The passage of time: Brian Mutton – a retrospective

Exhibitions
Written By Lynne Dickens

Opening on Saturday 10 October at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, this retrospective exhibition looks back at the life and work of significant Northamptonshire artist Brian Mutton (1939–2024).

Artist Brian Mutton in his studio looking at a piece of work

Featuring work from across his career, the exhibition considers Mutton’s distinctive responses to landscapes, interiors and nature, exploring how he captures the passage of time and finds beauty in decay.

Born in Kettering, Mutton trained at Northampton School of Art and later at King’s College, Newcastle upon Tyne. Returning to Northamptonshire in 1962, he taught art and design before retiring in 1994 to focus on his artistic practice. His work has been exhibited across Northamptonshire and further afield. This retrospective marks his first solo exhibition at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, having previously shown only as part of group or art society exhibitions.

The exhibition has been externally curated by Elizabeth Socci (www.socciartconsultancy.co.uk) and includes a documentary film created during Mutton’s lifetime by fellow artist and friend John McGowan.

More than 70 artworks by Mutton will be on display in the main Art Gallery, many of which will be available for purchase. For more information and to see examples of Mutton’s work, please visit www.brianmutton.com.

10 October – 6 December 2026
Northampton Museum and Art Gallery
4–6 Guildhall Rd, Northampton NN1 1DP

Lynne Dickens

Lynne is currently a part-time freelance website designer and marketer. Formerly trading full-time as Spot On Creative is a Northants-based creative team who have the hard-earned skills, expertise and industry knowledge that only come from having worked for years in advertising. It was all managed by Lynne Dickens who has over 20 years’ experience in marketing communications, and ten years in website design and build, and creative team project management.

Lynne is also a qualified art historian and has some expertise in curating fine art exhibitions and producing all of the catalogues, posters and supporting material to create a successful event.

All the guys in the team have worked for one-man bands, SMEs and large blue-chip multinationals in just about every sector, field and industry. Collectively, we can come up with great ideas, superb design and copy, and exceptional photography for anything from websites to email campaigns, branding to brochures – and everything in between.

And the beauty of Spot On Creative is that we’re big in creativity, experience and knowledge, but small in overheads and invoices. So we’re a much more sensible and affordable option for you than a larger advertising agency or marketing company.

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