Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today
25 April – 6 September 2026
Inspired by the presence of freshly cut flower displays and paintings such as Cyclamen and Primula (c. 1923) by Winifred Nicholson in the Kettle’s Yard house, Handpicked: Painting Flowers will present works featuring flowers by artists spanning across the 20th and 21st centuries.
This exhibition has been organised with the help of The Kettle’s Yard Community Panel: Bryan Johnson, Abi Moore, Jade Pollard-Crowe, Alan Soer, and Jenny Wood.
When Jim and Helen Ede opened Kettle’s Yard in 1957, one of the key elements of their interior displays was fresh cut flowers. Their flower arrangements created visual correspondences with the forms and colours of artworks in the Edes’ remarkable collection. Handpicked: Painting Flowers will feature artists for whom painting flowers was a lifelong preoccupation, as well as those for whom it represented a brief but intense period of making.
Alongside works by significant figures of the 20th century, including Vanessa Bell, Henri Rousseau, Winifred Nicholson and Christopher Wood, contemporary artists such as Lubaina Himid, Jennifer Packer, Chris Ofili, Caroline Walker and Alison Watt, will breathe new life into a much-loved subject. There will be one artwork from each artist on display.
Pay What You Wish
Although entry to the exhibitions at Kettle’s Yard remains free of charge, you can choose to donate as little or as much as you want through Pay What You Wish. Pay What You Wish allows everyone to decide what feels right for them, while still supporting Kettle’s Yard as a charitable organisation. Every donation makes a huge difference, allowing us to commission art and artists, work with our community partners in North Cambridge, welcome schools and young people, and care for and support research into the house and collection.
Artists
Hurvin Anderson, Vanessa Bell, David Bomberg, Louise Bourgeois, Jai Chuhan, Andrew Cranston, Kaye Donachie, Gigi Ettedgui, Anna Freeman Bentley, Marjory Garnett, Tirzah Garwood, Gluck, Lubaina Himid, Howard Hodgkin, Isak of Igdlorpait, Nerys Johnson, David Jones, Poppy Jones, Joy Labinjo, Doron Langberg, Aubrey Levinthal, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Rory McEwen, Cedric Morris, Cassi Namoda, Mary Newcomb, William Nicholson, Winifred Nicholson, Chris Ofili, Jennifer Packer, Celia Paul, Bryan Pearce, Emma Prempeh, Bianca Raffaella, Eric Ravilious, Anne Redpath, Henri Rousseau, William Scott, Judith Tucker, Euan Uglow, Charlotte Verity, Édouard Vuillard, Caroline Walker, Alison Watt, Christopher Wood, and Clare Woods.
Exhibition Events
Painting Flowers with Hilary Moreton
Inspired by our current exhibition, Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today, we invite visitors to drop in to the Clore Learning Studio and try your hand at painting flowers with artist Hilary Moreton.
All ages are welcome, but these sessions are particularly aimed at inspiring adults to pick up a paintbrush.
Friends Event: A Celebration of Art, Colour & Flowers with horticulturalist author, Sean A Pritchard
Join the Friends of Kettle’s Yard in the house for a springtime talk and floral demonstration with the talented author, and founder of the award-winning garden design studio, Sean A Pritchard. Ever since the publication of his debut book, 'Outside In' the garden and landscape designer has won acclaim for his floral cultivation and arrangements, beautifully captured in his 17th century cottage in the Mendip Hills.
In Conversation: Flower Painting Now
Join us for an in-conversation with exhibition artists Jai Chuhan, Anna Freeman Bentley, Bianca Raffaella and Charlotte Verity on the theme of flower painting now, chaired by Assistant Curator Naomi Polonsky. The event accompanies our current exhibition Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today.
‘A Modern Arrangement’: A Discussion on Flower Paintings & Modernism
Join us for an in-conversation with art historians Olivia Meehan and Rebecca Birrell on the theme of flower paintings and Modernism with Assistant Curator Meg Breckell. The event accompanies our current exhibition Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today.
Painting Flowers with Amy Wormald
Inspired by our current exhibition, Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today, we invite visitors to drop in to the Clore Learning Studio and try your hand at painting flowers with artist Amy Wormald.
All ages are welcome, but these sessions are particularly aimed at inspiring adults to pick up a paintbrush.
LATE at Kettle's Yard
Join us at Kettle’s Yard for an evening of art, talks, music and making, inspired by our exhibition Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today.
Painting Flowers with Sandra Scott
Inspired by our current exhibition, Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today, we invite visitors to drop in to the Clore Learning Studio and try your hand at painting flowers with artist Sandra Scott.
All ages are welcome, but these sessions are particularly aimed at inspiring adults to pick up a paintbrush.
Exhibition Tours
Exhibition Tour - Handpicked
Join us for an exhibition tour with Kettle's Yard Director Andrew Nairne and enjoy a behind-the-scenes insight into Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today.
Exhibition Tour - Handpicked
Join us for an exhibition tour with Curatorial Assistant Meg Breckell and enjoy a behind-the-scenes insight into Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today.
Audio Described Tour of Handpicked: Painting Flowers
Join us for an audio described tour of our current exhibition, Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today.
This tour is suitable for blind and visually impaired visitors. To book tickets, please call 01223 748100.
Exhibition Tour - Handpicked
Join us for an exhibition tour with Assistant Curator Naomi Polonsky and enjoy a behind-the-scenes insight into Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today.
Exhibition Publication
Handpicked Anthology
The new anthology Handpicked: Painting Flowers From 1900 to Today accompanies the exhibition, and celebrates the beauty and vitality of flower paintings of the 20th and 21st centuries. Pre-order now for delivery from 27 April.
Gallery
Access
- The galleries, where exhibitions are shown, and all areas of the Clore Learning Studio (level -1), the Research Space (level 1) and the Ede Room (level 2) are fully accessible.
- We have wheelchair accessible toilets on the lower ground (level -1), ground and first floor (level 1).
- There is a lift giving access to all floors located past the galleries, just beside the Clore Learning Studio on the ground floor.
- Kettle’s Yard welcomes assistance and service dogs in all areas.
- We have large-print versions of the wall text available.
- We can lend visitors small folding seats for taking around exhibitions or using at non-seated events. Please ask a Visitor Assistant for help finding a seat.
- There is an Audio Described Tour of this exhibition on 21 July. Click here to find out more and book your place.
This exhibition has been kindly supported by:
Sally and Edward Benthall
Handpicked: Painting Flowers Exhibition Circle
Rajan Bijlani
Peter and Wendy Blythe
Jenna Burlingham Gallery
John and Jennifer Crompton
Nicholas Crompton
Thomas Dane Gallery
Claire and Martin Daunton
Emma Davis
Stamos J Fafalios
Emily and Matthew Flowers
Sean Gorvy
Sarah and Gerard Griffin
Xavier Hufkens
Richard and Florence Ingleby
Lyndsey Ingram
The Jaccaud Family
Lulu Lytle
Leonie McLaren
Suling C Mead
Andrew Nairne and Nicola Dandridge
Maureen Paley
Carlos and Francesca Pinto
Griselda Pollock
Joanna Prior OBE
Jonathan and Nicole Scott
Tiwani Contemporary
Sir David Verey CBE and Lady Verey
and those who wish to remain anonymous
Friends of Kettle’s Yard Handpicked: Painting Flowers Supporters
Julia Bagguley
Clodagh Barker
Philomena Barnes
Annabel Charles
Margie Christian
Mike Efstathiou
Michael French
Penny Heath
Lucy King
Kathryn Knight
Nicki and Christie Marrian
Penny Mason
Sandy Nairne and Lisa Tickner
Jeremy Newsum
Frank O’Connor
Nicci Steele-Williams
Kim and Fiona Walker
and those who wish to remain anonymous
