News.
Harewood kicks off 2026 with first-of-its-kind art exhibition Charlotte Verity, The Season Following
3rd December 2025
With a long history of working with contemporary artists, Harewood House Trust is preparing to launch an exhibition in the new year by British artist Charlotte Verity.
(Buds, 2020 © Charlotte Verity, photo by Ben Westoby)
Renowned for her meticulously observed paintings of plants and flowers, The Season Following will mark the first time the artist has exhibited within a historic country house as well as the first time the artist has exhibited extensively in the north of England, with prints and paintings spanning the past 20 years to the present and including several being shown for the first time.
For decades Verity has immersed herself in her garden, tracking the seasons and the passing of time by painting and drawing out of doors and by bringing elements of the natural world into her studio to observe and to paint. In this way she has cultivated a deep knowledge and respect for the wide variety of natural forms that provide her subject. In contrast to the fleeting nature of her motifs, the paintings develop slowly, suggesting deep space and the wider world, becoming profound meditations on broader themes.
At the exhibition, visitors will experience the changing seasons across five magnificent state rooms. Moving from winter through spring, summer and autumn, the exhibition will reflect nature’s cyclical pattern, returning at the end with a grand winter painting. It invites people to linger, look closely, and celebrate the subtle beauty of nature throughout the year.
The exhibition is interspersed with a series of painted poems both historic and contemporary, related to the seasons. In other areas of the House, visitors will also have the opportunity to view exquisite floral pieces from Harewood’s collection, including rarely displayed Sevres porcelain.
(A Summer Month, 2019 © Charlotte Verity, photo by Ben Westoby)
Zoë Hughes, Head of Public Programme at Harewood House Trust, commented: “This year, we want our guests to experience the best Harewood has to offer through every season. We’ve got an incredible programme of events across the year for all ages and interests. Harewood House and its grounds bring nature and art together in one the greatest achievements of English Landscape gardening, so it is particularly well placed to launch 2026 with Charlotte Verity, The Season Following: an exhibition of paintings which focus on the beauty of every season.”
Charlotte Verity said: “To show works in this magnificent sequence of rooms has given me the opportunity to structure an exhibition in a way that exactly reflects the way I work: each painting in its season. Every one is an accumulation of hours of observation and looking closely, while finding ways of putting down what I see. In turn, I hope these paintings will enhance the experience of the natural world for our visitors. They will see things perhaps, a little bit differently.”
Available to visit Friday to Sunday between 23 January and 22 March (open daily from 23 March – 7 June), the exhibition displays Charlotte’s artwork through the seasons, beginning in winter.
Zoë added: “As Charlotte Verity demonstrates through her work, we want to emphasise that winter can be embraced for its beauty, offering a moment of rest and reflection – and this exhibition offers a connection to nature whilst the natural world is hibernating. We also want to encourage people to take time out to look after their mental wellbeing; and the perfect way to do that is by browsing these beautiful artworks followed by a refreshing walk around our incredible gardens and grounds.”
Families can also look forward to a season of discovery and fun at Harewood this winter. From epic outdoor adventures to creative indoor play, Harewood is packed with spaces where children can explore, imagine and burn off energy, all set within 140 acres of beautiful Yorkshire landscape.
(Winter at Harewood, c.Tom Arber and Harewood House Trust)
Families can climb, swing and slide in the huge Adventure Playground, get lost in the magical willow mazes of the Woodland Wonderland, and journey up into the Sylvascope Treehouse, all at no extra cost. Little explorers can also collect a Nature Safari Bag and head out on scenic trails to spot snowdrops and wildlife around the lake.
Inside the House, the Servants’ Hall Family Fun Space offers a cosy retreat with colouring sheets and creative activities that change with the seasons, a book corner, and family games. From art and imagination to dressing up and discovery, there’s something for every age, including a Charlotte Verity-inspired family trail. Plus, don’t miss free drop-in sessions like the Harewood monthly LEGO Club and Saturday Craft Club, running throughout the winter.
Listings info:
Title: Charlotte Verity, The Season Following
Dates: 23 January – 7 June 2026
Venue: Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LG
Opening times: Check the website for details.
Admission: From £27.95 for adults, from £12.95 for children. Concessions available. £2 tickets are available for those in receipt of universal credit, pension credit, DLA and PIP. Free for Harewood members and under 4s. Book online and save.
Website https://harewood.org/whats-on/
Contact: 0113 218 1000, info@harewood.org
Group visits
Bookings of 10 adults or more benefit from Harewood’s reduced group rates. Groups will also benefit from one free admission for the group organiser. Additionally, there is dedicated coach parking and as well as free entry, the driver will receive a refreshment voucher to use in the Courtyard Café. More information about group visits can be found here https://harewood.org/visit/groups-school-visits/