In Conversation: Charlotte Dawson, Beth Hughes & Harriet Bowman
Join Charlotte Dawson, Beth Hughes & Harriet Bowman in a conversation exploring the themes of Charlotte’s exhibition If Memory Serves Me Well.
About Beth Hughes
Beth Hughes is an independent curator and researcher who has been working with publicly-funded contemporary art collections for over 15 years. She is currently Curator and Creative Producer for Lubaina Himid Projects, and recent freelance projects include those with MIMA, Middlesbrough and Salisbury Cathedral. She was Curator at Arts Council Collection for eight years where she curated a number of exhibitions including Found Cities, Lost Objects: Women in the City, Criminal Ornamentation: Yinka Shonibare MBE curates the Arts Council Collection and the Grayson Perry tapestry series, The Vanity of Small Differences. Beth is undertaking a PhD supervised by Prof. Dave O’Brien with Manchester University to examine the representation of contemporary British working-class artists in publicly-funded art collections. She leads the Working Class British Art Network.
Beth recently had a studio visit with Charlotte for research purposes and continues to consider Charlotte’s practice and work.
About Charlotte Dawson
Based in Sheffield, Charlotte Dawson is an artist working across object-based practice and installation. Her practice is influenced by the materials and objects found in public and shared spaces alongside objects that reference collective experiences. Her practice is primarily concerned with the implementation of commonplace objects as vessels for memory. Including concepts of souvenir-hood, collections – both personal and historical and the utilisation of objects in the formation of social histories and a building of self.
Often working in series, Charlotte’s work plays with concepts of the hand-made-mass-produced. Referencing industrial processes through repetition whilst contextualising her pieces within collections. Language both visual and written underpins her practice, with explorations into the marks and traces of others within spaces, the stories or histories surrounding objects and how divergence from expected materials can create new narratives around familiar forms.
Charlotte is currently exhibiting If Memory serves Me Well in Space 1 at Humber Street Gallery. The exhibition explores memory, ritual, loss, and the emotional relationships we build with and within shared spaces.
Harriet Bowman
Harriet Bowman is a multidisciplinary artist born in North Devon and currently living and working in Bristol with a studio at Spike Island. Recent exhibitions include: ‘Slow Puncture’ (touring) The Art House, 2026, Crosslane Projects, 2026 and Standpoint Gallery, London, 2025; ‘Taking Care of the Yolk’, MIRROR Plymouth, Plymouth, 2024; ‘Maybe they had an urgent call’ (touring) Exeter Phoenix, Exeter, 2023; ‘Maybe they had an urgent call‘ (touring) Devonshire Collective, Eastbourne, 2022; All Round-er (sad sale), Spike Island, Bristol 2019; putting my foot down, OUTPOST, Gildengate House, Norwich, 2018.
Recent awards and residencies include: Incidendental Artist with East Side Projects 2025 – 2027, Wheatley Fellow with Birmingham City University and ESP 2025 – 2027, winner of the Mark Tanner Sculpture Award 2024, The Cornwall Workshop, Residency led by Mike Nelson at CAST & Kestle Barton, 2024; Awarded the South West Showcase, 2023/24; Henry Moore Foundation Artist Award, 2025 & 2023, AXIS Fellowship Award, 2023-24; Creative Associate in the glass department at the Arts University Plymouth, 2023-ongoing; Recipient of WEVAA bursary, 2023, a Lecturer on the UWE BA Fine Art course and a trustee for Spike Island.
Accessibility
Is Humber Street Gallery wheelchair accessible?
Yes. You can access every part of the gallery without steps. The entrance is level with the street, and there’s a lift to all floors, including the rooftop.
Do you have accessible toilets?
Yes. We have one all-gender accessible toilet on the ground floor with grab rails and emergency pull cords.
Can I bring my assistance dog?
Absolutely. We welcome guide dogs, hearing dogs and other trained assistance animals throughout the building.
Do you provide large print or accessible exhibition guides?
Yes. We offer large print as standard and Dyslexia-friendly versions of exhibition texts. You can pick them up in the gallery or download them from the exhibition pages of our website.
Is there somewhere quiet I can go if I need a break?
We know the gallery can sometimes feel busy or overwhelming. Ask a member of staff and we’ll help you find a quieter space to take a moment.
Do you offer sensory-friendly experiences?
Some exhibitions include sensory content and we have regular quiet hours. We also have ear defenders available to borrow at the front desk. If you need anything specific, get in touch before your visit. You can find details of our noisy and quiet hours at the top of this page.
Is there Blue Badge parking nearby?
Yes. There are Blue Badge parking bays on Humber Street and surrounding roads, just a short distance from the gallery.
Are your events and workshops accessible?
We aim to make all events as accessible as possible. Access details vary depending on the activity, so check individual listings or contact us with any questions.
What if I have an access need that’s not listed here?
We’re happy to chat and find ways to support your visit. You can call us, email us or drop in for a conversation.
