Families invited to embrace the winter season at Harewood inspired by new art exhibition
We were recently invited to a press preview of The Season Following, a new contemporary art exhibition just launched, and it’s truly beautiful. The work feels perfectly at home within Harewood’s historic rooms, reflecting the rhythm of nature and the changing seasons in a way that’s both calming and quietly captivating. It’s the kind of exhibition that invites you to slow down, look closely and really take it all in.
The Charlotte Verity Exhibition
Renowned for her meticulously observed paintings of plants and flowers, The Season Following will mark the first time artist Charlotte Verity has exhibited within a historic country house. It is also the first time the artist has exhibited extensively in the north of England, with prints and paintings spanning the past 20 years to the present – including several being shown for the first time.
Children can take part in a Charlotte Verity-inspired family trail through the exhibition and in the Servants’ Hall, the Family Fun Space offers a cosy retreat with colouring sheets and creative activities that change with the seasons, as well as a book corner, and family games.
Families can also look forward to a season of discovery and fun outdoors at Harewood this winter. From epic outdoor adventures to creative indoor play, Harewood is packed with spaces where children can explore, imagine and burn off energy, all set within 140 acres of beautiful Yorkshire landscape.
Kids can swing and slide in the huge Adventure Playground, get lost in the magical willow mazes of the Woodland Wonderland, and journey up into the Sylvascope Treehouse, all at no extra cost. Little explorers can also collect a Nature Safari Bag and head out on scenic trails to spot snowdrops and wildlife around the lake.
The beauty of nature through the year
At the Charlotte Verity exhibition, visitors will experience the changing seasons across five magnificent state rooms. Moving from winter through spring, summer and autumn, the exhibition will reflect nature’s cyclical pattern, returning at the end with a grand winter painting. It invites people to linger, look closely, and celebrate the subtle beauty of nature throughout the year.
The exhibition is interspersed with a series of painted poems both historic and contemporary, related to the seasons. In other areas of the House, visitors will also have the opportunity to view exquisite floral pieces from Harewood’s collection, including rarely displayed Sevres porcelain.
Zoë Hughes, Head of Public Programme at Harewood House Trust, commented: “This year, we want our guests to experience the best Harewood has to offer through every season. We’ve got an incredible programme of events across the year for all ages and interests. Harewood House and its grounds bring nature and art together in one the greatest achievements of English Landscape gardening, so it is particularly well placed to launch 2026 with Charlotte Verity, The Season Following: an exhibition of paintings which focus on the beauty of every season.”
Available to visit Friday to Sunday between 23 January and 22 March (open daily from 23 March – 7 June), the exhibition displays Charlotte’s artwork through the seasons, beginning in winter.
Zoë added: “We are proud that Harewood offers a place for people of all ages to learn about art. As Charlotte Verity demonstrates through her work, we want to emphasise that winter can be embraced for its beauty, offering a moment of rest and reflection – and this exhibition offers families a connection to nature whilst the natural world is hibernating. We also want to encourage people to take time out to look after their mental wellbeing; and the perfect way to do that is by browsing these beautiful artworks followed by a refreshing walk around our incredible gardens and grounds.”
Families can also enjoy free drop-in sessions throughout the winter weekends, including Harewood’s monthly LEGO Club and the Saturday Craft Club. We’re also delighted to introduce a new Relaxed Hour at LEGO Club from 10–11am, dedicated to SEND children and their families who would benefit from a calmer, quieter environment.
Opening times are seasonal, so please check the website.
Image credits – Dreamstime and Ben Westoby
