A Celebration of Architecture, Art, Craftsmanship and Living Heritage at Westminster Abbey

Few places embody Britain's architectural and cultural heritage as profoundly as Westminster Abbey. For almost a thousand years, its soaring Gothic architecture, tranquil cloisters and ancient College Garden have witnessed coronations, royal ceremonies and defining moments in the nation's history. This summer, these remarkable surroundings became the stage for the second edition of STUDIOLO, an exceptional one-afternoon, one-evening exhibition that brought together many of the world's foremost galleries within one of Britain's most extraordinary historic settings.

Presented on 26 June 2026, STUDIOLO has rapidly established itself as one of London's most discerning cultural events—described by The Art Newspaper as "the best of an art fair in a single day." Rather than adopting the conventions of a traditional fair, the exhibition celebrates the intimate relationship between architecture, collecting and decoration, allowing paintings, sculpture, antiquities, drawings, rare books and decorative arts to be experienced within a setting that enriches their meaning.

This year's edition was realised in collaboration with Ben Pentreath Studio, whose timeless approach to architecture and interior design brought a deeply respectful perspective to Westminster Abbey. Renowned for creating timeless interiors in classical dimensions, craftsmanship and historical continuity, the studio transformed the medieval cloisters and College Garden into a series of beautifully composed spaces where every artwork entered into dialogue with its surroundings. Instead of competing with the centuries-old architecture, the exhibition celebrated it, demonstrating that art is best experienced within thoughtfully designed environments.

For Watts 1874, proud brand partner of STUDIOLO, the collaboration felt particularly meaningful. Founded in 1874 by three visionary architects—George Frederick Bodley, Thomas Garner and George Gilbert Scott Jr.—the house has always believed that decoration is deeply linked with architecture. More than 150 years later, that philosophy continues to define every wallpaper, fabric, mural and handcrafted passementerie created by the Watts 1874 Design Studio.

Within the atmospheric cloisters, Watts 1874 presented a carefully curated installation that celebrated Britain's rich decorative heritage through three iconic designs, each illustrating a different expression of craftsmanship and architectural ornament.

At its centre and in a beautiful and inviting seating area stood Wolterton Verdure, reproduced on richly textured natural grasscloth. Inspired by one of England's finest surviving seventeenth-century tapestry collections, the panoramic wallcovering unfolds through luxuriant woodland landscapes, abundant foliage and classical mythology. Rather than reproducing the historic tapestry literally, the Watts 1874 Design Studio translated its richness into a contemporary decorative wallcovering whose natural fibres echo the woven character of the original. The textured grasscloth lends remarkable depth and warmth, allowing the landscape to become an immersive architectural backdrop rather than simply a decorative surface.

Complementing the wallcovering was a collection of sumptuous cushions upholstered in Hampstead Verdure, one of Watts 1874's most celebrated botanical fabrics. Framed by exquisitely handcrafted passementerie, each piece demonstrated the house's holistic vision of decoration, where fabrics, wallcoverings and trimmings are conceived together to create harmonious interiors. Every braid, fringe and tassel reflected the artisanal savoir-faire that has distinguished Watts 1874 for more than a century, reminding visitors that true luxury often resides in the smallest details.

Alongside these botanical compositions, Trellis celebrated one of the defining patterns of the Gothic Revival. Originally designed in 1848 by the visionary architect Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin for his own house, The Grange, the pattern was later proposed for the redecoration of the Royal Apartments at the Palace of Westminster. Displayed within the medieval cloisters of Westminster Abbey, Trellis carried particular resonance, embodying Pugin's conviction that architecture and ornament should form a unified whole, an ideal that continues to inspire the founding principles of Watts 1874 today.

Experiencing STUDIOLO was itself an architectural journey. Visitors entered through the peaceful College Garden before passing beneath the vaulted medieval cloisters, where every turn revealed another carefully curated encounter between architecture and art. Paintings rested beneath ancient stone arches, sculpture animated secluded corners and decorative objects seemed entirely at home within the historic fabric of the Abbey.

Throughout the afternoon, conversations between collectors, interior designers, architects and curators echoed softly beneath the Gothic vaults, while the changing summer light animated both the artworks and the remarkable architecture surrounding them. As evening descended, shafts of golden light filtered through the stone tracery, transforming the cloisters into one of London's most extraordinary temporary exhibition spaces.

The setting held an especially profound significance for Watts 1874. Westminster Abbey is inextricably linked to the legacy of Sir George Gilbert Scott, the celebrated Victorian architect who served as Surveyor of the Fabric between 1849 and 1878, overseeing one of the Abbey's most important restorations. His work ensured the preservation of one of Britain's greatest monuments for future generations, and following his death in 1878, he was laid to rest within the Abbey itself.

Sir George Gilbert Scott was also the father of George Gilbert Scott Jr., one of the three founders of Watts 1874. To present the house's creations beneath the very cloisters restored by Sir George, and within the building where he now rests, created a deeply moving dialogue between past and present. Nearly a century and a half after the founding of Watts 1874, the ideals of architecture, craftsmanship and artistic excellence that shaped the house returned to one of their most meaningful architectural homes.

Throughout the day, distinguished collectors, architects, interior designers and friends of the house gathered to celebrate an exhibition where fine art, architecture and decoration existed in perfect harmony. The atmosphere was one of quiet discovery, encouraging visitors to slow their pace, engage in conversation and experience exceptional craftsmanship within surroundings that have inspired generations of artists and architects.

More than an exhibition, STUDIOLO demonstrated that beautiful objects are never experienced in isolation. Through its collaboration with Ben Pentreath Studio, the event reaffirmed the relationship between architecture, collecting and decoration, revealing how thoughtful design can enrich historic environments while remaining entirely respectful of their character.

For Watts 1874, participation represented far more than a partnership. It was a celebration of a philosophy established over 150 years ago: that history is not simply preserved, but continually reinterpreted through craftsmanship, creativity and design.

Within the timeless surroundings of Westminster Abbey, where nearly a thousand years of artistic achievement continue to inspire new generations, that vision found one of its most eloquent expressions.

Written by Laure de Dampierre edited by Louisa Wates