Get UP NORF: must-see art in the north

Get out the house this weekend and UP NORF to see some art. Here are some cracking exhibitions on right now to remind yourself just how rich and iconic the northern art scene really is.

1. Jim Moir at The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle

Jim Moir (AKA Vic Reeves) has established himself as a strong northern voice in contemporary British art. His return to Newcastle’s Biscuit Factory marks the fourth major exhibition with the gallery, and it’s his most personal yet.

Moir’s newest body of work reveals a man steeped in wonder, of nature, character, and humour. His distinctive compositions range from watercolours to oils, each canvas alive with creatures, landscapes, and a sense of joyful observation. You'll be one of the first to see the newly unveiled scenes of the North East, which sit comfortably alongside his more recognisable art, including the legendary pigeons and puffins. This is a rare chance to see an artist working at the height of his magic, and to take a piece of that eccentric vision home (yes, you can buy a piece!)

This exhibition is on until 20th July, so you have plenty of time to go see it, but why not be one of the first?

2. David Hockney at the National Science and Media Museum, Bradford

Art meets tech in this exploration of David Hockney’s photographic and video work. Close your eyes, think of Hockney, and you likely see swimming pools and sun-drenched California. But Hockney is a Bradford boy, and Bradford’s National Science and Media Museum offers a more experimental side of the artist.

At the heart of the show is The Four Seasons: Woldgate Woods, an immersive video installation that captures the rhythm and detail of rural Yorkshire across the year. Surrounding it are his pioneering ‘joiner’ photo and video collages. These works offer a cinematic, lived-in sense of space and time. For anyone interested in how technology reshapes artistic vision, this show is a must-see, and a powerful reminder that Hockney’s relevance continues to evolve.

This exhibition is on until 18th May.

3. Strange Presence: John Hoyland at the Millennium Gallery, Sheffield

Step into the raw colour fields of John Hoyland at Millennium Gallery’s intimate new exhibition, Strange Presence. Showcasing 10 of his vivid abstract paintings—several of which are large-scale—the show is a focused study in intensity, materiality, and the pure act of painting.

But it’s not just about the surface. Alongside the canvases are Hoyland’s sketchbooks, photographs, and archival films, opening a window into the mind of the Sheffield-born artist. Strange Presence is a striking standalone—quiet in size but seismic in impact.

This exhibition is on until 18th May.

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