Landscapes, Life and Legacy: Reimagining the World of Turner

Step into the world of J. M. W. Turner and explore the shifting landscapes of the Victorian art world through a combination of creative writing and research insight. 

Join us to explore the ‘crossroads’, transitions or intersections between artistic tradition and innovation, between life and legacy, between interior and exterior landscapes, between personal and creative crossroads, and between observation and imagination. 

Listen to a talk on Turner and the Victorian art world led by a Surrey University postgraduate researcher, who is writing a historical novel on Turner’s world. Immerse yourself in a guided creative writing workshop inspired by Turner’s seascapes and skies, followed by an interactive activity exploring the works of Turner and George Frederic Watts. Then spend the rest of the day enjoying all that Watts Gallery has to offer at your own leisure. 

This event is suitable for a mature audience, art enthusiasts and creative writers.

This event is part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 5-14 November 2026. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. 

For further information, please see beinghumanfestival.org

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