Seventeen artists have come together for the free exhibition at Burgh House this month – including children’s author Lauren Child and “chewing gum artist” Ben Wilson.
HEATHBOUND has been curated by artist Lisa Swerling, who came up with her personal wish list of north London creatives and invited them to respond to the Heath and its place in London life.
Meet me on the bench at Parliament Hill by Lauren Child. (Image: Lauren Child)
She was shocked when they all said yes and delivered a range of work from painting to printmaking, photography, embroidery, paper-cutting, illustration, sculpture and miniature art.
Swerling told the Ham&High she created the exhibition as a “labour of love”.
She added: “Everyone has played the game: the fantasy football team, the fantasy dinner party. I played it for real.
Artist Lisa Swerling has curated the HEATHBOUND exhibition at Burgh House (Image: Pippa Hetherington)
“I’m an artist rather than a career curator, I wrote a wish list of artists whose work I love – from Lauren Child to chewing gum artist Ben Wilson – and invited them all to respond to a place I love – Hampstead Heath. I never quite expected what happened next: they all said yes.
“There were no art world theories underpinning the choice of artists. Some were internationally recognised; others were only just beginning. Some I’d admired from afar for decades; others I’d discovered at local exhibitions or on Instagram.”
At its centre is Swerling’s original idea: to bring together artists she admires and ask them to make work about a shared location.
The show runs at the Hampstead Museum and Art Gallery on New End Square from September 16 to September 27.
All the works will be for sale, with a proportion of the money raised going to Heath Hands, the conservation charity that helps to care for Hampstead Heath.
One of the contributing artists is Rob Ryan who has contributed his 2026 piece I walked and thought / thought not.
Parliament Hill Fields painted on chewing gum by artist Ben Wilson. (Image: Ben Wilson)
Crouch End artist Ben Wilson, famous for painting miniature scenes on hardened chewing gum on London’s pavements has returned to his first love wood for his assemblage titled Parliament Hill Fields and has also contributed a new gum painting.
The Primrose Hill-based creator of Charlie and Lola Lauren Child has submitted Meet me at the bench on Parliament Hill.
Amir Hussein Bayani The Dragon Lives inspired by The Dragon Tree on Hampstead Heath (Image: Amir Hussein Bayani)
Amirhossein Bayani, a newly arrived Iranian oil painter has painted the famous ‘Dragon Tree’ on Hampstead Heath.
And Swerling, who places miniature figures in glass boxes is also exhibiting along with a GP, a philosopher, a composer, two miniaturists and an embroiderer.
The artists have captured a range of views of the Heath, from its trees and ponds to its paths, wildlife and links with local history.
Victoria Rose Richards – Hampstead Heath (Image: Victoria Rose Richards)
A hand-gilded aerial views of the ponds, relief sculptures made from oak, a reference to the the poet John Keats and his Hampstead garden, and miniature performers wearing moth costumes – which refer to the numerous species recorded on the Heath – all feature in the show.
Swerling says there will be “an array of small affordable magical art objects so anyone who wants to take a bit of Heath-art home with them, can!”
She added: “It’s visually gorgeous and original and relevant for everyone who lives in or loves Hampstead.”
Sunset and Friendship by Vanessa Brassey. (Image: Vanessa Brassey)
She wants the exhibition to be open to people who may not usually visit galleries or buy art and to explore how one place can lead to hugely varied personal responses.
She also hopes to connect the Heath with other parts of Hampstead – hoping visitors can see the Burgh House exhibition before walking through the 800 acres of open land, ponds and paths.
HEATHBOUND Seventeen artists reimagine Hampstead Heath is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm. It will also open on Friday, September 18, from 10am to 1pm, and on Friday, September 25, from 10am to 4pm. It will be closed on Saturdays, Mondays and Tuesdays.