Lockwood paintings trace a changing Birmingham from 3 November

Arts & Entertainment Desk 2026-10-28 10:52 2 min read

An oil painting of Birmingham Town Hall and Queen's College, 1850-1852.

From fields and farms to factories and shopping centres, Frank and Arthur Lockwood’s paintings and drawings record Birmingham changing across nearly a century. Illustrating Birmingham: 100 years through the eyes of the Lockwoods opens on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, in the Bridge Gallery. The source does not state an admission price or booking arrangements. The exhibition may interest visitors curious about the city’s streets, buildings and the people who lived and worked among them.

A century of Birmingham in paintings and working materials

The exhibition follows the city from the 1920s to the 2010s through the work of father and son artists. Some pieces show places that have since disappeared; others record demolition, redevelopment and new construction. Seen together, they offer views of Birmingham at different stages, rather than a single snapshot of its past.

Alongside paintings and drawings, visitors will see sketchbooks, designs, advertising material and other work. These materials add to the record of how the Lockwoods observed and depicted the city over time. The source describes their work as a personal account of Birmingham and its residents, shaped by the places where people lived and worked.

Frank Taylor Lockwood was born in Yorkshire in 1895 and trained as a technical artist. After serving in the First World War, he worked in Birmingham, including leading the design studio at Cadbury’s, and became an associate of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists. His son Arthur was born in Birmingham in 1934 and began painting with his father at an early age. He later trained in graphic design and worked for Penguin Books while continuing to draw and paint.

Contemporary perspectives alongside the Lockwoods’ work

Curated by Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery’s visitor experience team, the exhibition also includes contemporary perspectives on what Birmingham means to people who live and work there today. That pairing gives visitors a way to consider the Lockwoods’ historical record alongside present-day experiences of the city. The exhibition invites reflection on how Birmingham has changed, how it continues to change and how different people experience it.

Visiting the Bridge Gallery

The confirmed opening date is Tuesday 3 November 2026, and the venue is Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Bridge Gallery. The source provides no end date or opening hours, and does not state the price, whether booking is required, or transport and accessibility details. Check Birmingham Museums Trust’s exhibition information before setting out for the practical arrangements. This preview is based on the Trust’s announcement, which describes the exhibition’s contents and opening date.

Source: Birmingham Museums Trust Stories

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source and details

The exhibition date, venue, artists and described works were checked against the supplied Birmingham Museums Trust source.

Checks

Confirmed the opening date as Tuesday 3 November 2026.
Confirmed the venue as Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the gallery as the Bridge Galle...
Checked the description of the artists’ work and careers against the source text.
Noted that price, booking, end date and visitor logistics were not provided.

Birmingham Museums Trust Stories Check independent context