Celebration of the life and art of much-loved Devon artist

The creative community will be gathering to celebrate the life of an artist who transformed her home into a gallery, and engaged with local people though her ‘creative noticeboards’.

Veronica Gosling – who died in November 2025 at the age of 94 – was a prolific artist and beloved community figure, who worked from her home at Studio 36 in Exeter. The gallery was a space for experimentation where she held exhibitions, performances and events with poetry, dance, song, video and painting.

Veronica was a self-taught artist who enjoyed breaking the rules. Her work was often humorous yet underpinned by serious themes. Studio 36 is an artwork in itself – walls, staircases, appliances, furniture and garden spaces were all absorbed into her practice. She resisted the title “artist”, preferring to say simply, “I make things.” This ethos underpinned her collaborations with communities across Exeter, including projects with Inclusive Exeter, Exeter City Council, and painting workshops for people with dementia and their carers.

During the covid pandemic, Veronica launched a community noticeboard project, ‘Get on Board’. She invited creative contributions from the local community which she displayed on a noticeboard outside her house. The project carried on during lockdown and beyond. She was still working on the project just days before her death. It was a huge success, with hundreds of contributions from all sorts of people including artists, neighbours and prisoners from Exeter Prison.

Veronica’s son, Jonathan Gosling said:

“Studio 36 was never just a gallery to our mother, it was a way of living. She believed that creativity belonged to everyone, not just to artists, and she made a space where people could enjoy her work and where they felt free to experiment and discover something new about themselves. This celebration reflects exactly how she lived and worked.

We’re looking forward to sharing her work and celebrating her with local people, the artistic community and the many people she encountered during her unusual life.”

At the event to celebrate her life and work, there will be an exhibition, featuring a wide selection of Veronica’s work. Paintings, garden sculptures, drawings, ceramics, woodwork, and assemblages will be on display, offering visitors a chance to experience Veronica’s unique vision for what may be the last time in this setting. There will be musical performances, art activities for all ages, poetry and refreshments.

Celebrating the Life and Work of Veronica Gosling Memorial Exhibition takes place at Studio 36, Exeter on Sunday 17 May 2026 from 11am to 4pm. More information: https://studio36exeter.co.uk