In Shape and Shadow: A Spring Exhibition in Cheltenham

This April, Spring Cheltenham welcomes back two distinctive and complementary artists for a much-anticipated joint exhibition. From April 15th – 28th, 2026, Oxford-based ceramicist Sally Dorrity and photographer Tracy Florance reunite at the gallery’s beautiful space at 14 Rotunda Terrace under the evocative title Curvilinear.

‍

Curvilinear: Form, Reflection and Harmony

Exhibiting together regularly since 2018, Sally and Tracy have developed a creative dialogue that feels both intuitive and unexpected. Though working in very different media, clay and photography, their pieces resonate in remarkable ways.

Sally’s richly glazed ceramics mirror the tonal subtleties found in Tracy’s photographs of reflections in glass and water. The curves of hand-built vessels echo architectural arcs captured through Tracy’s lens. Colour becomes a shared language: Tracy is drawn to the subtle green hues of Sally’s ceramics, while Sally finds inspiration in the intriguing angles and structural forms within Tracy’s images.

The result is a visual conversation between solidity and reflection, texture and light.

‍

Tracy Florance: Capturing the Essence of Place

After many years in publishing, Tracy embarked on a second career as a photographer, her passion sparked by a darkroom kit gifted by her husband one Christmas. While living in Henley, she transformed her basement into a darkroom, and a lifelong love affair with photography began.

Today, Tracy travels widely, camera always in hand, seeking to capture the essence of the places she visits. She is particularly fascinated by façades, old and new, and the patterns found in both interior and exterior architecture.

“I'm fascinated by facades, old and new, and found an abundance of them on my recent trips to Sardinia and Lisbon.”

For this exhibition, Tracy presents a compelling collection of global imagery alongside local scenes, revealing the shapes and structures that often go unnoticed in the built and natural environment. Her work invites viewers to pause, reflect, and see familiar spaces anew.

‍

Sally Dorrity: Movement, Texture and the Language of Clay

Sally’s journey with clay began at university when a housemate suggested trying a pottery evening class. She was instantly hooked.

Fifteen years ago, a move to Oxford coincided with a desire to create larger works. Her focus shifted from wheel throwing to hand building, allowing greater freedom of form and expression. Working primarily in stoneware clay, Sally produces small, medium and large pieces, both functional and sculptural, designed for interiors and outdoor spaces.

She is deeply drawn to movement and texture, qualities that are evident in the sweeping curves and tactile surfaces of her ceramics. Listening to audiobooks as she works, Sally often associates particular pieces with particular authors.

“My work is both functional and sculptural and reflects the varying shades of the seasons, whether it be the warm summer turquoise of my vases or the spring green palette of my large pieces, ceramics for both home and garden.”

For the Cheltenham exhibition, she will showcase a wide range of pieces, from intimate vessels to striking statement forms.

‍

A Celebrated Return

Following their successful 2025 show, Sally Dorrity and Tracy Florance return to Spring Cheltenham with their distinctive blend of statement ceramics and contemporary photography.

Curvilinear promises an exhibition rich in harmony and contrast, where reflection meets form, and where clay and camera find a shared visual rhythm.

‍

‍

‍Exhibition Details
📍 Spring Cheltenham, 14 Rotunda Terrace
📅 April 15th – 28th, 2026
🎨 Featuring works by Sally Dorrity & Tracy Florance

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

A celebration of shape, colour and creative dialogue, not to be missed this spring in Cheltenham.

‍

www.sallydorrity.co.uk

www.tflorancephotography.co.uk

www.springcheltenham.com

‍

For all the latest on what’s happening in the Cotswolds, check out What’sOn?XL in CotswoldXL Magazine.

‍

‍