Exhibition: Drummond Street Artists – Internal Expression
Thursday 9th July, 6:45pm to Sunday 23rd August 2026
The Hub, St John’s Waterloo
The Drummond Street Artists return to St John’s Waterloo with a vibrant selection of new works that celebrate the eclectic talents of this dynamic group. United by lived experiences of homelessness and a shared passion for painting, they meet weekly to create and connect.
‘Internal Expression’ brings together the diverse voices of the Drummond Street Artists in a collective exploration of personal experience, imagination, and identity. As part of ‘Now I Make a Leaf of Voices’, this exhibition celebrates art as a language of inner thought and emotional connection. Through painting, drawing, printmaking, textiles, and mixed media, the artists reveal unique perspectives shaped by observation, memory, and feeling. Each work offers an individual response to the world while contributing to a shared conversation about creativity, expression, and belonging. Together, these artworks form a rich and vibrant chorus of internal voices made visible.
The exhibition is free and will be displayed until late August 2026.
Opening times:
Thursday 9th July – 6:45pm to 9:00pm
Friday 10th July – 10:00am to 8:00pm
Saturday 11th July – 10:00am to 8:00pm
Sunday 12th July – 10:00am to 6:00pm
For the rest of the summer, the exhibition will be accessible when St John’s Waterloo is open (usually Monday to Friday, between 10am and 4pm). A full list of dates and times will appear here in due course. We always recommend you call St John’s Waterloo before making the journey in case of an urgent change to our schedule.
About the Drummond Street Artists:
Geraldine Crimmins – an artist previously featured in the Big Issue – founded the Drummond Street Artists in January 2023 at the Old Diorama Arts Centre, on Drummond Street. Post-pandemic, Geraldine saw that there was nowhere in London for precariously sheltered people to go at the weekend for a cup of tea, a chat or to do anything creative. This realisation – and a fortuitous conversation with an enthusiastic donor! – led to the creation and development of Drummond Street Artists (DSA), funded by a longtime collector of Geraldine’s work.
Since its conception, the DSA open studio has gone from strength to strength, attracting artists from all over the city who have been affected by homelessness. 20 participants – a mix of rough sleepers, hostel dwellers, and professional artists – gather to paint, and have something to eat, and feel part of a community. Geraldine has been running mentoring and welfare programs for artists affected by homelessness for over 5 years, her intention being to build on her own experiences of homelessness, addiction and a prison sentence; and to pass on the opportunities she has had since recovering.
The DSA have developed a large body of eclectic work, spanning different genres, some of which was on display at Old Diorama Arts Centre and at St John’s Waterloo.
About The Waterloo Festival:
The Waterloo Festival is an annual celebration of arts, heritage and community run by St John’s Waterloo with the local community. Read more about this year’s programme: www.stjohnswaterloo.org/wf2026
Getting to St John’s Waterloo: St John’s Waterloo is accessible by bus, tube or train; the nearest station is Waterloo Station. Parking is available in Exton Street on pay bays, Monday to Friday from 8.30am till 6.30pm & Saturday 8.30am till 1.30pm. Payment must be made by phone or app, details can be found on signs along Exton Street. After 6.30pm (1pm on Saturday) parking is free within the bays and on single yellow lines. There are no disabled bays along Exton Street. Parking is also available in car parks in York Road and Cornwall Road, details for both can be found online.