MEET THE MEMBER – The Old Courthouse Gallery
When the founding family behind The Old Courthouse Gallery stepped away after more than 20 years at the helm, two long-time supporters of the gallery stepped forward to carry on its legacy. Determined to preserve this much-loved creative hub at the heart of Ambleside, Paul and Caroline Jones took over ownership and operations, bringing fresh energy while honouring its roots.
In this edition of MEET THE MEMBER, we catch up with Paul and Caroline to hear how they became involved with The Old Courthouse Gallery (OCG), what it means to them and the local community, and how the Own Art scheme has helped reinforce their commitment to making art buying more accessible and inclusive over the past two decades.
Originally founded by the Brammall family in 1994, who converted Ambleside’s historic Old Courthouse building (built c.1856) to house the gallery, the OCG has always been a family-run enterprise. Two generations of Bramhall’s developed the business over the next 22 years, building it up into a widely respected contemporary arts and crafts gallery. Then, in late 2016, when the Bramhall’s retired, Paul and Caroline bought the business and have been leading it ever since.
After finding their feet and getting to know the business in the first few years, the COVID-19 pandemic brought a number of challenges. Caroline, who works part-time as an NHS nurse, was called to focus on frontline patient care, while Paul had to swiftly navigate grant applications and put measures in place to support their team through an uncertain time. Towards the end of lockdown, the retail space next door became vacant and the pair decided to acquire it, upgrading their display space and providing the gallery with a larger on street presence. In 2024, they celebrated 30 years of the OCG and marked the occasion with three events: a Grand Charity Art Auction, raising over £4,000 for local charity ArtWorks4All and an evening buffet cruise on Lake Windermere to for their team and a party at the gallery to bring together their artists and makers. “Today, all of us here are proud that the Old Courthouse Gallery is considered one of the best contemporary retail art galleries in the North”, they remarked.
The OCG presents a wide range of arts and craft pieces, with the aim of displaying high quality work in a variety of styles. They focus on UK based artists and makers, many of whom are from northern England and Scotland – “we are keen to support local and emerging artists alongside those who are more established or from elsewhere in the UK”. Alongside a comprehensive selection of paintings – ranging from detailed realistic pieces to highly abstract work – they have a wonderful collection of glasswork, ceramics, sculptures, fine furniture and contemporary jewellery.
Geoffrey Smith
Overall, the OCG champion quality, interest and “differentness” over the price of a work or the reputation of an artist. Located in the heart of the Lake District and surrounded by stunning natural beauty, Paul and Caroline are drawn to artwork that reflects the local landscape and wildlife. Many of the gallery’s artists find inspiration in the fells and lakes of the National Park, creating a strong connection between the gallery and its environment that deeply resonates with their visitors.
When asked how they want a person to feel when visiting the gallery, Paul and Caroline shared, “First and foremost, we want them to feel welcome – we believe our visitors should be comfortable browsing in a friendly environment. We are fortunate in having such a large, bright and airy space in which to display beautiful art. It’s a perfect place for people to be inspired. Whether our visitors are familiar with art, we want them to leave happy”
Paul and Caroline work hard to maintain trusted relationships their collectors and repeat visitors as well as build new connections with first-time visitors and art-buyers. The pair are equally committed to maintaining and growing their portfolio of artists and makers. With this warm and friendly approach, the duo hope to continue to strengthen the gallery’s reputation as one of the best in the North
“We remain a firm favourite with our many repeat customers who travel from far and wide to visit us and with our family of over 120 artists, who we are proud to represent”.
Images from the opening of Painting the Wainwrights
In 2004, the OCG joined the (then) newly established Own Art scheme. Paul and Caroline explained how “membership of the scheme lends credibility to the gallery – offering Own Art is seen as an important mark of the size and stability of the business”. For their artists, the scheme provides access to a wider range of customers and “gives them confidence that we can help all types of buyers to acquire their work”. Caroline noted that the rapid process and payout from Own Art also means their artists receive their payment “just as quickly as if a customer bought without using the scheme”.
For their customers, it has allowed the OCG to make sales that would not have possible without Own Art, helping visitors to spread the cost of artworks that they couldn’t otherwise afford. Paul also noted that the application process gives him and the buyer a chance “to chat and get to know each other better”, which has been essential to the building of new customer relationships. Art ownership is often seen as a luxury, in the sense that it is not essential to daily life. Yet, as Paul explained, it plays a key role in our lives through the generation of both “aesthetic enjoyment and positive emotions”, as well as helping us to create memories – “acting as a reminder of a special place, event or feeling” he said. However, as a luxury, it is also the case that not everyone can necessarily afford every piece. Own Art, therefore, “helps buyers acquire special pieces that might otherwise be out of reach for them”.
Painting the Wainwrights | 2 August – 3 October 2025
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Alfred Wainwright’s (1907-1991) first book being published, the gallery is collaborating with Lake District artist and fell runner Victoria Rose Miller to present Painting the Wainwrights. This one-of-a-kind solo exhibition will showcase Miller’s original oil paintings of all 214 of the Lake Districts fells, as described and depicted in Wainwright’s 1955 publication.
Wainwright was a legendary British fell walker, guidebook author and illustrator and is best known for his seven-volume work Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, sales of which have exceeded 20 million copies since they were first published. In the books, he outlines 214 Lake District peaks which have become known as ‘the Wainwrights’. Walking them and ticking off or ‘bagging’ the summits has become a challenge that has enthralled walkers and runners for many decades.
Inspired by his detailed sketches of the fells, Miller has followed in his footsteps, climbing and painting all 214 of the Wainwright peaks. Painting the Wainwrights will be one of the biggest and longest running exhibitions ever hosted at the OCG and the first known exhibition to feature original oil paintings depicting all 214 Wainwright peaks.
Miller was raised in South Africa and trained under the late Francois Visser. Her early work focused on the dramatic African landscape with its expansive skies and rugged interior. She moved to the Lake District in 2018, finding a natural affinity with the mountainous Cumbrian landscape. Working predominantly in oil, she paints the landscape as she experiences it and is passionate about capturing the power and beauty of nature through her art.
The first 40 paintings are already on display at the gallery and Victoria will be releasing additional work in batches during August. The full exhibition of around 70 canvasses covering all 214 of the fells will then remain on display until the end. They show the fells in all their variety and in all seasons, “from the depths of winter to clear blue summer skies”. Lake District locals who know the area well, will no doubt feel a special affinity for a particular fell, and therefore a particular painting in this exhibition. Summer visitors to the area, and to the gallery, will be treated to a “rich and immersive introduction to the Cumbrian landscape”
Image of Paul, Victoria and Caroline at the opening of Painting the Wainwrights
Discover The Old Courthouse Gallery for yourself:
Visit their website: www.oldcourthousegallery.com
Follow them on Instagram: oldcourthousegallery
With thanks to Paul and Caroline of the Old Courthouse Gallery and congratulations to Victoria Miller for her solo exhibition Painting the Wainwrights. This interview has been edited for clarity, length and readability.