New Exhibition Celebrates 200 Years of British Poster Design

From bold Victorian designs to striking modern graphics, Poster Power! explores 200 years of British posters at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath. Opening on 23 January, the exhibition brings together an exceptional selection of 19th- and 20th‑century advertising posters, with many from the collections of the Victoria Art Gallery and Bath Record Office.

Reflecting the changing spirit of the times, the exhibition explores how posters have been used to promote entertainment, theatre, travel and transport, political campaigns, and even World War One recruitment. Visitors will discover how poster design evolved alongside society, while enjoying a nostalgic journey through two centuries of events, places and products.

Many of the posters on display have strong connections to Bath and the surrounding area. These include designs advertising Theatre Royal productions, the Bath & West Show, community events on Walcot Street, and Bath Festivals across the decades. The exhibition features two Theatre Royal posters for Richard III: an 1805 text‑only playbill and a bold 1989 design featuring actor Derek Jacobi. Seen together, they reveal just how dramatically poster design evolved across almost 200 years.

Highlights include a selection of posters by Bath based designers Clifford and Rosemary Ellis, celebrated for their influential work for London Transport and Shell during the 1930s. Working as creative partners, the Ellises developed a distinctive visual language marked by bold colour, strong graphic forms and a deep affection for the British countryside and its wildlife.

The exhibition also features a stunning selection of vintage railway posters, designed to entice visitors to Bath with elegant images of its Georgian architecture and The Roman Baths — celebrating the golden age of rail travel and the power of graphic design to shape tourism.

Bath & North East Somerset Council leader, Councillor Kevin Guy said:

“Poster Power! brings colour, creativity and history into the city, highlighting the impact of graphic design on everyday life and social change. It’s brilliant to see highlights from the Victoria Art Gallery’s collection on display alongside material from Bath Record Office, showcasing two centuries of striking British poster design.”

Poster Power! has been designed with all ages in mind. To complement the railway posters, younger visitors can enjoy a ride on train, while a farm themed activity area sits alongside vintage Bath & West Show posters. Families can explore books, hands on activities, and a fuzzy felt animal wall inspired by the designs on display. A free children’s trail and school holiday craft activities add further opportunities for creativity.

Alongside Poster Power!, the Small Gallery will host Thea Dupays: A Life of Painting, an intimate celebration of the artist’s remarkable 92‑year creative journey. Bringing together expressive still lifes, landscapes and portraits, the exhibition showcases Dupays’ signature use of rich colour and bold, confident composition. Free to enter, it offers visitors the chance to explore — and purchase — works spanning a lifetime devoted to painting.

Poster Power! runs from 23 January until 10 May 2026 at the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath. Tickets are £9 for adults, £4 for children over 6, and free for children under 6 and residents of Bath & North East Somerset with a Discovery Card. A free guided tour of the exhibition will take place every Thursday from 1.30pm to 2pm, included with an exhibition ticket.

Thea Dupays: A Life of Painting – On Now to 23 March, the Small Gallery, FREE entry.

Event: Clifford & Rosemary Ellis: Poster Artists Extraordinaire

Wednesday 25 March, 6-8pm / Tickets £15 (£7.50 with Discovery Card) and include admission to the exhibition.

Join former Victoria Art Gallery manager Jon Benington for an evening talk exploring the Ellises’ unique design partnership and their work for Shell, BP, London Transport and others. Jon oversaw the gift of the Ellis Family Archive to Bath & North East Somerset Council in 2016.

 www.victoriagal.org.uk

ENDS