What a Year! Autumn–Winter Studio News & 2025 Reflections
Posted on Dec 29, 2025Before sharing recent news, I wanted to say thank you. To everyone who has encouraged, supported, selected and curated my work, or taken the time to engage with it. Your conversations, messages, and quiet belief have meant a great deal and have shaped this incredible year.
One of the most significant moments this year has been being selected as a finalist in the Women in Art Prize with Born to be seen. A colourful woman. Beyond the recognition itself, the sense of community around the prize has been genuinely encouraging, generous, thoughtful, and supportive. I must admit that the surprise of the selection email left me utterly shocked and emotional. My voice faltered, and a tear welled up in my eyes as I took in the enormity of it all. I eventually phoned my daughter to convey the amazing news, as she had been instrumental in “getting my work out there” in 2025. It still hasn’t really sunk in, and huge step personally and professionally, for my first year of entering Open and Prize Exhibitions.
Woman in Art Prize 2025 Awards, After-party, and Private View
Awards Ceremony results. WIA Awards Ceremony at The British Library Piggott Theatre on 17th September, and all finalists and the winning artists celebrate at the after-party House of Koko, and to Benjamin for our venue tour and a brisk run for the last train home!
Women in Art Prize Exhibition and Private View, Women In Art Gallery, 69 York Street, Marylebone, London, W1H.
Delighted that so many finalists, judges and past winners attended the awards night, and the exhibition, and to the supportive Women in Art extended Community led by the tireless Gabrielle du Plooy, the driving force and advocate for championing emerging and established female artists.
The Women in Art Prize 2025: Overall Winner Bianca Raffaella. Just out of reach-Close; Closer; Closest.“As a young woman with very little sight I was made to believe that working in the visual arts was unrealistic. But all I ever wanted was to show beauty as I saw it.“
Exhibiting Now.
I’m currently exhibiting work across the Midlands and the wider UK, with sculptures shown in a range of gallery and exhibition spaces.
The Lake Gallery. The Wirral Until 24th January 2026
A wonderful Gallery that I was delighted to have two equine sculptures selected for their Open exhibition 2025, alongside this dynamic and colourful exhibition, showcasing the work of more than 50 talented artists. The first time exhibiting with the Lake Gallery, I was impressed with the work from both regular exhibitors and new artists, both local and from much further afield.
The Lake Gallery. 52 Grange Road, West Kirby, Wirral CH48 4EF. Exhibition runs from 27th November to 24th January 2026. Gallery open Thursday – Saturday 10am-4pm outside Bank Holidays.
The New Art Gallery Walsall. Until 15th February 2026
The Last Polar Bear and Rocking Horse were both selected for the 75th Annual Exhibition of the Walsall Society of Artists, and I was delighted to see Rocking Horse, my first foray into wire sculpture, and departure from ceramic sculpture, in the gallery window. The Private view was very well attended and lovely to catch up with old and new art lovers. Need to return for a good look around this wonderful Gallery and all the other exhibitions, and vote for my favourite piece.
The New Art Gallery Walsall, Gallery Square, Walsall, WS2 8LG.
Normal opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10am-5pm.Sundays 12noon-4pm. Closed Mondays and Bank Holidays.
I also exhibit throughout the year at Cupola Gallery, Sheffield and Rose Gallery, Lichfield.
RBSA Gallery, Birmingham. January 8, 2026 – February 7, 2026
RBSA Friends Exhibition 2026. Private View: Thursday 8 January 6.00pm – 8.00pm. All welcome
Delighted to have all three of my sculptures, Blurred Lines#1, Blurred Lines#2 and Sounding Out The Melt Line selected for the RBSA Friends Exhibition this year, and so enjoyed exhibiting here at the start of this incredible year. Your all welcome to join us at the Gallery for some art and sculpture, art chat, wine and art enthusiasts on Thursday, 8 January 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm. Hope you can make it.
Exhibition closes: Saturday 7 February 5.00pm
RBSA Gallery. 4 Brook Street St. Paul’s Square, Birmingham B3 1SA. Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am – 5.00pm
Autumn & Winter Exhibition Highlights:
The past few months have included exhibitions, selections, demonstrations, workshops and personal development, moving between studio, galleries and community settings, all shaping how my work connects and evolves.
Horse in Art 2025 The Society of Equestrian Artists Annual Exhibition 2025
As a true lover of horses and the muse of many of my sculptures, I was delighted that two of my equine sculptures, Legacy of the War Horse and In The Flow, were selected for the Equine Society Artists Horse in Art 2025 alongside International open call artists, for this prestigious exhibition.
Even more delighted, both sculptures sold straight away at the Private View, which was so well attended, and some lovely equine artwork that was just too tempting in this wonderful venue at The Garden Rooms, Tennants Auctioneers. It’s always so encouraging when I meet new enthusiasts and new collectors of my work.
Horse in Art 2025 The Society of Equestrian Artists Annual Exhibition 2025 Ran from Monday 6th October – Saturday 1st November. The Garden Rooms, Tennants Auctioneers, Harmby Road, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 5SG
The Sculpture Gallery, The Roundhouse, Leeds. Guest Artists for November 2025.
A gem of a gallery located in central Leeds, exhibiting many sculptors I admire. Being selected as one of the Guest Artists for the Sculpture Gallery for November was a special, and even more so, to have been found by a wonderful new collector for Primal Silence-The Chaos of Him in the opening week and a follow up to the wonderful setting in his new home.
Always makes me so glad to know where my pieces reside in private collections and the joy they bring to their new owners. Exhibiting as part of an exhibition of selected members’ ceramic figurative work from the Northern Potters Association, where clay sculptures were celebrated in figurative and abstract form by myself and 9 other members.
Potfest in the Pens, Meltom Mowbray.
My first time exhibiting at Potfest (with sculptures, not pots!) and what a wonderful experience it was, with new collectors supporting my work on the very first day and returning over this three-day event to purchase more to add to their collection! Lots of interest in future work and workshops, and as Matt and the Potfest organisers promised, an “exciting mix of the sophisticated and the raw power of the next generation, combined
Association of Animal Artists Autumn Exhibition
Delighted to have three equine sculptures selected for this celebration of animal art and sculpture. Association of Animal Artists Autumn Exhibition The Station, Richmond, Yorkshire. I was unable to attend this exhibition in person due to my busy schedule!
Workshops, Demonstrations & Community
Free Drop-in Workshop: Walsall Makersfest Workshop Sculpt, Snap, Share.
Autumn also included demonstrations and workshops that reinforced how central shared creative experiences are to my practice. Working with clay alongside others, particularly within inclusive and wellbeing-focused settings, continues to inform how I approach making, demonstrating and educating, grounded in connection, and never separate from studio work.
Delighted to be asked by Urban Hax CIC to join The Makers’ Workshop at Walsall Town Hall with my SculptSnap, Share workshop. The festival is delivered by Walsall Council in partnership with local non-profit Urban Hax, The New Art Gallery Walsall, and Walsall Cultural Compact. It has been supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)’s Cultural Development Fund: Round Three through Arts Council England. Walsall MakerFest is a vibrant celebration of the creativity and talent found throughout Walsall and the Black Country
To enquire about group workshop, family, friends or individual clay sculpture sessions, please email to discuss your requirements. https://gwendajonessculpture.co.uk/contact/
Must see Exhibitions: Kerry James Marshall: The Histories The Royal Accademy. Until 18 January 2026 Main Galleries, The Royal Academy, Burlington House
RBSA Annual Exhibition 2025. Until January 3, 2026
Be quick -closes 5pm Saturday!
Looking forward.
New work, new studio space, plans for exhibitions, projects, and collaborations are beginning to take shape and I’ll share them quarterly with you as they develop.
Thank you. This year has been shaped by conversations, connections and community. I thank you for being part of it both individually and collectively.
2025. The New Art Gallery Walsall. RBSA. Coventry Open. Herbert Museum and Art Gallery. Society Women Artists. Mall Galleries. The Women in Art Prize. Cupola Contemporary Art. Sculpture Lounge. The Sculpture Gallery. The Lake Gallery. Hanbury Hall. Himley Hall. Society of Equestrian Artists. Association of Animal Artists. Rose Patternson Gallery. Pot Feat in the Pens. Artists Responding To. Fronteer Gallery. The Crossings Gallery. Rose Gallery. Urban Haqs. Plasma of Hope. Walsall Makers Fest. Walsall Society Artists. Midlands Potters. Northern Potters.
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