Workshops Craft Circle Friday 2 October, 1.00pm- 2.30pm Bag decorating, please bring along any fabric scraps you have at home. Friday 6 November, 1.00pm- 2.30pm Free session, please bring along something that you're working on. Friday 4 December, 1.00pm- 2.30pm Handmade Christmas cards. An informal monthly meeting for anyone with an interest in crafts, be it knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing or paper crafts. The group is open to people of all ages and abilities and light refreshments are provided. Come along to swap patterns, share tips and ideas, and learn new skills. Free. No need to book, just turn up on the day. LEFT: The Annexe Patient - J L Isherwood RIGHT: Rain, Melbourne Street, Wigan - J L Isherwood

J L Isherwood 7 November - 2 January Workshops Big Draw - Colourful Draw! Saturday 17 October, 10.00am- 2.00pm Leigh Outdoor Market Come along and help us to create a rainbow of bright, colourful drawings on one of the stalls at Leigh Outdoor Market. Free. Drop- in on the day. Big Draw 2008 07 James Lawrence Isherwood ( 1917- 1989) has become as much a part of Wigan as L. S. Lowry is to Salford. A passionate and prolific painter, Isherwood's house on Wigan Lane was filled with paintings. The energy, emotion and expressiveness in his work reflected something of the chaos of his life and whilst he died in poverty, his art has become increasingly collectable in recent years. This exhibition represents the collection of one Wigan man, Billy Higham. It is the first time the collection has been seen in public, and contains some of Isherwood's ' trademark' work including Wigan townscapes and portraits of local women. Everyone is invited to attend the opening of the exhibition from 12.00pm- 2.00pm on Saturday 7 November. Isherwood Talk Wednesday 11 November, 7.00pm- 9.00pm Find out more about Isherwood's life and work at this illustrated talk by local author Stephen Eckersley, who published a book about Isherwood earlier this year. Free. Please book in advance by calling the gallery office on 01942 404469. CRAFT SHOWCASES NOVEMBER Christmas Showcase DECEMBER Christmas Showcase STAIRS GALLERY NOVEMBER Matthew Darwin DECEMBER Kerry Rafter DERBY ROOM NOVEMBER Elizabeth Arkwright DECEMBER Syd Haslam