Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery

In 2026 Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, the historic country home designed and built by Sir John Soane (1753–1837) in leafy Ealing, West London will celebrate and explore a number of the themes and subjects which delighted and preoccupied the great Regency architect.

Two leading UK women artists will bring their interpretations of nature to the Manor in very different ways. Marthe Armitage explores repetition, symmetry and the relationship between the natural and man-made world, while Clare Woods delves into the beauty and perennial appeal of still-life painting.

Marthe Armitage: Pattern Maker 19 March – 19 July 2026

This exhibition explores Armitage’s distinctive approach to pattern making in wallpaper and fabric design. Tracing her artistic process from initial sketches, tracings and lino blocks to finished wallpapers and textiles — revealing the journey behind each work. Her designs are rooted in the landscapes, riverbanks, and architectural details of her local Chiswick surroundings — where she and her family have lived since 1939. 

This focused exhibition brings together original drawings and tracings, prints, archival material, and large-scale installed wallpapers and fabric, offering an intimate insight into the life and work of an artist whose designs have quietly shaped British interiors for more than half a century. At Pitzhanger, Armitage’s celebration of craft and place finds an appropriate, resonant setting, echoing Sir John Soane’s own passion for pattern, narrative, and the handmade.

Clare Woods: Garden Without Seasons: 29 July – 8 November 2026

The summer exhibition will see a multitude of works by British artist Clare Woods RA installed throughout the historic manor and its galleries. Having initially trained as a sculptor, Woods’ understanding of sculptural forms underpin her paintings, collages, and prints.

Under The Dome (2024), one of the biggest works in the show, draws its composition from a photo Woods took of the iconic Temperate House at Kew Gardens, London. Woods became fascinated by this manmade ecosystem and how it protects flora that otherwise could not survive the UK's cold climate. Here, the elaborate glass structure becomes a metaphor for the thin veneer between life and death.

Pitzhanger’s parkland setting, historic interiors, and stained-glass windows are sources of inspiration for Woods' new works in the exhibition. Evoking the passage of time, they invite the viewer to consider the fleeting nature of life. 

Location: Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, Ealing Green, London W5 5EQ

Opening Times

Wednesday - Sunday: 10:00 - 17:00
First Thursday of the month: 10:00 - 20:00
Monday - Tuesday: Closed: Bank Holidays: 10:00 - 17:00

Further Information: Pitzhanger