G F and Mary Watts, Victorian artists and social visionaries, built their home, Limnerslease, in the Surrey hills. The fully restored Watts Studios, in the east wing of Limnerslease was opened in January 2016, bringing back the Wattses’ vision of ‘Art for All’. Our graphic scheme is integral to ZMMA’s sensitive restoration.
In the G F Watts Studio, the smell of oils and varnish fills the air, and strewn on desks are letters in the artist's own hand. Around the room are unfinished canvases displayed on easels or suspended from the rafters in this cathedral-like space. Another gallery is devoted to the work of socialist Mary Watts, displaying works of art never seen before alongside archival diaries, notebooks and films giving an insight into her life and commitment to the local community.
