my paintings in Medway exhibitions
Exhibiting one’s artwork is always a deeply personal act. But there’s something uniquely transformative about sharing your work within the community you live in. In 2025, I had the opportunity to participate in two Medway-based group exhibitions – “Taste” (17 April – 15 May) and the Summer Exhibition 2025 (1 August – 2 September). Though separated by only a few months, these two shows marked an emotional and professional evolution in my journey as a watercolour artist. This article is a reflection on both events, the feelings they stirred, and the sense of connection they brought—to my audience, my fellow artists, and to myself.
Exhibition one: “Taste” – the first step into my local art world
Held between 17 April and 15 May 2025, Taste was a themed group exhibition that invited artists to explore the idea of “taste” in its broadest interpretation. Whether inspired by flavours, culinary experiences, aesthetics, or emotional perceptions of good/bad taste, the theme offered a rich canvas for expression.
This was my first ever exhibition in Medway, and the experience was unlike any I had previously known. Until then, most of my exhibition history was remote – I submitted works, waited for jury decisions, and often only experienced the event through photos or videos. But Taste was different. It was local. I could physically walk into the venue, see my work on the wall, and observe viewers pausing in front of it. This shift brought a wave of intimacy and vulnerability.
For the Taste exhibition, I chose to present my watercolour “Blackberries from the Garden” view painting on Saatchi Art. This piece holds a special place in my heart. It captures a personal memory of a family holiday in a beloved garden, where my son eagerly watched the blackberries ripen, waiting for the day he could eat them. Even now, that memory brings a smile to my face. There’s something about painting not just what you see but what you feel – that joy, that anticipation, the laughter of a child echoing between the hedges.
Interestingly, this wasn’t the first recognition for this piece. It had already taken second place in a previous competition. But presenting it at Taste felt like a homecoming. It was as though I was reintroducing this joyful, intimate story to a new circle of kindred souls. And it resonated.
While filming a short reel for Instagram during my visit, my attention was drawn to a charming painting of carrots. As it turned out, it had been painted by a fellow artist with Ukrainian roots. That instant spark of familiarity and shared heritage reminded me of the deep, often invisible radar we artists possess – the one that senses common stories even in silence.
The Taste exhibition connected me not just to the audience, but to fellow creators in the region. These micro-moments of connection made it more than just a show. It became a first touchpoint with the art world of Medway. An invitation into a community.
Exhibition two: the summer exhibition 2025 – with friends and confidence
From 1 August to 2 September 2025, the Summer Exhibition 2025 unfolded across two venues: the Halpern Gallery in Chatham and the Halpern Pop in Rochester. Now in its seventh year, this exhibition is one of the highlights of the local gallery calendar. It welcomes both seasoned professionals and emerging artists, with a guarantee that at least one submitted work will be displayed. The event continues to grow in reputation and reach, and this year, it felt particularly vibrant.
For me, this second local exhibition was not only a continuation, but a transformation. Where Taste marked my first tentative steps, the Summer Exhibition found me standing with firmer footing, accompanied by newfound friends. I was no longer an outsider. I was part of something.
My watercolour “Sanctuary in Motion” was chosen for this exhibition view painting on Saatchi Art. This piece is deeply layered. On the surface, it depicts a fountain in the Vatican—a space often reduced to a tourist tick-box. But I painted it from a different perspective. I wanted to honour the multiple inner worlds that converge in such a space: faith, identity, transformation, pilgrimage, and, yes, even casual curiosity.
It became a metaphor. A place of sanctuary that is both still and ever-moving. Each visitor brings their own story, their own energy. Some seek spiritual answers, others come for the architecture, and some just stumble upon it in search of shade. But the water continues to flow, unbothered, eternal. It’s that gentle resilience I wanted to capture in the painting.
This exhibition was also special because I shared it with friends. I attended the opening together with Trish Fairchild see her Facebook page, an artist and beautiful soul whose friendship has been instrumental in my integration into the Medway art scene. Together we explored the venue, discussed artworks, met fellow artists, and celebrated not just our paintings, but our presence.
Community matters. In the moments where we feel seen, supported, and inspired by those around us, something shifts. The Summer Exhibition became more than just another show. It became a mirror of my growth—from isolation to inclusion, from self-doubt to self-trust.
Emotional resonance: from uncertainty to belonging
Both Taste and the Summer Exhibition revealed layers of emotional richness that went far beyond simply hanging paintings on walls. At Taste, I experienced the tremble of vulnerability, the joy of local recognition, and the surprise of cultural kinship. At the Summer Exhibition, I felt the warmth of friendship, the pride of artistic evolution, and the serenity of being held by a community.
These feelings are difficult to put into metrics, but they are the real return on investment for any artist. To see someone pause before your painting, to hear a quiet gasp or a thoughtful question – those are the moments that breathe life into your art. And I had them.
What local exhibitions give us
Too often, artists chase large-scale opportunities while overlooking the intimacy and magic of local events. But there is tremendous value in showing up where you are. In contributing to the cultural fabric of your town. In witnessing how your art interacts not with strangers on screens, but with neighbours and new friends.
Medway has a vibrant and growing artistic community. These exhibitions gave me a front-row seat to it. They also gave me a place within it.
A note of gratitude
To the curators and organisers of Taste and the Summer Exhibition 2025, thank you for creating spaces that are inclusive, thoughtful, and rich with possibility. Thank you for welcoming artists of all stages and for nurturing the delicate early moments of local participation.
To my fellow artists – especially those with Ukrainian roots – thank you for your courage, your vision, and your quiet power. Every brushstroke is a form of resistance. Every exhibition, a beacon.
And to the viewers, the wanderers, the art lovers who lingered with intention – thank you for seeing us.