Sarah Purvey, The Gathering, is a solo exhibition of drawings and ceramics presented at Drawing Projects UK from 28 March to 18 May 2026.

"When working, the studio is a quiet space without the disturbance or influence of music or voices on the radio. The time is used to listen, to connect and to respond. The studio creates an intimate space leaving nowhere to hide, drawing out and exposing the emotional connections found there and allowing the visceral language of drawing to speak for me. It is that responsive action and energy of drawing which leads my practice, resulting in the process becoming both a physically and emotionally charged act whether drawing on paper or clay." Sarah Purvey, 2026 

This exhibition sets Sarah Purvey's ceramics in the context of her drawing practice. Sarah describes drawing and making as "a physically and emotionally charged act", and whether making with clay or carbon, these aspects of her practice are equally direct in their emotive expression. The work in this show demonstrates an immediate fluidity of line, rhythm, gesture and act, as marks and forms gather across the paper or clay, in two dimensions or three. Sometimes singular, more often collecting and gathering, the imprint of marks accrete, jostle, conjoin and converse - with each other, maker and spectator. 

The Gathering, from which this exhibition takes its title, is a group of head-like organic forms that have an enigmatic collective presence. Hand held, heart-formed, touched with traces and residues of encounters lived and left behind, in the studio as in life; a dialogue between past and present, memory and being, an impulsive need for interiority and expression, sombre yet full of joyous energy, these works serve as material evidence of what it is to be human. 

Sarah Purvey has held solo exhibitions in St Ives, Bath and Amsterdam and has exhibited widely in group exhibitions including New York, Berlin and London. Her work is represented by galleries both nationally and internationally. Sarah graduated from MA Ceramics at Bath School of Art and Design, Bath Spa University (2009), BA Ceramics, Bath College of Higher Education (1991), and BTec Ceramics, Plymouth College of Art and Design (1988). Her works (ceramics, drawings and prints) are held in the collections of BSAD Collection at Corsham Court, Bath Spa University; Pallant House Gallery, Chichester; Chippenham Museum; Swindon Museum and Art Gallery; as well as in a number of private collections in the USA, Japan & Europe. Sarah is represented by Cavin-Morris Gallery, Chelsea, New York; Adah Rose Gallery, Washington USA; Direktorenhaus, Berlin; Cavaliero Finn, London; The New Craftsman Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall; and Blackmore Gallery, 29 The Cross, Lymm, Cheshire. She is currently Artist in Residence at the Corsham Court Campus of Bath Spa University in Wiltshire. 

Visitor Information: 
The exhibition preview is on Saturday 28 March from 1pm to 3pm; please let us know if you would like to join us by registering here.

The exhibition is open to the public on Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays, 10am to 3pm, and is free to see.

Many of the works are for sale, please contact us by email for all enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The exhibition is installed throughout our galleries, which means you can also see elements of the exhibition on display in The Entrance Hall and Long Galleries whenever ArtHaus Coffee at Drawing Projects UK is open: ArtHaus opening hours are on Weekdays: Monday-Wednesday and Friday from 8am to 4pm (closed Thursdays); and weekends from 10am to 3pm.

Getting to Drawing Projects UK: We are located by the train station in Trowbridge with regular services to major cities and towns, and there are multiple public car parks nearby.

We look forward to welcoming everyone to this beautiful exhibition. 

Images: Sarah Purvey, The Gathering, clay, dimensions variable (top); Untitled, mixed media on paper, 156 x 136cm (below)