Percy Kelly: Off the Wall exhibition – expect the unexpected

Theatre by the Lake is proud to present PERCY KELLY: OFF THE WALL, an exhibition of original works. Running from Saturday 25 October to Saturday 15 November 2025, this free-entry exhibition takes place across the Mezzanine and Circle levels and features an extraordinary selection of work on paper and original prints in charcoal, pencil and watercolour.

Curated by Chris Wadsworth, founder of Castlegate House Gallery and representative of the Percy Kelly estate, the show invites visitors to view the acclaimed West Cumbrian artist through a bold new lens.

All artworks will be available for purchase, with proceeds donated to support Theatre by the Lake and its charitable mission.

Building on the phenomenal success of last year’s PERCY KELLY: SCENE AND UNSEEN, this new exhibition shines a spotlight on the unexpected narratives through Kelly’s work. Alongside new discoveries, the exhibition will also feature Percy Kelly’s depictions of West Cumbrian, evocative, atmospheric scenes that remain central to his legacy.

Simon Stephens, Executive Director and joint CEO of Theatre by the Lake, said: “At Theatre by the Lake, we remain passionately committed to showcasing Cumbrian voices and celebrating the artists who shape our cultural landscape. Percy Kelly’s work is woven into the fabric of Cumbrian identity and continues to inspire and captivate. Following the overwhelming success of Scene and Unseen (2024), we are thrilled to welcome audiences back with Off the Wall. We are deeply grateful to Chris Wadsworth for her support and commitment to championing the region’s cultural heritage.

Chris Wadsworth said “Expect the Unexpected. Percy Kelly died more than 30 years ago but he can still surprise and delight. Cumbria has many artists who are attracted by the pretty landscapes but Kelly’s stark charcoal and chalk, delicate water colours and ink are very different and catch the deep feeling of place. As well as his West Cumbrian townscapes prepare for dramatic imagery: still lives, animals, fish and plants made when he was a student at Carlisle College of Art. OFF THE WALL invites you into the wilder corners of Kelly’s creative imagination, mischievous, experimental and defiantly unorthodox.”

ARTIST LEGACY & EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS

Born in Workington, Percy Kelly remained deeply connected to the Cumbrian landscape throughout his life. Though often reclusive, he left behind a body of work rich in emotional depth and technical mastery.

• Exhibition Saturday 25 October – Saturday 15 November 2025
• Book here