Gwen Riley Jones: Feeling Better

An exhibition of photographic works exploring how to feel better through creativity, community and connection in Stockport at Arc at Hat Works

Saturday June 25th – Saturday September 9th 2022

Gwen Riley Jones is a photographer based in Stockport, Manchester. She first connected with us when she exhibited as part of ‘Stockport Together Again’ in Autumn 2021 at Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery. She explores themes of community, identity and her experiences of becoming a mother in her work, and how to feel better through creativity, something in line with our own values. Within her practice she often draws inspiration from personal accounts of those around her and from her own experiences.

In 2015 she published her own book titled ‘The Piccadilly Records Book’ which was a celebration of music, people and Manchester. In 2021 she won ‘Portrait Britain’ with a photograph of her husband Michael titled ‘11 days post-surgery’. 

This work is being exhibited for the first time printed onto textiles, alongside her ‘Window Portraits’ series, taken during the pandemic lockdown of 2020. 

You can connect with Gwen on Instagram @gwenrileyjones or via her website.

We are excited to have Saturday Art Club activities Poly Print Portraits, Cardboard Collage Portraits, Family Portraits and Photo Stitching for the launch on Saturday June 25th and July 30th, all inspired by Gwen’s work, plus an adult workshop that will be announced soon. Gwen’s interest in art in relation to postnatal depression will be a key theme of July’s Saturday Art Club alongside the launch of new artwork from our Creative Mums programme.

The exhibition will be open to the public in The Gallery Cafe at Arc at Hat Works on Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00-16:00 until 16:00 on Friday September 9th.