Winsor & Newton has launched Art Mail, a landmark global initiative and exhibition celebrating creativity, connection, and community through the simple, intimate act of sending a postcard.
The Exhibitions: London & New York
The project culminates in physical exhibitions across two major cultural hubs, alongside a charitable auction supporting the mental health arts charity Hospital Rooms:
- London (Saatchi Gallery): Running from 1 – 8 October 2026 (Free to visit daily, 10 am – 6 pm; Private View on 30 September, 18:30 – 21:00).
- New York (Drawing Room, Brooklyn): Running from 21 October – 4 November 2026, featuring around 250 of the postcard artworks.
- Charity Auction: Following the exhibitions, a selection of the postcards will be sold at auction, with all proceeds directly raising funds for Hospital Rooms.
A Global Snapshot of Creativity
Launched in April, the Art Mail initiative invited participants of all experience levels—from seasoned professionals to beginners trying Winsor & Newton Watercolour for the very first time—to share the world from their unique perspective. To date, over 6,000 postcards have been painted by artists based in more than 40 countries, creating a diverse collective snapshot featured in a comprehensive online gallery.
Reflecting a broad spectrum of human stories, the subject matter spans both the natural and manmade worlds. Proving that watercolour extends far beyond traditional landscapes and portraits, common themes include birds, botanicals, celestial objects, architecture, abstract design, cities, seascapes, mythical creatures, pets, and holiday greetings.
Holly Shires, Global Head of Creative at Winsor & Newton, shared:
“We are so thrilled to be celebrating Art Mail and our global community of artists with two exhibitions in London and New York… We are excited to see the works from our global Art Mail community hung on the walls where great contemporary art has been hung before them.”
Tim A Shaw, Artist, Co-founder & Artistic Director of Hospital Rooms, added:
“Winsor & Newton were the first company to support Hospital Rooms, 10 Years ago… the fact that there will be funds raised for our future projects in mental health hospitals is something we are very grateful for.”
Collaborating Artists & Creative Insights
To bring the project to life, Winsor & Newton partnered with a roster of celebrated multidisciplinary artists across several disciplines, each contributing their own postcard and creative process:
- Andrew Carter
- Arden Rose
- Giles Deacon
- Heather Phillipson
- Jane Hayes Greenwood
- Julie Green
- Ken Nwadiogbu
- Laxmi Hussain
- Mark Titchner
- Peter McDonald
- Richard Woods
- Robert O’Brien
- Susie Hamilton
Artist Perspectives
- Giles Deacon (Creative Director & Artist): Reflecting on the format, Deacon noted that working at postcard scale “invites immediacy and instinct… a quiet habit that keeps the hand moving and the mind open,” allowing figures to surface quickly through observation and imagination.
- Jane Hayes Greenwood: Praised the materials, noting that “Winsor & Newton have an amazing range of watercolour materials – their markers are fantastic and I found the pencils particularly wonderful… working at postcard scale creates a different kind of focus.”
- Susie Hamilton: Highlighted the experience, stating, “I was very impressed by the vivid, rich colours of the Winsor and Newton paints and I hope this radiance is reflected in my cards.”
- Robert O’Brien: Emphasised the community impact, sharing that “projects like this remind us how powerful small acts of creativity can be. A simple postcard can travel, connect people, start conversations and ultimately help support vital work in mental health.”
About Winsor & Newton
Founded in London in 1832 by an artist and a chemist, Winsor & Newton has spent nearly two centuries supporting artists through innovative materials, receiving its first Royal Warrant in 1841. Trusted by generations of icons including J.M.W. Turner, Edvard Munch, Georgia O’Keeffe, Piet Mondrian, and David Hockney, the brand continues to supply high-quality materials to artists in more than 120 countries.
Artists featured
Top Row
- Top 1: Venitia Higgins
- Top 2: Andrew Carter
- Top 3: Diane Simpson-Little UK
- Top 4: Giles Deacon
- Top 5: Heather Phillipson
Bottom Row
- Bottom 1: Juliane Henry Germany
- Bottom 2: Laxmi Hussain
- Bottom 3: Mark Titchner
- Bottom 4: Oliwia Sadowska Poland
- Bottom 5: Reni Nurani Indonisia
