colourful. Every painting is drying, every frame is waiting, and the countdown to Art in the Pen is well and truly on. There will no doubt be a few late evenings in the workshop over the coming days, but that’s all part of preparing for one of our favourite events of the year.

serena pugh painting waiting to be framed

When you visit our stand in Skipton, you’ll see the finished paintings hanging proudly on the walls. What you won’t see are the days spent waiting for paint to dry, the conversations over which frame colour is just right, or the careful finishing touches that happen behind the scenes.

But perhaps that’s the point.

When everything comes together perfectly, all you notice is the painting.

If These Walls Could Talk…

July 31, 2026August 4, 2026 / SerenArts Gallery / Leave a comment

If these walls could talk, they would have quite a story to tell.

tithe barn area during commune in the 1970s

Today, visitors wander through the Tithebarn Workshops, popping into galleries, studios and independent shops, often commenting on the beautiful stone buildings and wondering just how old they are. It’s easy to imagine they’ve always looked this welcoming.

But these walls have lived many lives.

view of the tithebarn workshops from barton house

Long before paintings adorned the walls and visitors browsed for handmade gifts, these buildings were working cow byres belonging to Barton Farm. They echoed with very different sounds – the rattle of milk churns, the clatter of tractors and the unmistakable soundtrack of a busy farm. Some of our locals still remember the days as a working farm.

tithebarn workshops (cow sheds) before the windows were put in

Looking at these old photographs from the 1970s and 1980s is like opening a time capsule.

The first thing that strikes you is just how different everything was, yet very fimiliar. Before there were shop windows, there were open-fronted cattle sheds. Before there were flower pots and visitors enjoying coffee in the sunshine, there were muddy tracks, piles of stone, building materials and the occasional rather battered-looking work vehicles.

It’s difficult to imagine that the gallery where Serena now spends her days painting was once home to livestock rather than landscapes.

The photographs of the renovation work are perhaps the most fascinating. You can see the transformation beginning to take shape as windows are carefully added to the old stone buildings. It’s a reminder that preserving history isn’t about freezing it in time – sometimes it’s about giving it a whole new purpose while respecting everything that came before.

tithebarn workshops - work to put the fronts in and windows

And what a wonderful purpose these old buildings have found.

Today, instead of housing cattle, they provide homes for artists, makers and craftspeople. Creativity has replaced farming, but in many ways the spirit hasn’t changed. These workshops are still places where people work with their hands, where skill is passed on, and where every day brings something new.

We often think history belongs in museums, but sometimes it’s quietly all around us. Every stone in these buildings has witnessed decades of change, from farm life to restoration, and now to a thriving community of independent businesses that welcomes visitors from all over the world.

We feel incredibly lucky to play a small part in that continuing story.

So next time you visit SerenArts Gallery, perhaps spare a thought for the generations who worked here before us. The walls may not be able to talk, but if they could, we’re sure they’d have plenty more stories to share.

And who knows… perhaps one day, someone will look back at photographs of today’s gallery and wonder what life was like here in the 2020s.

Let’s hope they notice that at least one thing hasn’t changed… these old buildings are still full of life.

The Wait Is Over… We Have Our Pen Number! 🎉

July 14, 2026 / SerenArts Gallery / Leave a comment

For the last few weeks we’ve been eagerly checking our emails, wondering where we’d be for this year’s 20th Anniversary Art in the Pen. After all the anticipation… the wait is finally over!

🥁 Drumroll please… we’re in Pen 163!

serena pugh - pen number 163 - art in the pen 2026

We’ll be exhibiting in Pen 163, right in the heart of Aisle Four, and we couldn’t be happier with the location. It’s a fantastic position where visitors naturally flow through the exhibition, and we’re already imagining the walls filled with Serena’s latest original paintings.

If you’re planning a visit, make a note now…

📍 Pen 163 – Aisle Four

Come and say hello—we’d love to meet you!

This year’s event is especially exciting as Art in the Pen celebrates its 20th birthday.

For two decades the event has become one of the country’s favourite art fairs, bringing together hundreds of talented artists inside the unique setting of Skipton Auction Mart. It’s always one of the highlights of our year, so being part of this special anniversary feels like a real privilege.

We’re looking forward to sharing the celebrations with fellow artists and visitors from all over the country.

serena pugh artist instagram at art in the pen

We’ll be filling Pen 163 with a brand new collection of original paintings, including fresh canal scenes, vibrant sunsets and atmospheric landscapes inspired by the places Serena loves to paint.

The countdown has officially begun!

📅 Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th August 2026
📍 Skipton Auction Mart
🎨 Come and find us in Pen 163!

See you in Skipton!

Art After Hours Returns to Tithebarn Workshops

July 12, 2026 / SerenArts Gallery / Leave a comment

Following the fantastic success of June’s inaugural Art After Hours, Tithebarn Workshops in Bradford on Avon is delighted to announce the return of this popular creative evening on Saturday 1st August.

Art After Hours Invites to the Tithebarn Workshops

Running from 4.00pm until 8.00pm, Art After Hours offers a relaxed and inspiring opportunity to explore one of the town’s most vibrant creative hubs. Visitors can enjoy an evening of art, music, food and drink while meeting the talented artists and makers who work from the studios.

From midday onwards, a range of drop-in creative workshop tasters will be available, giving visitors the chance to try their hand at activities including Cubism portrait painting, fused glass tile making and pottery throwing. No previous experience is needed, making it a great opportunity to discover a new creative hobby.

Throughout the evening, the studios will remain open, accompanied by live music, delicious, locally sourced food from Vixys Café and drinks available from our legendary, licensed Garden Bar.

Whether you’re looking to get creative, enjoy a summer evening with friends in our beautiful garden, or simply soak up the atmosphere, Art After Hours promises a welcoming and memorable experience for visitors of all ages (workshop participants must be 18+).

Art After Hours

Saturday 1st August

4.00pm – 8.00pm

Tithebarn Workshops, Pound Lane, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1LF

Come along to eat, drink, create, and celebrate Bradford on Avon’s thriving artistic community.

Art in the Pen 2026 – Let the Adventure Begin!

July 8, 2026 / SerenArts Gallery / Leave a comment

It’s only just over 5 weeks to go before Art in the Pen and there’s always a little flutter of excitement before a big art fair, and this year it’s all about one thing… waiting to find out our pen number! Every exhibitor knows that moment when the layout is released and you start imagining how your gallery will come together and planning your layout. Wherever we end up, we can’t wait to transform our little corner of Skipton Auction Mart into a welcoming space filled with Serena’s vibrant, original paintings.

Even before the doors open, there’s a real buzz surrounding this year’s event because Art in the Pen is celebrating its 20th anniversary. What began as a unique idea—turning livestock pens into beautiful art galleries—has become one of the country’s most loved art fairs, attracting hundreds of talented artists and thousands of visitors each August.

Andy and his amazing team have already been sharing glimpses of this years exhibitors, and it’s incredible to think how quickly the empty cattle pens become bright, colourful exhibition spaces.

One thing that makes this year even more special for us is that it will be the first proper trip away in our lovely new camper van, Vinnie! We’ve been looking forward to taking him on his maiden art fair adventure, and what better destination than beautiful Skipton? No frantic hotel check-ins or endless unpacking—just the open road, a cosy home on wheels and a weekend surrounded by creativity. We’re sure Vinnie is going to become a regular companion on our exhibition travels!

Of course, the real highlight will be meeting everyone over the weekend. Art in the Pen is one of those rare events where visitors can chat directly with the artists, discover the stories behind each piece and take home something truly original. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply looking for a unique piece for your home, it’s a wonderfully friendly event with something to inspire everyone.

serena pugh at art in the pen - book your tickets

If you’re planning to visit, don’t leave it too late. This landmark 20th anniversary promises to be one of the biggest and best yet, with over 200 artists and makers filling the auction mart over the weekend of 15–16 August.

And finally… here’s a little reminder of where all the magic begins—an ordinary auction mart that, for one weekend, becomes one of the most exciting art destinations in the country.

We’ll be sharing plenty of behind-the-scenes photos as we set up our pen, reveal our stand number, and settle Vinnie into his first exhibition adventure. If you’re visiting Art in the Pen this year, be sure to stop by and say hello—we’d love to meet you, chat about the inspiration behind the paintings, and help you find a piece that brings a little of the countryside into your home.

See you in Skipton!

Thank you Chester

May 3, 2026 / SerenArts Gallery / Leave a comment

Our recent trip to the Fusion Art Fair at the stunning Chester Racecourse proved to be a highly successful and rewarding experience. Marking the event’s debut in the beautiful city of Chester, the fair was exceptionally well organised and showcased the work of over 60 artists across a diverse range of media.

serena pugh at fusion art fair chester 2026

While Saturday was relatively quiet—no doubt influenced by the unusually fine weather—Sunday saw a significant increase in attendance. This resulted in strong sales and provided valuable opportunities to engage with both prospective buyers and art enthusiasts.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Joanne and her outstanding team for their professionalism and meticulous organisation. Their efforts ensured a seamless and enjoyable event for exhibitors and visitors alike. We would be delighted to participate in future events organised by Fusion.

Our next stop is Teddington, London, where we will be exhibiting at the Landmark Spring Art Fair from 15th to 17th May. We look forward to welcoming you there.

Word is Spreading…

April 11, 2026 / SerenArts Gallery / Leave a comment

Word is spreading about SerenArts Gallery duck and swan food available at the Tithebarn Workshops.

These three have become regulars and taken up temporary residence in the gardens here. With a fresh water supply via Vixy’s Cafe dog bowls and lots of attention from customers, they have everything they need!

serenarts gallery duck and swan food regulars

SerenArts Gallery

part of the Tithebarn Workshops

General

What a Day! Our Autumn Fayre Was a Great Success!

Like this: