The LAKE gallery is an artist-led gallery situated in the heart of West Kirby on the beautiful Wirral peninsula. The gallery hosts a changing program of exhibitions of fine art and contemporary craft from artists local to Wirral and from further afield.
We are open from 11am – 4pm every Thursday, Friday & Saturday. You can also make an appointment to view the current exhibition outside these times.
Meet the team
Helen Smith
Running an art gallery was not something I expected to be doing but when the opportunity came up, it was too good to miss!
When not in the gallery, I can be found in my own studio where I work in kiln-formed glass, using sheet glass and glass powders to create pieces which capture the colours and textures of our coastal landscape.
After a first career in IT and raising a family, I completed a BA Design: Applied Arts degree at Glyndwr University in 2013, where I specialised in glass. I am a member of the Contemporary Glass Society and also of the small team which coordinates the popular annual Wirral Open Studio Tour.
Marianthi Lainas
Being a partner in the LAKE gallery allows me to use my experience as a practising artist to support other creatives.
My own mixed media work is inspired by the transient beauty of our coastal edgelands, and created in collaboration with the landscape using experimental processes.
Over the past 15 years I have exhibited widely across the UK in solo and group shows. I also play an active role in the local arts community, mentoring young photographic artists, and am part of the Wirral Open Studio Tour organising team.
Rachel Peters
I create hand-built ceramic sculptures that explore what it means to feel whole; working in grogged stoneware to transform personal experiences of struggle, resilience, and self-discovery into abstract and figurative forms that embody calm, presence, and emotional balance.
After a career in social work, I found my way back to creativity through clay. What began as curiosity became a deeply intuitive sculptural practice centred on making forms that feel grounded, balanced, and fully present. Inspired by nature and the work of Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, my sculptures range from intimate pieces for the home to larger works for interior and architectural spaces. I exhibit nationally through galleries and specialist art fairs and am proud to be a partner in The Lake Gallery.
While there is no substitute for seeing the art in person we do know that sometimes it won’t be possible for you to get here, so you can browse artwork from most of our exhibitions online; take a look at the ones you may have missed, or check out whether you still love that piece as much as you did at first sight (and if it’s still available…!)
If an exhibition has finished and the work is no longer on display in the gallery we are happy to bring pieces back in for a viewing by arrangement with the artist. We will ship artwork and we can also arrange home visits locally if you’re looking for that special piece of art but you just can’t visualise it in your own space – please contact us to arrange this.
We hold private view events for each of our exhibitions and also host regular Artist Talks where you can come and meet our exhibiting artists and learn about their inspiration and processes.
