the season following

Harewood House
Harewood, North Yorkshire
23 January - 7 June, 2026

‘Charlotte Verity is a British artist based in Somerset renowned for her meticulously observed paintings of plants and flowers. The images seem as if they’ve just appeared spontaneously, such is her skill and deftness as a painter, but actually involve a long process of engagement with and observation of the natural world. Here at Harewood we have a long history of programming contemporary exhibitions in complement to the historic collections, gardens and landscape and this year we’re delighted to present this timely and important exhibition that invites us to journey with Charlotte Verity through the seasons.’ – Diane Howse, Countess of Harewood

Oculus, 2019, oil on canvas, 87 x 220 cm
Installed in the Spanish Library, Harewood House, 2026

This exhibition comprises over 50 works spanning the past fifteen years, including a new oil painting, watercolour monotypes and previously unseen works.

The exhibition is laid out in four rooms, one for each season and reflecting the cyclical nature of the year, ending with Oculus in the Spanish Library. Painted outside, the eye-like round window with its reflection of the wintery sky, reminds us that all the work in this show comes from intense visual scrutiny. 

Watercolour monotypes are distributed amongst the oil paintings.

CV 3 02, 2024
watercolour monotype, 23.5 x 21 cm

Twelve new watercolour paintings of poems are placed on mantelpieces through the exhibition. The language of the poetry is intended to ease the viewer into the mind of each season as they pass through the rooms. The process of writing them out in paint, with a brush, is similar to Verity’s observational watercolours. Over time each letter is scrutinised, the form on the paper considered and numerous corrections remain visible.