A New Collection of Vibrant Portrait Paintings at Hopton Hall Gallery

I'm delighted to announce my biggest exhibition to date: a solo show at the newly opened Hopton Hall Gallery in Ashbourne, running from 5-26 August 2026.

This exhibition marks an exciting milestone in my journey as an artist after being selected as the 2025 Young Emerging Artist Award winner by Peak District Artisans. The award celebrates emerging artists from the Peak District region and provides the opportunity to present a solo exhibition in one of Derbyshire's newest contemporary art galleries.

Whether you're an established art collector, searching for original wall art for your home, or simply enjoy expressive contemporary painting, I'd love to welcome you to the exhibition.

Introducing the Collection: A Celebration of Portraiture and Human Connection

The exhibition features a new body of original paintings that explore people, emotion and nostalgic moments through bold colour and expressive mark-making.

The collection began in 2024 from a creative challenge I couldn't ignore - at the time, I found myself drawn to two very different painting styles: the expressive nature of abstract art and the detail and storytelling of realism. Rather than choosing between them, I wanted to explore how they could exist together within the same painting.

That curiosity became the foundation of my ‘Abstract Portrait’ collection.

Each painting combines dynamic, abstract backgrounds and bold, expressive brushstrokes with carefully observed portraiture. The abstract elements create movement, emotion and atmosphere, while the realistic features capture the personality of each subject. For me, it’s about balancing spontaneity with precision, to create work that’s expressive while also telling a story through the characters.

In addition, the use of vibrant colour schemes is a core theme across this collection. I believe that colour plays such an important role in our mood, so I wanted to create pieces that bring uplifting energy, add personality and infuse the spaces we live in with colour.

A sneak peek at a current work in progress for the show.

A Historic Gallery Meets Contemporary Art

One of the things that makes this exhibition so special is its setting.

Hopton Hall Gallery opened in 2026 inside a beautifully restored Grade II-listed Georgian building on St John Street in Ashbourne. The gallery was founded to connect heritage with contemporary creativity, creating a welcoming destination for collectors, art lovers and visitors discovering original art for the first time.

Running alongside my solo exhibition is the gallery's curated Portrait & Human Form exhibition, bringing together talented regional artists exploring identity, portraiture and the human experience. Together, the two exhibitions offer visitors a fantastic experience of contemporary art. 

Preview Evening – Friday 7 August

You're warmly invited to celebrate the opening of this exhibition at our Preview Evening.

Friday 7 August 2026
7-9pm

The evening is an opportunity to:

• View the collection before anyone else
• Meet me and discuss the inspiration behind the work
• Experience the beautiful new gallery
• Celebrate the collection launch and gallery opening with fellow collectors and art lovers
  

🎟️ Free entry.

Spaces are limited.

📩 To reserve your place, please email: studio@amadoraart.com

Why Visit in Person?

As an emerging artist, I’m so grateful to have a gallery space where I can show my work in person. This allows viewers to see up-close all the details, textures, and many layers that go into each piece. 

This is the first time that you’ll be able to experience this collection as a whole and see the complete range of original paintings - from the abstract portraits, to pop-art inspired retro portraits, and even bespoke collaborations!

Collaborations include:

• Bespoke painting of Racing Driver Rowan Campbell-Pilling to celebrate his incredible F4 season. 
• Original painting in collaboration with Sydney based streetwear brand Non Refundable.

This exhibition represents months of painting and preparation, and marks an important chapter in my career. I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported my work along the way and I’m really looking forward to sharing this collection with you. 

I hope you can join me on the Preview Evening to celebrate the launch of my latest work. 

Can’t wait to see you there!

Amadora x 

Planning Your Visit

Exhibition Dates
5–26 August 2026 

Preview Night: 7th August 7-9pm

Venue
Hopton Hall Gallery

12 St John St, Ashbourne, DE6 1GH

Opening Hours
Wednesday–Sunday
10:00am–4:00pm during the exhibition.

If you can't make the Preview Evening, I'd still love to welcome you during the exhibition. The gallery provides a relaxed environment where you can spend time with the collection, revisit favourite pieces and discover artwork at your own pace.

Collaboration with streetwear brand Non Refundable.