Lines of Enquiry at Leeds Art Gallery

A Woman Ironing by Walter Sickert, c.1887. Leeds City Art Gallery. Bought, 1951

A new collection display at Leeds Art Gallery invites visitors to look beyond the surface of an artwork into the creative process itself. Bringing together a range of artworks from the gallery’s nationally renowned works on paper collection which consists of over 10,000 items, works in the display date from the late 18th century to today.

Supported by the Cosman Keller Trust, the exhibition illuminates the varied role sketches and preparatory drawings play in the creative process. The selection provides an insight into the thought process and creative decision making of individuals artists. Often never intended for public view, these drawings capture moments of experimentation, and refinement- tracing how initial ideas evolve into fully realised compositions.

One section is dedicated to portrait drawings by Curtis Holder, an artist known for large-scale graphite and coloured pencil portraits and figurative works on paper. Holder’s practice is rooted in dialogue with his sitters, with drawings emerging through dynamic, febrile lines that trace their evolving relationship. Through this process, Holder brings visibility to people whose stories are often overlooked in mainstream narratives, revealing the tenderness, presence, and emotional resonance of each subject. To hear a conversation between Holder and artist Charmaine Watkiss on the connections between contemporary portrait drawing and visual storytelling, listen to episode one of the Understanding British Portraits Podcast, here.

Lines of Enquiry is on display at Leeds Art Gallery until 11 April 2027.