Britain is set to host a year-long festival of exhibitions and events to mark 250 years since the birth of painter JMW Turner.
Considered to be Britain’s greatest and most influential artist, Turner travelled throughout the country capturing its dramatic scenery, redefining landscape painting in the process. Even if you’re not familiar with his work, you’ll almost certainly be familiar with his face, given it features on the £20 note.
Alongside exhibitions (which we’ll get onto in a moment), you’ll be able to explore the complete catalogue of Turner’s 37,500 sketches and watercolours on Tate’s website from November this year. The BBC is also working on a new documentary, Turner Unseen: The Secret Life of a Radical Genius, while BFI Southbank will screen Mike Leigh’s award-winning film Mr. Turner in April, just in time for Turner’s birthday.
Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said, “Turner was one of this country’s greatest artists. An innovator who created some of our best known canvasses, he reshaped British art. A talent of Turner’s stature requires a year of celebration, from the prize in his name to the back of the £20 note, his immense legacy continues to permeate through the arts and public life in Britain. The 250th anniversary of his birth will be an opportunity for the public to immerse themselves in our outstanding artistic heritage. I encourage everyone to take the time to find an event from the upcoming year to enjoy some of Britain’s finest artists from the past and present.”
Turner 250 exhibitions
JMW Turner: In Light and Shade
Where? The Whitworth, Manchester
When? 7 February–2 November 2025
Turner’s Liber Studiorum, a collection of 71 prints created between 1807 and 1819, will be going on display in its entirety for the first time in over 100 years as part of Turner 250 celebrations at The Whitworth in Manchester. These landscape engravings will be paired with a series of watercolour paintings, from both the art gallery’s collections and loaned works.
More information: whitworth.manchester.ac.uk.
Turner’s Kingdom: Beauty, Birds and Beasts
Where? Turner’s House, Twickenham
When? 23 April–26 October 2025
Designed by Turner himself, Sandycombe Lodge was built in 1813 as a quiet retreat outside of London for the artist. Now the only Turner-designed home left standing, visitors to Turner’s House have the opportunity to walk in his footsteps. Come 23 April, you’ll also have the chance to see many of his works that focus on birds and other animals as part of Turner 250.
More information: turnershouse.org.
Romance to Realities: The Northern Landscape and Shifting Identities
Where? Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle
When? Until 26 April 2025
England’s (and Scotland’s) green and pleasant lands have inspired artists for centuries, and this new exhibition at Laing Art Gallery will bring together works over the past 200 years, from John Knox, Alexander Nasmyth, and John Martin to contemporary artist such as Anne Redpath, L.S. Lowry, and Joan Eardley. For Turner fans, one of the highlights is the watercolour Inverness (1833).
More information: laingartgallery.org.uk.
Austen and Turner: A Country House Encounter
Where? Harewood House, Leeds
When? 2 May–19 October 2025
2025 marks 250 years since another famed Briton, this time from the literary world, was born: Jane Austen. To mark the occasion, Harewood House will be putting on an exhibition that shows their shared interest in the social and cultural life of the British country house and its landscape. Turner’s paintings of Harewood House and Harewood’s first edition copy of Sense and Sensibility will be going on display alongside period costume, writing and artistic tools, as well as contemporary art reflecting on the topic.
More information: harewood.org.
Impressions in Watercolour: Turner and his Contemporaries
Where? The Holburne Museum, Bath
When? 23 May–31 August 2025
A number of Turner works from a private collection will be on display alongside paintings from contemporaries such as Thomas Girtin and John Sell Cotman at Bath’s Holburne Museum from May until August.
More information: holburne.org.
Turner’s Vision at Petworth
Where? Petworth House, Sussex
When? 21 June–16 November 2025
During his lifetime Turner was a regular guests at Petworth House in Sussex thanks to his friendship with George O’Brien Wyndham, the 3rd Earl of Egremont. Over the years, he completed a range of studies of the landscape here, which will be going on display for the first time in 20 years to mark Turner 250.
More information: nationaltrust.org.uk.
Turner: Always Contemporary
Where? Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
When? 25 October 2025–22 February 2026
National Museums Liverpool’s collection of Turner’s oil paintings, works on paper and prints will feature in Turner: Always Contemporary alongside modern and contemporary artworks that delve into the same themes. Giving a fresh perspective on issues that Turner himself dealt with in his work such as climate change, immigration, tourism, and the role of the artist, pieces from 250 years of art history will go on show, include paintings from Claude Monet, Ethel Walker and Bridget Riley.
More information: liverpoolmuseums.org.uk.
Turner and Constable
Where? Tate Britain, London
When? 27 November 2025–12 April 2026
Born just a year apart, JMW Turner and John Constable both set about to change landscape painting, becoming rivals in the process. While Turner painted scenes from across Britain on his travels, Constable returned to a handful of places which he repeatedly reimagined in his works. Putting works from the two side-by-side, Tate Britain will allow visitors to see their works as they often were shown at the time – together.
More information: tate.org.uk
Turner 250 events
Easter Holidays at Windsor Castle
One of many sources of inspiration found in England, Turner painted Windsor several times during his lifetime. So this April, visitors to Windsor Castle won’t just be celebrating Easter, they’ll also be marking Turner’s 250th birthday with themed arts and crafts sessions at its learning centre from Wednesday to Sunday between 5-23 April.
More information: rct.uk.
Mr. Turner screening
BFI Southbank will host a screening of Mr. Turner starring Timothy Spall on 27 April, with a Q&A from the film’s director Mike Leigh and Dr Jacqueline Riding, historical advisor and authority on JMW Turner.
More information: whatson.bfi.org.uk
Exploring Turner’s Legacy
Tate Britain will host a conference on Turner’s work with an array of panel events, presentations and exhibition tours between 4 and 5 December.
For more details on all of the Turner 2025 exhibitions and events, head to tate.org.uk.
