Amongst the Trees and Terraces: Donald Towner

Burgh House is thrilled to present Amongst the Trees and Terraces: Donald Towner (1903–1985), the first exhibition in decades to celebrate the life and work of Hampstead-based painter Donald Towner. Spanning the interwar and postwar years, this exhibition traces Towner’s landscapes, cityscapes, and Hampstead views — capturing both the gentle beauty of the British countryside and the upheavals of a nation in recovery. The exhibition runs from Thursday 5 March – Sunday 20 December 2026.

Donald Towner lived at 8 Church Row, Hampstead, from 1927 until his death in 1985. A naturalist at heart, he painted the English countryside with quiet reverence while also recording London in flux — including the rubble-strewn streets around St Paul’s Cathedral in the aftermath of WWII. In the postwar years, Towner was commissioned by the British Tourist Board to depict landscapes across the country, positioning art at the heart of Britain’s international image.

It was from beautiful eighteenth century houses in London’s suburban Hampstead that Towner was able to capture his subjects from completely different and unexpected perspectives. Through bountiful trees and gentle brushstrokes, his works are more than just scenery as they create a true sense of belonging. From rubble to renewal, his nostalgic works show Britain in transition as he juxtaposes romantic landscapes with the destruction of war and the rebuilding that followed. Amongst the Trees and Terraces: Donald Towner not only celebrates a Hampstead artist but also explores how art shaped Britain’s self-image during a period of profound change. His works are a tribute to Britian and British identity, which sit at a turning point in Britain’s story.

This poignant exhibition will include works from Burgh House’s own important collection of Towner, loans from private collectors, many of whom knew Towner personally. Additionally, it will include rarely seen paintings of Hampstead and its landmarks — including links to Towner’s surviving works in Hampstead Parish Church and Louis’ Café. Alongside Amongst the Trees and Terraces: Donald Towner, Burgh House will present a collections showcase titled Hampstead Vanished and Imagined. 

Location  Burgh House, New End Square, London, NW3 1LT

Dates  Thursday 5^h March – Sunday 20^th December 2026

Times  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sundays, 10am-4pm

Admission  Free

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