Affordable Art Fair returns to its iconic North London home of Hampstead Heath this spring, from 6th to 10th May, marking the second of its Spring editions and the first and only Hampstead fair of the year.
Over 100 galleries from the UK and beyond – including 8 making their Affordable Art Fair debut – will present more than 1,000 artworks across the fair. A particular highlight is Ceramics Unbound, a new exhibition curated by curator Caroline Jackman, featuring boundary-pushing work from talented ceramicists including campaign artist Sara Dodd (The Art Buyer).
Visitors will also discover specially curated displays including Heath & Heart, celebrating art inspired by Hampstead Heath; Investing in Her, AJ Bell Money Matters’ returning exhibition supporting women artists and spotlighting conversations to help women feel good investing; and Finds Under £500, for collectors and first-time buyers seeking accessible works. Al-fresco painting workshops on the Heath invite visitors to engage with the natural beauty of their surroundings.
The return of Summer Lates marks the arrival of warmer days and longer evenings, offering visitors the chance to browse the fair into the later hours accompanied by DJ sets and St-Germain cocktails on the Treetop Terrace overlooking the Heath.
Bottom Row L-R: Emily Gibbard, Woman I, Ceramics Unbound; Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2025, photo by Graham Turner.
On weekends, Family Mornings welcome art lovers of all ages to join in on the fun. The Children’s Art Competition invites children in the Hampstead community to submit works inspired by the Heath, with a selection of entries showcased at the Fair.
Further programme details can be found on the Affordable Art Fair website here.
INAUGURAL CERAMICS UNBOUND EXHIBITION
This May, Affordable Art Fair Hampstead presents Ceramics Unbound, a debut exhibition showcasing work from 27 artists who push the boundaries of clay and defy expectations of the medium.
Visitors will be welcomed into the Fair’s entrance hall by a works from artists including Adele Howitt, inspired by wild plants and botanical research; Greek artist Agalis Manessi, who works between London and Corfu within the tradition of maiolica; Christopher Turrell, whose practice is informed by the queer artists and figures who helped shape his identity; and Ying Zheng, who uses the balance between stability and fluidity in ceramics to explore the essence of humanity and romantic relationships.
L-R: Christopher Turrell, Garden Bottle; Ying Zheng, Purity of True Feelings (Before It Withers) IIII; Inscape I by Caroline Egleston
Curated by artist and curator Caroline Jackman, Ceramics Unbound reflects the recent uptake in the popularity of ceramics as a medium. Caroline brings over 25 years of experience as a recognised specialist in the crafts sector. Having led Craft Business Skills at the Crafts Council for years, she developed a comprehensive understanding of both the opportunities and challenges facing makers today. She is committed to expanding perceptions of ceramics through championing exceptional craftsmanship, powerful narratives, and innovative design.
From quietly poetic to boldly sculptural, the exhibition showcases ceramics as the highly desirable art form it has become: a must-see for seasoned collectors and curious first-timers alike.
PROGRAMME ARTIST: SARA DODD
Programme artist Sara Dodd (represented by The Art Buyer), is a ceramic artist who works intuitively with porcelain clay to create exceptionally delicate pieces. Dodd is a Young Masters Emerging Woman Artist Award winner (2023) and winner of a 3D Art Prize at the Wales Contemporary Open (2022) – among numerous other accolade – and has also exhibited in the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition.
In her practice, she deals with clay in its liquid form – slip – adding pigments by hand to create a colour palette reminiscent of the colours of the sky. This is inspired by her childhood in Wales and holidays in the west of Ireland, where she recalls seeing ‘a lot of grey skies,’ which in turn formed her appreciation for ‘an expansive, open sky’.
Dodd’s Skyscapes, Blue fronts Affordable Art Fair Hampstead’s campaign imagery. Her wafer-thin ceramic pieces give a fresh twist to the medium, as Dodd says: “I’ve developed a rather non-traditional way of using ceramics. It’s come about through plenty of trial and error, pushing the material so it’s unrecognisable, often mistaken by viewers for fabric or paper.”
Sara Dodd’s role as Programme Artist highlights Affordable Art Fair Hampstead’s commitment to championing brilliant ceramic artists and displaying the multitude of forms that can be created with the medium of clay.
Works by Sara Dodd
CURATED DISPLAYS
For visitors seeking something special, Affordable Art Fair Hampstead’s curated displays are the perfect place to start. Designed to help people discover art that they love, this year’s displays are organised around three standout themes.
Heath & Heart: Celebrating Your Local Community honours art inspired by Hampstead Heath itself, one of London’s most beloved landscapes. The display features work from the winners and runners-up of Affordable Art Fair Hampstead’s school competition, inviting the next generation of artists to explore their connection to nature through art.
Open to children from Reception to Year 6, the competition encourages young artists to submit artwork inspired by the Heath and the Hampstead community, with the top entries celebrated at one of London’s most beloved art fairs.
L-R; Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2025, Graham Turner; Anne-Marie Ellis, Mine’s a Mojito
Invested in Her, in collaboration with AJ Bell Money Matters, shines a light on brilliant women artists while encouraging women to feel confident and comfortable investing.
For savvy art hunters, the Finds Under £500 selection makes it easier than ever to bring something beautiful home.
AFTERNOON ART CLASSES
Also returning to the Heath are Afternoon Art Classes with artist Estelle Lovatt, who will be hosting outdoor watercolour workshops painting the very landscape that inspired the renowned Hampstead-based artist John Constable – this year marking the 250th anniversary of his birth.From 2pm – 3:30pm on the Thursday and Friday of the Fair, Estelle will guide visitors through using watercolour paint on Hahnemühle Sugar Cane and Agave paper to capture the natural beauty of the Heath. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn John Constable’s techniques for capturing light on water and dramatic skies, from the place where he lived and worked.
SEVEN YEARS OF JACKSON’S ART PRIZE
Now in its seventh year at the Affordable Art Fair, Jackson’s Art Prize returns with a compelling selection of shortlisted and prize-winning works from the 2026 edition, chosen from 16,280 submissions from 110 countries. Spanning painting, drawing and printmaking, it’s a vivid snapshot of where contemporary art is heading, highlighting fresh perspectives within the art world.
FRESH ART FOR SPRING
Bringing fresh energy to the fair this spring, Affordable Art Fair Hampstead will welcome eight galleries making their Affordable Art Fair debut. These include: Blue Raine Gallery, proudly championing female artists from around the world; Chrysalis Art Collective, who will be showcasing a trio of emerging artists; the eclectic Pimpernel Gallery; Neath-based Queen Street Gallery showcasing works by Welsh artists and artists living in Wales; Swiss gallery Van Leeuwen Art, based in Richterswil; Orbis Contemporary, who will be bringing a vibrant mix of work by contemporary Australian artists; and Mumbai-based gallery Goose and Varley, showcasing a new generation of South Asian talent.
See here for a full list of exhibiting galleries.
FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY
In addition to the stunning artworks for sale, Affordable Art Fair Hampstead offers a range of creative activities for visitors of all ages.
On weekend mornings from 10am – 12pm, Family Mornings return with an art treasure hunt, face painting, a giant ‘Colour Me In’ wall, and hands-on creative activities at the dedicated Kids’ Creative Corner. From 10am – 3pm, the sustainable children’s clothing brand Petit Pli is hosting drop-in workshops for creative little ones, including a ‘decorate your-own JetPack’ activity.
SUMMER LATES
In the evenings, Affordable Art Fair Hampstead transforms with its Summer Lates – the only event of its kind on Hampstead Heath. On Thursday and Friday from 5 – 9pm, visitors can explore the fair and browse the galleries while enjoying live DJ sets. Round off your evening with a drop-in screen-printing workshop led by artist M.E. Ster-Molnar, represented by Dalloz Contemporary – a hands-on chance to collaborate and take home your own Hampstead-inspired print.
This year, the Treetop Terrace – the Heath’s only rooftop bar – is being taken over by Spritz Partner St Germain, serving a signature elderflower cocktail and offering sweeping views across the Heath. Outdoor food trucks offer a wide range of cuisines, from wood-fired pizza to Moroccan street food and ice-cream.
Whether you’re on the hunt for your next art obsession or simply looking for a memorable evening out, Affordable Art Fair’s Summer Lates are an evening not to be missed.
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