From the Collection: Drawings

An exhibition of drawings from the Northampton Museums & Art Gallery collection.

This exhibition explores drawing as a fundamental artistic language, presenting preparatory sketches and finished works that reveal how ideas take shape on paper. Through the delicate studies of Henry Moore, the atmospheric sketches of Walter Sickert, the imaginative designs of Sir Edward Burne Jones, and the expressive drawings of Clare Abbatt, amongst others, visitors are invited to consider drawing not merely as a preliminary step but as an art form in its own right. The works on display highlight how artists across different periods and practices use line, tone, and observation to experiment, problem solve, and refine their vision. Together, they celebrate drawing’s enduring role as a tool for exploration, invention, and creative thinking.