• Saturday 6th June – Sunday 30th August 2026
• Main Gallery
• In collaboration with Impressions Gallery

Costing the Earth aims to highlight the negative and damaging environmental effects of fast fashion on our planet and the small actions we can do to make a positive difference. 

Costing the Earth is a group show presenting artwork of artists Mandy Barker, Alice Fox, Hannah Lamb and Atiyya Mirza, amplifying different ways artists are tackling the climate crisis. The four artists work with recycled or sustainably sourced materials to create photographic images, sculpture and textile artworks.

The cornerstone to Costing the Earth is Mandy Barker’s Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Imperfections, a homage to the work of pioneering botanist and photographer Anna Atkins (1799-1871) using a Victorian photographic process. Through this body of work Barker hopes to raise awareness of fast fashion, synthetic clothes, and the harmful effect of microfibres in the oceans.

Mandy collected fragments of disregarded synthetic clothing from 121 beaches, from John o’ Groats to Land’s End, highlighting that no coastline is exempt from plastic pollution. The items found range from jackets to dressing-up outfits, football shirts to underwear, salvaged from beaches, rockpools and directly from the sea. The items are representative of millions of tonnes of clothes manufactured and discarded each year.

Mandy Barker says, “It is my intention that conversation around Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Imperfections will lead to action and a shift within the fashion industry, with the aim of achieving an impact that will go on to change the world.”

Alice Fox looks at technical innovation while also revisiting ancient and Indigenous technologies that could shape a more sustainable future. Alice’s artwork explores the idea of creating a safety net for the world, using different materials for net making, from repurposed polyester fabric to hand twisted string from allotment grown plant fibres.

Great Women Chilling, a playful textile piece by Atiyya Mirza, explores womanhood, empowerment, independence and identity, inspired by the women in Mirza’s family. Atiyya uses scrap fabrics she has collected over many years and found materials, exploring ways of working sustainabily when creating artwork.

Fragments of a Dress draws from the precious scraps of clothing associated with the Brontë family, especially Charlotte Brontë, in the collection at the Brontë Parsonage Museum. Hannah Lamb invited visitors to the museum to share stories about a significant item of clothing that they treasure, leaving a hand written note about the item and what it means to them. These touching and highly personal responses have been carefully embroidered onto silk organza, overlapping and layering a mesh of memories.

Hannah Lamb says, “Textiles and clothing can hold powerful memories, reminding us of people, places and special moments in our lives. Today, despite living in world of ‘fast-fashion’ and disposable attitudes to clothing, many of us still keep hold of things that help us to remember.”

The four artists have been invited to present existing work that reflects the exhibition’s broader vision of encouraging reuse, repurposing, and recycling.

Costing the Earth is an Impressions Gallery offsite exhibition in partnership with South Square Centre, part of Impression’s Summer of Sustainability.

Curated by Jane Hiley.

Image credit top: Gigartina Sunday, Photographs of British Algae, Cyanotype Imperfections © Mandy Barker

• Saturday 18th July – Sunday 6th September
• Plenty at the Square

Come to the cafe and see the new exhibition of work by Saima Kaur.

Saima is a Yorkshire based hand embroidery artist. Her visual language is informed by the imaginative beauty and diversity of Indian folk art. 

Her artworks for this exhibition are set in dreamspaces where women dance, play and express their innate power. The works invite the viewer to tap into their childlike imagination and enter places where everything is magical and full of possibilities.

Each artwork is a limited edition print of an original hand embroidery, signed and numbered by the artist. 

To discover more about Saima and her work, visit www.saimakaur.com

The cafe is open, Tues – Sun: 9.30am – 3.30pm
Monday – Closed

Please note – the cafe will be closed from 17th August to 2nd September

• Running: Friday 7th August – Sunday 30th August 2026
• The Gallery Upstairs

A series of paintings by Richard Jack Mort covering abstracts and portraits mainly in acrylic. Richard uses the canvas as a three-dimensional object in space to be carved into and appliqued on. Investigating the use of colour in several idioms. To see more of Richard’s work head to painters-online.co.uk

• Saturday 18th July – Sunday 6th September
• Plenty at the Square

Come to the cafe and see the new exhibition of work by Saima Kaur.

Saima is a Yorkshire based hand embroidery artist. Her visual language is informed by the imaginative beauty and diversity of Indian folk art. 

Her artworks for this exhibition are set in dreamspaces where women dance, play and express their innate power. The works invite the viewer to tap into their childlike imagination and enter places where everything is magical and full of possibilities.

Each artwork is a limited edition print of an original hand embroidery, signed and numbered by the artist. 

To discover more about Saima and her work, visit www.saimakaur.com

The cafe is open, Tues – Sun: 9.30am – 3.30pm
Monday – Closed

Please note – the cafe will be closed from 17th August to 2nd September

• Friday 4th September 2026, 6pm – 9pm

Join South Square in celebrating the opening of Here, Somehow – the first solo show by Joan Day Bursary Award winner Jenny Bratt, and Patterns & People, a Unit 9 exhibition by Kate Stewart. Our exhibition openings are free, and drinks will be available at our pop-up bar. Visitors are encouraged to explore the works in conversation with the artists, who will be in the gallery.

Here, Somehow is a celebration of the people, places, and quiet moments that shape everyday life in Armley, Leeds. Inspired by the neighbourhood and the people who call it home, Jenny Bratt’s paintings capture domestic scenes with warmth, curiosity, and affection. They are paintings of and for the community they emerge from.

Jenny’s work will be shown in the main gallery at South Square.

Kate Stewart‘s work draws from the similarities between natural shapes found in the world and the body. In Patterns & People, she meditatively draws shapes such as bronchi in the lungs, the patterns of winter trees and aerial photos of river tributaries to explore the ‘patterns of the universe’, and themes of impermanence.

Kate’s work will be shown in the Gallery Upstairs.

Location and access

Both exhibitions will be held at South Square Centre, Thornton Road, BD13 3LS. The centre can be accessed easily via public transport. There is free on street parking around the centre.

A chairlift is accessible to the Community Room.

Contact

Any questions please call South Square on 01274 834737 or email us at [email protected] , we will be happy to help you!

Drawings, paintings and fabric pieces

• Running: Friday 4th September – Wednesday 30th September 2026
• The Gallery Upstairs

About a year ago I came across the phrase ‘patterns of the universe’ that drew attention to the startling similarities between bronchi in the lungs, the patterns of winter trees and aerial photos of river tributaries and I started to draw some of those patterns as accurately as I could. Once I accepted that these drawings might take a long time, which is possible when you are drawing from a photo rather than trying to catch a fleeting scene in plein air, I began to appreciate the meditative quality of drawing; a quality that has been useful during the last few months of my husband’s illness and death. In my practice I draw alongside my textile work, and I have always depicted people, so together with the patterns I started a long series of detailed pencil drawings on fabric of individuals from photos, and am pleased with the resulting transparency and sense of impermanence.

Unit 9 Gallery, South Square Centre. Opening night Friday 4th September 6-9pm 

• Opening Friday 4th September 2026, 6pm – 9pm
• Exhibition open: Saturday 5th September – Sunday 1st November 2026
• Meet the Artist: Saturday 26th September 12pm – 2pm

Here, Somehow is the first solo show by Jenny Bratt, the winner of the Joan Day Bursary Award.

Here, Somehow is a celebration of the people, places, and quiet moments that shape everyday life in Armley, Leeds. Inspired by the neighbourhood and the people who call it home, Jenny Bratt’s paintings capture domestic scenes with warmth, curiosity, and affection. They are paintings of and for the community they emerge from.

In a place where you can’t go down the road without seeing someone you know, connections are woven into daily life. Bratt’s work reflects these networks of neighbours, conversations, whispered rumours, and chance encounters, revealing how communities are built through ordinary moments and enduring relationships. Her practice creates space for stories to be exchanged, recognised, and reflected in the quiet experiences that often go unnoticed.

The red-brick streets of Armley become more than a backdrop. They are places where lives unfold, where families make homes, and where the overlooked details of everyday experience become worthy of attention. These are the streets where people live when the polished suburbs are out of reach, yet they are rich with character and resilience.

Bratt’s paintings invite us into secret scenes of daily life: fleeting encounters, familiar corners, and small narratives that might otherwise pass unnoticed. They evoke a sense of recognition without ever fully explaining themselves, leaving space for viewers to bring their own memories and experiences. They remind us that belonging is with the people we know, the places we return to, and the everyday moments that somehow become home.

On Saturday 26 September, join us at South Square to meet the artist herself, and South Square’s Programme and Gallery Manager, Domino Canton-Oakley. Together, they’ll share the story behind the exhibition, from how it came together to the ideas and inspirations behind Jenny’s work.

This free drop-in event runs from 12pm–2pm, so come by anytime to take part.

• Friday 11th September – Sunday 1st November
• Plenty at the Square

Patti Smith is a fine artist living and working in Burley in Wharfedale. Patti is a former Head of Art, having taught in a north Leeds school for many years. She completed an M.A. in
Fine Art at Leeds Beckett University, Leeds. More recently, Patti has discovered the
fascinating and intuitive properties of clay, focusing her practice on the creation of
wall plaques reimagined as mutated flowers and figures. Patti had the first showing of
her ceramic pieces at the Loading Bay, Bradford last December.

Patti’s practice is inspired by family connections rooted in the ex-mining town of
Mansfield, where she grew up surrounded by the heavy trappings of industry.
From this she has been drawn to create surrealistic works that pursue the idea of how
nature may mutate when exposed to environmental pollution. Each piece has its
own narrative which plays out during the making process.

The Elizabethan figures emerged as Patti made a visual link with the flowerlike ruff. She sees this historical period as the launchpad for modern technology, which fundamentally
extracted heavy human cost. The attached skulls, hearts and flowers to symbolise
the weight of technological progress and the human cost embedded within its history.
Central to Patti’s creative practice has been her belief in observing beauty, whether it be
found in a flower, an old radio valve set or in an industrial setting. Working with clay
has allowed her to give physical form to her imagination through sculpted forms,
glazes and intricate textures. Patti uses these qualities to harness the narrative within the
material, inviting contemplation through the presence of the clay itself.

---

As part of the exhibition programme, we are hosting The Art of Eating event. Our friends at Plenty at the Square will be designing a 4-course menu, inspired by Patti’s artworks. Find out more and book here.

• Saturday 26 September 2026, 10.30am-12.30pm
• Unit 4, South Square Centre, Thornton, BD13 3LD
• Tickets

Create your own pair of beautiful fused glass suncatchers in this relaxed, creative workshop led by South Square studio holder Jade Tapson.
In this 2-hour session, you’ll design and make two elegant hanging suncatchers (approx. 15cm x 5cm each), perfect for catching the light and adding a splash of colour to your home.

Using a selection of coloured glass, frits, confetti, and stringers, you’ll explore layering, texture, and pattern to create your own unique designs. Whether you prefer delicate florals, abstract compositions, or bold colour combinations, you’ll be guided step by step through the process.

Your finished pieces will be kiln-fired after the session and fitted with ribbon, ready to sparkle in your window. No previous experience is needed. This workshop is suitable for complete beginners as well as those with some glass experience.
A wonderful way to slow down, get creative, and make something truly one of a kind.

Bookings: To book your place online, visit: Fused Glass Suncatchers Workshop – 26 September 2026

The workshop will take place in Jade’s Studio, Unit 4, at South Square Centre.

What’s Included
● A hands-on, creative workshop with guidance – suitable for complete beginners.
● Two personalised fused suncatchers (approx. 15cm x 5cm) included in your ticket price.
● All materials and tools provided.
● Your pieces will be fired in the kiln and ready for collection within two weeks.
● Not able to collect? Delivery can be arranged on the day for £5.
● Maximum of 10 students per session
● Participants must be 10+ years old, and under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.
What to Prepare
● Please wear suitable clothing and closed-toe shoes.
● You may want to bring ideas or reference images.
Pricing
● £32 per person – 2-hour workshop.
● £5 – Optional postage (arranged on the day).
Refunds & Cancellations
● 90% refund available for cancellations made more than 28 days in advance.
● 50% refund for cancellations made up to 7 days in advance.
● No refunds for cancellations less than 7 days before the workshop.

Any questions? Contact [email protected]

Images: glass workshop © Jade Tapson

• Saturday 26th September 12pm – 2pm

On Saturday 26 September, join us at South Square to meet the artist Jenny Bratt, at her first solo exhibition, Here, Somehow. Along with South Square’s Programme and Gallery Manager, Domino Canton-Oakley, together, they’ll share the story behind the exhibition, from how it came together to the ideas and inspirations behind Jenny’s work.

This free drop-in event runs from 12pm–2pm, so come by anytime to take part.

Here, Somehow is the first solo show by Jenny Bratt, the winner of the Joan Day Bursary Award.

Here, Somehow is a celebration of the people, places, and quiet moments that shape everyday life in Armley, Leeds. Inspired by the neighbourhood and the people who call it home, Jenny Bratt’s paintings capture domestic scenes with warmth, curiosity, and affection. They are paintings of and for the community they emerge from.

In a place where you can’t go down the road without seeing someone you know, connections are woven into daily life. Bratt’s work reflects these networks of neighbours, conversations, whispered rumours, and chance encounters, revealing how communities are built through ordinary moments and enduring relationships. Her practice creates space for stories to be exchanged, recognised, and reflected in the quiet experiences that often go unnoticed.

The red-brick streets of Armley become more than a backdrop. They are places where lives unfold, where families make homes, and where the overlooked details of everyday experience become worthy of attention. These are the streets where people live when the polished suburbs are out of reach, yet they are rich with character and resilience.

Bratt’s paintings invite us into secret scenes of daily life: fleeting encounters, familiar corners, and small narratives that might otherwise pass unnoticed. They evoke a sense of recognition without ever fully explaining themselves, leaving space for viewers to bring their own memories and experiences. They remind us that belonging is with the people we know, the places we return to, and the everyday moments that somehow become home.

• Opening Friday 4th September 2026, 6pm – 9pm
• Exhibition open: Saturday 5th September – Sunday 1st November 2026
• Meet the Artist: Saturday 26th September 12pm – 2pm

Here, Somehow is the first solo show by Jenny Bratt, the winner of the Joan Day Bursary Award.

Here, Somehow is a celebration of the people, places, and quiet moments that shape everyday life in Armley, Leeds. Inspired by the neighbourhood and the people who call it home, Jenny Bratt’s paintings capture domestic scenes with warmth, curiosity, and affection. They are paintings of and for the community they emerge from.

In a place where you can’t go down the road without seeing someone you know, connections are woven into daily life. Bratt’s work reflects these networks of neighbours, conversations, whispered rumours, and chance encounters, revealing how communities are built through ordinary moments and enduring relationships. Her practice creates space for stories to be exchanged, recognised, and reflected in the quiet experiences that often go unnoticed.

The red-brick streets of Armley become more than a backdrop. They are places where lives unfold, where families make homes, and where the overlooked details of everyday experience become worthy of attention. These are the streets where people live when the polished suburbs are out of reach, yet they are rich with character and resilience.

Bratt’s paintings invite us into secret scenes of daily life: fleeting encounters, familiar corners, and small narratives that might otherwise pass unnoticed. They evoke a sense of recognition without ever fully explaining themselves, leaving space for viewers to bring their own memories and experiences. They remind us that belonging is with the people we know, the places we return to, and the everyday moments that somehow become home.

On Saturday 26 September, join us at South Square to meet the artist herself, and South Square’s Programme and Gallery Manager, Domino Canton-Oakley. Together, they’ll share the story behind the exhibition, from how it came together to the ideas and inspirations behind Jenny’s work.

This free drop-in event runs from 12pm–2pm, so come by anytime to take part.

• Friday 11th September – Sunday 1st November
• Plenty at the Square

Patti Smith is a fine artist living and working in Burley in Wharfedale. Patti is a former Head of Art, having taught in a north Leeds school for many years. She completed an M.A. in
Fine Art at Leeds Beckett University, Leeds. More recently, Patti has discovered the
fascinating and intuitive properties of clay, focusing her practice on the creation of
wall plaques reimagined as mutated flowers and figures. Patti had the first showing of
her ceramic pieces at the Loading Bay, Bradford last December.

Patti’s practice is inspired by family connections rooted in the ex-mining town of
Mansfield, where she grew up surrounded by the heavy trappings of industry.
From this she has been drawn to create surrealistic works that pursue the idea of how
nature may mutate when exposed to environmental pollution. Each piece has its
own narrative which plays out during the making process.

The Elizabethan figures emerged as Patti made a visual link with the flowerlike ruff. She sees this historical period as the launchpad for modern technology, which fundamentally
extracted heavy human cost. The attached skulls, hearts and flowers to symbolise
the weight of technological progress and the human cost embedded within its history.
Central to Patti’s creative practice has been her belief in observing beauty, whether it be
found in a flower, an old radio valve set or in an industrial setting. Working with clay
has allowed her to give physical form to her imagination through sculpted forms,
glazes and intricate textures. Patti uses these qualities to harness the narrative within the
material, inviting contemplation through the presence of the clay itself.

---

As part of the exhibition programme, we are hosting The Art of Eating event. Our friends at Plenty at the Square will be designing a 4-course menu, inspired by Patti’s artworks. Find out more and book here.

• Running: Friday 2nd October – Sunday 1st November 2026
• The Gallery Upstairs

Steve is a printmaker & photographer using both digital and film, together with various physical and chemical methods of manipulating and reimagining the images captured. Steve has for some time been interested in phenomena which are inherently fragile or fleeting, and the ways of rendering them more visible and permanent. The work being shown is a snapshot of some of the ways in which he has been approaching these ideas. 

Unit 9 Gallery, South Square Centre. Opening night Friday 2nd October 6-9pm 

Join artist Patti Smith and the team from Plenty at the Square, in this Food and Art event where artworks inspire a set menu.

Join us in a group dining experience like no other!

At ‘The Art of Eating’, you will experience a 4-course meal which is inspired by the ceramic artworks in the exhibition by artist Patti Smith, which will be on display in Plenty at the Square.

Not only will you have a chance to see the work, you will ‘eat’ the work too. The cafe team have taken inspiration from the artworks to create a bespoke vegan/vegetarian meal. They’ll be links to the colours, the themes, and the shapes of the pieces, which you will see reflected on your plate.

You will also hear directly from the artist who will talk about her ceramics, her inspirations and her exhibition as a whole, alongside the Curator and Programme Manager of South Square also.

This will be a night full of artworks, food, conversation and more.

Book your tickets now for ‘The Art of Eating.’

Please note – the set menu will be vegetarian and vegan.

Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements.

Please note – The menu will be announced asap. The images shown are for promotional use only.

TICKETS – please read:

The cost of the evening is £55 per person. This covers your 4 course meal and one free cocktails (alcoholic and non alcoholic options)

A non-refundable deposit of £10 per person is required to confirm your booking, and the remaining £45 will be taken on the night on arrival.

Any additional drinks will be paid to the cafe directly.

About the artist:

Patti Smith is a fine artist living and working in Burley in Wharfedale. Patti is a former Head of Art, having taught in a north Leeds school for many years. She completed an M.A. in Fine Art at Leeds Beckett University, Leeds. More recently, Patti has discovered the fascinating and intuitive properties of clay, focusing my practice on the creation of wall plaques reimagined as mutated flowers and figures. Patti had the first showing of her ceramic pieces at the Loading Bay, Bradford last December.

Patti’s practice is inspired by family connections rooted in the ex-mining town of
Mansfield, the town where she grew up surrounded by the heavy trappings of industry. From this Patti has been drawn to create surrealistic works that pursue the idea of how nature may mutate when exposed to environmental pollution. Each piece has its own narrative which plays out during the making process.

Location and access:

The centre can be accessed easily via public transport. There is free on street parking around the centre. There is an on-site vegetarian café, Plenty, where refreshments and lunch can be purchased.

Contact

Any questions please call South Square on 01274 834737 or email us at [email protected] , we will be happy to help you!

Friday 27th October 2026, 10:30am – 1:30pm

FREE Family Craft Drop-In invites you to create our future exhibition… Vespertine Garden!

Vespertine Garden is an ambitious new immersive installation exploring the hidden worlds of urban wildlife and the urgent need to protect the ecosystems we share.

Developed with children and young people in Bradford, the project invites audiences to experience the city’s overlooked nocturnal landscapes through the eyes of the creatures that emerge at dusk; like bats, hedgehogs, foxes, owls, moths and nocturnal plants.

We will set up a craft table for painting and sculpting plants and animals that will become part of our scenery. The materials are free, and the event is suitable for all ages – parents included!

This is a great way for kids to take some time to play and make, and for their creations to be exhibited collectively in the main gallery. Everything made in the workshop will be on display in the exhibition, so make sure to come back to the gallery to find your creations in the magical garden!

Please note – a guardian / adult should be with the children at all times.

We encourage you to book your free place here

Accessibility:

The session will be in the community room, this is on the first floor. If anyone needs step free access we have a stair lift that can be used. Chairs will also be provided for anyone that would prefer to be seated during the session.

Location and access:

The session will be held in the upstairs community room at South Square Centre, Thornton Road, BD13 3LS.

A chairlift is accessible to the Community Room.

The centre can be accessed easily via public transport. There is free on street parking around the centre. There is an on-site vegetarian café, Plenty, where refreshments and lunch can be purchased.

Contact

Any questions please call South Square on 01274 834737 or email us at [email protected] , we will be happy to help you!

• Opening Friday 4th September 2026, 6pm – 9pm
• Exhibition open: Saturday 5th September – Sunday 1st November 2026
• Meet the Artist: Saturday 26th September 12pm – 2pm

Here, Somehow is the first solo show by Jenny Bratt, the winner of the Joan Day Bursary Award.

Here, Somehow is a celebration of the people, places, and quiet moments that shape everyday life in Armley, Leeds. Inspired by the neighbourhood and the people who call it home, Jenny Bratt’s paintings capture domestic scenes with warmth, curiosity, and affection. They are paintings of and for the community they emerge from.

In a place where you can’t go down the road without seeing someone you know, connections are woven into daily life. Bratt’s work reflects these networks of neighbours, conversations, whispered rumours, and chance encounters, revealing how communities are built through ordinary moments and enduring relationships. Her practice creates space for stories to be exchanged, recognised, and reflected in the quiet experiences that often go unnoticed.

The red-brick streets of Armley become more than a backdrop. They are places where lives unfold, where families make homes, and where the overlooked details of everyday experience become worthy of attention. These are the streets where people live when the polished suburbs are out of reach, yet they are rich with character and resilience.

Bratt’s paintings invite us into secret scenes of daily life: fleeting encounters, familiar corners, and small narratives that might otherwise pass unnoticed. They evoke a sense of recognition without ever fully explaining themselves, leaving space for viewers to bring their own memories and experiences. They remind us that belonging is with the people we know, the places we return to, and the everyday moments that somehow become home.

On Saturday 26 September, join us at South Square to meet the artist herself, and South Square’s Programme and Gallery Manager, Domino Canton-Oakley. Together, they’ll share the story behind the exhibition, from how it came together to the ideas and inspirations behind Jenny’s work.

This free drop-in event runs from 12pm–2pm, so come by anytime to take part.

• Friday 11th September – Sunday 1st November
• Plenty at the Square

Patti Smith is a fine artist living and working in Burley in Wharfedale. Patti is a former Head of Art, having taught in a north Leeds school for many years. She completed an M.A. in
Fine Art at Leeds Beckett University, Leeds. More recently, Patti has discovered the
fascinating and intuitive properties of clay, focusing her practice on the creation of
wall plaques reimagined as mutated flowers and figures. Patti had the first showing of
her ceramic pieces at the Loading Bay, Bradford last December.

Patti’s practice is inspired by family connections rooted in the ex-mining town of
Mansfield, where she grew up surrounded by the heavy trappings of industry.
From this she has been drawn to create surrealistic works that pursue the idea of how
nature may mutate when exposed to environmental pollution. Each piece has its
own narrative which plays out during the making process.

The Elizabethan figures emerged as Patti made a visual link with the flowerlike ruff. She sees this historical period as the launchpad for modern technology, which fundamentally
extracted heavy human cost. The attached skulls, hearts and flowers to symbolise
the weight of technological progress and the human cost embedded within its history.
Central to Patti’s creative practice has been her belief in observing beauty, whether it be
found in a flower, an old radio valve set or in an industrial setting. Working with clay
has allowed her to give physical form to her imagination through sculpted forms,
glazes and intricate textures. Patti uses these qualities to harness the narrative within the
material, inviting contemplation through the presence of the clay itself.

---

As part of the exhibition programme, we are hosting The Art of Eating event. Our friends at Plenty at the Square will be designing a 4-course menu, inspired by Patti’s artworks. Find out more and book here.

• Running: Friday 2nd October – Sunday 1st November 2026
• The Gallery Upstairs

Steve is a printmaker & photographer using both digital and film, together with various physical and chemical methods of manipulating and reimagining the images captured. Steve has for some time been interested in phenomena which are inherently fragile or fleeting, and the ways of rendering them more visible and permanent. The work being shown is a snapshot of some of the ways in which he has been approaching these ideas. 

Unit 9 Gallery, South Square Centre. Opening night Friday 2nd October 6-9pm 

• Main Gallery
• Exhibition launch: Friday 6th November 2026
• Last date to view: Sunday 28th February 2027

Vespertine Garden is an ambitious new immersive installation exploring the hidden worlds of urban wildlife and the urgent need to protect the ecosystems we share.

Developed with children and young people in Bradford, the project invites audiences to experience the city’s overlooked nocturnal landscapes through the eyes of the creatures that emerge at dusk. The term vespertine describes species that are active in the evening — including bats, hedgehogs, foxes, owls, moths and nocturnal plants — neighbours whose habitats are increasingly under threat.

Through a series of creative workshops led by Bradford-based artists Amy and Emma-Jo Bairstow, local school pupils have explored biodiversity loss, environmental challenges and practical ways to support wildlife in their own communities. Combining hands-on making with ecological learning, the project encourages a new way of seeing familiar spaces: not simply as places designed for humans, but as shared habitats that require care, attention and stewardship.

The project culminates in a captivating immersive installation at South Square Centre from November 2026 to February 2027. A glowing twilight environment of UV-lit neon sculptural plants and creatures, handcrafted from paper and recycled cardboard, will transform the gallery into a magical landscape where the hidden vespertine world is brought vividly to life. Visitors will journey through this enchanting habitat accompanied by a bespoke soundscape created by local sound artist Fran Bundy, using foraged sounds gathered from the local environment.

Blending artistic innovation, environmental education and local collaboration, Vespertine Garden celebrates the power of art to inspire curiosity, empathy and meaningful change. It offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with the wildlife around us and imagine new ways of caring for the ecosystems on our doorstep.

Opening night

The exhibition will launch on Friday 6 November, and everyone is welcome to join us for opening night. To make sure everyone can enjoy the installation comfortably, we’ll have timed slots available to book. We’ll share the link to book your spot in the coming weeks.

You’ll then have plenty of time to explore Vespertine Garden, with the final viewing date on Sunday 28 February 2027.

This project was inspired by Neon Garden, presented by Art Works at Barnsley Civic Centre.

• Main Gallery
• Exhibition launch: Friday 6th November 2026
• Last date to view: Sunday 28th February 2027

Vespertine Garden is an ambitious new immersive installation exploring the hidden worlds of urban wildlife and the urgent need to protect the ecosystems we share.

Developed with children and young people in Bradford, the project invites audiences to experience the city’s overlooked nocturnal landscapes through the eyes of the creatures that emerge at dusk. The term vespertine describes species that are active in the evening — including bats, hedgehogs, foxes, owls, moths and nocturnal plants — neighbours whose habitats are increasingly under threat.

Through a series of creative workshops led by Bradford-based artists Amy and Emma-Jo Bairstow, local school pupils have explored biodiversity loss, environmental challenges and practical ways to support wildlife in their own communities. Combining hands-on making with ecological learning, the project encourages a new way of seeing familiar spaces: not simply as places designed for humans, but as shared habitats that require care, attention and stewardship.

The project culminates in a captivating immersive installation at South Square Centre from November 2026 to February 2027. A glowing twilight environment of UV-lit neon sculptural plants and creatures, handcrafted from paper and recycled cardboard, will transform the gallery into a magical landscape where the hidden vespertine world is brought vividly to life. Visitors will journey through this enchanting habitat accompanied by a bespoke soundscape created by local sound artist Fran Bundy, using foraged sounds gathered from the local environment.

Blending artistic innovation, environmental education and local collaboration, Vespertine Garden celebrates the power of art to inspire curiosity, empathy and meaningful change. It offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with the wildlife around us and imagine new ways of caring for the ecosystems on our doorstep.

Opening night

The exhibition will launch on Friday 6 November, and everyone is welcome to join us for opening night. To make sure everyone can enjoy the installation comfortably, we’ll have timed slots available to book. We’ll share the link to book your spot in the coming weeks.

You’ll then have plenty of time to explore Vespertine Garden, with the final viewing date on Sunday 28 February 2027.

This project was inspired by Neon Garden, presented by Art Works at Barnsley Civic Centre.

• Main Gallery
• Exhibition launch: Friday 6th November 2026
• Last date to view: Sunday 28th February 2027

Vespertine Garden is an ambitious new immersive installation exploring the hidden worlds of urban wildlife and the urgent need to protect the ecosystems we share.

Developed with children and young people in Bradford, the project invites audiences to experience the city’s overlooked nocturnal landscapes through the eyes of the creatures that emerge at dusk. The term vespertine describes species that are active in the evening — including bats, hedgehogs, foxes, owls, moths and nocturnal plants — neighbours whose habitats are increasingly under threat.

Through a series of creative workshops led by Bradford-based artists Amy and Emma-Jo Bairstow, local school pupils have explored biodiversity loss, environmental challenges and practical ways to support wildlife in their own communities. Combining hands-on making with ecological learning, the project encourages a new way of seeing familiar spaces: not simply as places designed for humans, but as shared habitats that require care, attention and stewardship.

The project culminates in a captivating immersive installation at South Square Centre from November 2026 to February 2027. A glowing twilight environment of UV-lit neon sculptural plants and creatures, handcrafted from paper and recycled cardboard, will transform the gallery into a magical landscape where the hidden vespertine world is brought vividly to life. Visitors will journey through this enchanting habitat accompanied by a bespoke soundscape created by local sound artist Fran Bundy, using foraged sounds gathered from the local environment.

Blending artistic innovation, environmental education and local collaboration, Vespertine Garden celebrates the power of art to inspire curiosity, empathy and meaningful change. It offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with the wildlife around us and imagine new ways of caring for the ecosystems on our doorstep.

Opening night

The exhibition will launch on Friday 6 November, and everyone is welcome to join us for opening night. To make sure everyone can enjoy the installation comfortably, we’ll have timed slots available to book. We’ll share the link to book your spot in the coming weeks.

You’ll then have plenty of time to explore Vespertine Garden, with the final viewing date on Sunday 28 February 2027.

This project was inspired by Neon Garden, presented by Art Works at Barnsley Civic Centre.