The Legacy of G.F. Watts
Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village in Compton is one of Surrey’s most distinctive cultural destinations. It was established by the Victorian painter and sculptor George Frederic Watts (1817–1904) and his wife Mary, a pioneering designer and social reformer. The complex includes the original gallery built in 1903 to house Watts’s paintings and sculptures, the Watts Mortuary Chapel designed and decorated by Mary Watts, and the surrounding grounds.
The gallery holds over 100 paintings, ranging from vast allegorical canvases to intimate portraits of the great Victorians. The chapel, a short walk up the hill, is an extraordinary fusion of Art Nouveau, Celtic, Romanesque and Egyptian motifs, entirely decorated in terracotta gesso by Mary Watts and local villagers. It is regarded as one of the finest examples of Arts and Crafts design in Britain.
Grounds & Visiting
The grounds around the gallery include sculpture trails, a historic pottery where visitors can try clay-modelling workshops, and gardens planted in sympathy with the Arts and Crafts aesthetic. Seasonal exhibitions complement the permanent collection, and there is a programme of talks, workshops and family activities throughout the year.
Watts Gallery is located on the B3000 in Compton, between Guildford and Godalming. Parking is free. The on-site Tea Shop, housed in the former Compton Potters’ Art Guild building, serves excellent cakes and light lunches. Compton is also the starting point for walks to the Hog’s Back and Loseley Park.
