The growing size of our dedicated British and Irish comic events page meant we have had to split our Exhibitions guide onto this separate feature on downthetubes. Information on exhibitions and venues is always welcome.
This feature was last updated on Thursday 7th August 2025. Some of the exhibitions listed are permanent: some are temporary
As ever, information about events is welcome: here’s how to contact us. If you don’t see your exhibition added to this list, please re-send the information as it’s entirely possible, given the huge amount of email received, that we’ve missed it first time around – sorry!
• For comic-related events across the UK and Ireland, visit and bookmark this regularly updated page
• More Exhibition News on downthetubes
London
Bookery Gallerie
20 Church Street, London NW8 8EP | Web: bookerygallerie.com
Once a month the Bookery Gallerie hosts alternating exhibitions of London artists in a large spacious environment which lies beyond the bookshop. These sometimes include comic artists.
The British Library
96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
Web: bl.uk/whats-on
Check back for comic or illustration-related exhibition information – or visit bl.uk/whats-on
The Cartoon Museum – London
63 Wells Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1A 3AE Tel: 0207 580 8155
Web: cartoonmuseum.org | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Cats in Cartoons
Saturday 5th April – Sunday 7th September 2025
The Cartoon Museum, 63 Wells Street, London, W1A 3AE | Web: cartoonmuseum.org
From Garfield to Simon’s Cat, Krazy Kat to Bagpuss and everything in between, there is a long line of iconic cartoon cats. Now, for the first time, The Cartoon Museum is collecting many of the greatest cats to grace or comics, newspapers and magazines to explore why people love cats so much and what cats tell us about life.
Featuring art and artists from all of the world including Gemma Correll (author of A Cat’s Life), Jim Davis (creator of “Garfield”), Wendy Eastwood, Hunt Emerson (the creator of the unforgettable “Calculus Cat”), Natty Peterkin, Heath Robinson, Axel Scheffler, Ronald Searle(whose cat cartoons became as famous as the girls of St. Trinians), Anthony Smith, Simon Tofield, Louis Wain (best known for his drawings of anthropomorphised cats and kittens) and Ai Wei Wei, the exhibition, which runs until September, will also offer insight into the work of the world famous Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and how they rescue, rehabilitate and rehome cats and their London centre.
The Duke of Greenwich
Duke of Greenwich, 91 Colomb St, London SE10 9EZ | Web: dukeofgreenwich.com
The Duke of Greenwich pub has previously hosted exhibitions of cartoons by a huge range of creators, curated by Daily Mirror cartoonist Pete Songi, who’s also a member of the Professional Cartoonists’ Organisation.
The Embassy of Japan
Embassy of Japan in the UK, 101-104 Piccadilly London W1J 7JT
Web: uk.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html
Hosts the annual exhibition of winners of the Embassy’s Manga Jiman competition. 2025 exhibition ran from Friday 21st March – Friday 16th May. Walk-ins during the exhibition period are welcome. Admission is free, but showing photographic ID is necessary to gain entry to the Embassy.
Visitors to the Embassy can enjoy reading all the shortlisted entries in a special display, Manga Jiman: The Winners’ Exhibition, which features artwork from every story entered this year
The Ealing Project
Ealing Broadway, London W5 5JY | Web: ealingproject.co.uk
The Ealing Project – a multi-functional community space on the ground floor of Ealing Broadway centre, which has hosted comic related exhibitions, including 3 Generations, an exhibition of art that includes the work of comic creator and editor David Leach, in July 2023 (Read our related news story).
Farsight Gallery
Farsight Gallery, 4 Flitcroft Street, London WC2H 8DJ
Previously hosted Mick Jones Rock & Roll Public Library exhibition
For more information visit rocknrollpl.com | Mick Jones Rock & Roll Public Library Exhibitions Group | Read our news story
Gunnersby Park Museum
Gunnersby Park Museum, Gunnersbury Park House, Popes Lane, London W5 4NH (near Acton Town tube station) | Free, No booking required | Closed Mondays, Tuesday – Sunday: 10am – 4.30pm
Web: visitgunnersbury.org | Facebook | Instagram | X | YouTube
The Heath Robinson Museum
Pinner Memorial Park, 50 West End Lane, Pinner HA5 1AE | Web: www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org
The permanent Heath Robinson exhibition combines original artwork with books, photographs, film and digital media to tell the full story of Heath Robinson’s artistic career.
Heath Robinson’s autobiography was called My Line of Life and the permanent exhibition draws on this theme to follow his career from art school in the 1890s to his last works made during the Second World War. It describes how, having established himself as a leading illustrator at the start of the 20th century, he was forced to turn to humorous drawing to maintain his income. He pursued both forms of art for several years, but humour eventually dominated. However, throughout his life he saw himself as a serious artist and painted landscapes and imagined scenes for his own enjoyment.
The Jam Bookshop
Unit 18 Portobello Green Arcade at 281 Portobello Road, London
Web: jambookshop.co.uk | Follow on BlueSky for temporary exhibition news | Patreon and Book Club
Ace bookshop run by comic creator David Ziggy Greene. Hosts comic creator events as well as temporary exhibitions
Young Victoria and Albert Museum
Young Victoria and Albert Museum, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9PA | Exhibition Page
BEYOND THE CAPITAL
Bowness-on-Windermere
• Lakes International Comic Art Festival Exhibition 2025
Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria
The annual Lakes International Comic Art Festival usually features a tie-in exhibition during its annual event, 26th – 28th September 2025
Bovington
The Tank Museum brings the story of tanks and their crews to life. Exhibitions sometimes include comic-related items. The Museum owns a collection of “Charley’s War” pages from Battle.
Brighton
Graphic Brighton hosts a number of exhibitions, during its annual event. Follow their news blog here
Chester
Storyhouse
Hunter Street, Chester CH1 2AR | Web: storyhouse.com
Has previously hosted comic-related exhibitions including 2024’s “Aliens, Zombies & Monsters” a show filled with vibrant life-sized colourful characters in an immersive exploration into how children’s books and characters are created… from the mind of children’s author and illustrator, Aaron Blecha.
Ditchling, East Sussex
Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft, Lodge Hill Lane, Ditchling, East Sussex, BN6 8SP.
• Exhibition details
Previously ran Bloomin’ Brilliant: The Life and Work of Raymond Briggs in 2024, an exhibition featuring never-seen-before items and artworks from one of the UK´s most beloved author illustrators in the part of East Sussex that he made his home.
Dundee
Tower Building
University of Dundee, Nethergate Dundee DD1 4HN | Exhibitions Information
Previous exhibitions include Sydney Jordan retrospective – read our news story about the opening night and a preview of some of the art on display (If you’re a Jeff Hawke fan, check out the Jeff Hawke Fan Club here)
Bonus: Here’s a virtual tour of Ian Kennedy – Celebrating a Comics Legend, which ran in early 2023
Ian Kennedy (1932-2022) is a legend in British comics. Acclaimed and respected by fans and fellow artists, his career in comics spanned over 70 years. Ian left behind a huge legacy that will continue to inspire comics fans for generations to come. We are delighted to present this exhibition featuring a selection of original art from Ian’s studio and from the collections of DC Thomson.
• Read James Bacon’s review of this exhibition right here on downthetubes
• Watch: A guided tour by comics expert and Abertay University lecturer Phillip Vaughan showcasing highlights of the exhibition Ian Kennedy: Celebrating a Comics Legend in the Lamb Gallery, Tower Building, University of Dundee, given at a special event on 3rd March 2023 in the company of members of Ian’s family, former friends and colleagues and comics fans.
Glasgow
The Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow G3 7DN has hosted comi-related exhibitions
• Official Site | Read the accessibility guide for The Mitchell Library on AccessAble | Autism-friendly guide to the Mitchell Library
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Glasgow Looking-Glass, the world’s first comic, in 2025, the Mitchell Library presented “Glasgow through the Looking-Glass” | Read our related news story
Herne Bay
Herne Bay Festival-related exhibition runs until 14th August
Beach Creative, Beach House, Beach Street, Herne Bay and exhibition at The Seaside Museum, 12 William Street, Herne Bay | Web: theseasidemuseumhernebay.org
Follow the Festival on Facebook | Instagram | X
Hull
Brew Cafe
76 Bond Street, Hull, HU1 3EN | Web: www.brewhull.co.uk
King’s Norton
The Navigation is located at 1, Wharf Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B30 3LS | JD Wetherspoon Web Page | TripAdvisor Reviews
Not an exhibition as such, but if you’re in King’s Norton, The Navigation pub has a tribute to comic artist Reg Bunn, longtime artist on “The Spider” in the weekly British comic Lion, on its walls. Reg lived in King’s Norton. Read our news story
• Reg Bunn-related items on downthetubes
Liverpool
The Beatles in Comics
The Liverpool Beatles Museum is at 23 Mathew Street, Liverpool L2 6RE | Web: liverpoolbeatlesmuseum.com | Facebook | Twitter
The Beatles in Comics permanent exhibition features over 100 examples of the band from newspaper cartoons, strips and comic books from 1963 to the present day.
The exhibition is open to the general public and well worth the trek to the third floor of this most authentic and delightful of museums to all things Fab.
Modern Toss – 21st Anniversary Touring Exhibition
Runs until 10th August 2025
The Royal Standard, Northern Lights, Cains, Brewery Village, 5 Mann Street, Liverpool L8 5AF | Book Tickets here – strongly advised! | Under 18s will only be admitted with a parent or legal guardian
• Modern Toss are online at moderntoss.com
Marking their first 21 years of satirical cartoon excellence Jon Link and Mick Bunnage chose Liverpool as the location for this exhibition, which runs until 10th August 2025, because it’s a place where “people aren’t afraid to laugh at the state of things.” Read our news story here
Milngavie
The Lillie Art Gallery – Station Road, Milngavie, G62 8BZ
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10.00am – 1.00pm and 2.00 – 5.00pm. Admission is free | For more venue information, call 0141 956 5536 or visit edlc.co.uk/venues/lillie-art-gallery
• Follow the Council on Facebook | Instagram | X | Follow the Trust on X @EDLC_Culture or like the page at facebook.com/EDLCCulture
Previously ran ‘Comics Stripped’, an exhibition exploring how comics are created. Oor Wullie, Judge Dredd and Rupert the Bear were at the ‘art’ of this free exhibition which focused on comic strips and creators in Scotland | Read our related new story
Mount Fitchet, Essex
The House on the Hill Toy Museum
Castle Visitor Centre, Lower Street, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex CM24 8SP
Web: stanstedtoymuseum.com
Housed in the grounds of Mount Fitchet Castle, near Stansted Airport, the The House on the Hill Toy Museum has some phenomenal displays of toys spanning many eras and genres, with good examples of children’s comics and annuals. The 1960s Gerry Anderson inspired display had some collectable comics and books. Well worth a visit if you’re in the area. (With thanks to Phil Shrimpton)
Northampton
The Panel Gallery
3 Abington Square, Northampton NN1 4AE | Opening hours Tuesday to Saturday 11.00am – 4.00pm) | Free | Web: thepanelgallery.com
The Panel Gallery is the first art gallery in the UK to specialise in original comic art. Showcasing comic art from Marvel, DC Comics, 2000AD and many more publishers.
Opening to the public in 2021, Jeff Chahal, the owner and curator of the gallery, has always felt that comic art doesn’t receive the respect that it should, which ultimately lead to the idea of starting Panel Gallery so that comic artwork might at last be showcased in a fitting environment.
Having worked in comic retail for 20 years, and with a background of running the hugely respected NICE Comic Con in Bedford, Jeff applies the same criteria to both his comic convention and the new Panel Gallery. For him, it is essential that the focus of both are on the art itself and also on all those that are involved in the creative process of producing comic books.
Rugby
Rugby Art Gallery and Museum
Little Elborow Street, Rugby, CV21 3BZ | Telephone 01788 533201 | Web: ragm.co.uk/kapow
Hosted Kapow – The Art of Making Comics and Film in 2023 featuring a wide range of comic art, including work by Frank Bellamy, Ben Oliver, Frank Quitely and many others.
• Read James Bacon’s review of KAPOW
Shrewsbury
Secret Art Sale 2025 Viewing Day
Saturday 23rd August 2025
The Soden Collection 80 Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 1UT
• The Soden Collection is on line at sodencollection.com | Secret Sale Updates and Information Here
Charlie Adlard, Mike Perkins, Sean Philips, Duncan Fegredo, Mike Collins, Michael Lark, Dan Berry and Dylan Teague have confirmed that they have contributed to The Secret Artist Sale.
Hosted by The Soden Collection gallery in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, the event will take place on Sunday 24th August 2025. The Viewing Day precedes this. Read our news story here
Southport
The Atkinson
Lord Street, Southport PR8 1DB and online at theatkinson.co.uk | Facebook | Instagram | X
Free Entry | Monday – Saturday. 10am – 4pm | Closed Sundays & Bank Holidays.
Plan your visit here
Hosts a permanent “Dan Dare” exhibition in honour of creator Frank Hampson, who lived and worked with his team in Southport when the Eagle comic launched.
Previously hosted Bill Tidy: “Is there any news of the iceberg?” in 2024, a tribute to the late cartoonist, TV personality and author Bill Tidy MBE who lived for many happy years in Southport.
Stevenage
Steve Dillon: Preacher, Punisher and Dredd Exhibition
5th April – 30th August 2025
Stevenage Museum, St George’s Way, Stevenage, Hertforshire SG1 1XX | Open Wednesday to Friday 10.00am to 4.30pm and Saturday 10.00am to 5.00pm | Website | Facebook | Steve Dillon Exhibition Facebook Page
The late Steve Dillon is best known for his work on comics such as 2000AD, Preacher and The Punisher. This exhibition has over 50 hand-drawn panels on loan from his family and a private collector, dating from 1978 when, at just 16 years old, his first work was published.
The latest iteration of this brilliant, free exhibition includes many new pieces of artwork that weren’t on display during its previous outing in Northampton.
Wakefield
Mental Health Museum
Fieldhead, Ouchthorpe Lane, Wakefield, WF1 3SP | Web: southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/mental-health-museum | Facebook
Admission Free, but a donation of £2 to the Mental Health Museum charity is suggested, to support its mission and activities | Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 1.00 – 4.09pm. Call 01924 316360 or email museum@swyt.nhs.uk
Wakefield’s Mental Health Museum is hosting a temporary exhibition of prints by comic creator Darryl Cunningham, the author of Psychiatric Tales and other graphic novels. Read our related news story
Woodstock
Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum
Park Street, Woodstock, OX20 1SN | Registered Charity No. 1145408 | Web: sofo.org.uk | Facebook | Instagram | X
Temporary and permanent exhibitions often with strong illustration themes.
TOURING COMIC EXHIBITIONS
Enter The Mulberry Tree and Fly Free
If you are interested in hosting this unique exhibition, please contact the Lakes International Comic Art Festival
Enter the Mulberry Tree and Fly Free: Palestinian Comics Revealed offers a unique glimpse into the world of Palestinian comic art, featuring the works of twelve incredible artists who explore personal identity, geopolitics and the nuances of everyday life in Palestine.
Make Mine Manga
If you are interested in hosting this unique exhibition, please contact the Lakes International Comic Art Festival
Make Mine Manga, a free, touring exhibition for anyone curious about manga, as well as the avid fan.
The exhibition explores the origins of manga in Japan, the creative techniques behind the art and the wonder of Manga-Anime. It features artwork from incredible creators from Japan and UK manga creators.
Manga have become a pop-culture phenomenon in the UK and, if you’ve been into any branch of Waterstones, or your local comic shop, you probably already know more and more people are reading them; and six of the top ten bestselling graphic novelists in Britain are by Japanese manga authors.
In this exhibition, visitors will be able explore how these comics evolved first in Japan and how their brilliant creators continue to expand the medium, and discover today’s generation of award-winning British talents making manga their own way into a truly global language.
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is an annual comic art Festival and advocate for comic art. Established in 2013, the not-for-profit festival takes place annually over a weekend in the Autumn, originally in Kendal, and, since last year, in multiple venues in Bowness-on-Windermere.
The exhibition has been specially created by Paul Gravett, comic publisher, fan and author of Manga: 60 Years of Japanese Comics, and has been led by Bolton Library Services, on behalf of a consortium of libraries in the North West. It’s been funded by Arts Council England under its Project Grants scheme and the Lakes International Comic Art Festival is one of the delivery partners.
Make Mine Manga was originally part of Manchester City of Literature’s Festival of Libraries, a county-wide celebration of Greater Manchester’s 133 libraries from 7 – 11th June 2023.
First touring in 2023 the Make Mine Manga exhibition and associated workshops, funded by Art Council England, was led by Bolton Library and Museum Services running in several North West libraries, including Barrow-in-Furness Central Library and Manchester Central Library and produced in partnership with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival and Manchester City of Literature.
The exhibition was curated by Paul Gravett (author of, among other titles, Mangasia: The Definitive Guide to Asian Comics) and designed by Steve Kerner of Curious Road and the project owes its existence to many artists and publishers for their support to make it exhibition possible: Junko Mizuno, Jiro Taniguchi, Eldo Yoshimizu, Takayo Akiyama, Fumio Obata, Kiriko Kubo, Ilya, Yukiko Kai, Hatsu Haru, Hideko Mizuno, Eiko Hanamura, Ueda Toshiko, Matsumoto Katsuji, Kyoto International Manga Museum, Titan, Fanfare and Aquira.
In addition, Ed Hillyer (aka ILYA) designed signature idents for the project, used within the basic exhibition materials, largely existing images culled from his MANGA DRAWING KIT: Techniques, Tools And Projects for Mastering the Art of Manga (2006, AmazonUK Affiliate Link)), which has also been published as MANGA ART: Toutes les techniques pour maîtriser l’art du manga (in France), and MANGA ZEICHNEN: Das komplette Set für Einsteiger (Germany) – and from a much earlier exhibit he curated for Whitechapel Ideas Store in 2010 – MANGA UK! MANGA JIMAN! (which means ‘having pride in Manga’).
LAKES INTERNATIONAL COMIC ART FESTIVAL: ONLINE MAKE MINE MANGA RESOURCES
• How to draw manga with Inko
• How to draw manga with Chie
• Manga colouring
Web Links…
• More Exhibition News on downthetubes
• For comic-related events across the UK and Ireland, visit and bookmark this regularly updated page
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comic Art, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Exhibitions, Key Comic Resources