2025 Summer festivals – Brentford’s Creative Mile art trail

All venues taking part in the Creative Mile are free to enter (Ginette Kentish)

Three-day open studios celebrates its fifth year – Friday 29 to Sunday 31 August

The Creative Mile is back this summer, showcasing the work of over a hundred artists and makers along a trail which leads from Kew Bridge into Brentford.

The venues include studios at the artists’ colony on Johnson’s Island, as well as industrial buildings, churches, galleries, cafes and pubs. This year Hounslow Council has  also granted the festival access to Boston Manor House.

The Creative Mile is taking place as part of Hounslow’s Summer of Culture 2025, which also includes a beer festival, an outdoor cinema and theatre productions.

The Creative Mile brings thousands of visitors to artists’ community Johnson’s Island

Last year there were painters, ceramicists, printmakers, jewellers, poets and musicians showing and selling their work at 24 stops along the trail, including venues  familiar in another context, such as the Museum of Water and Steam and Watermans Park.

Councillor and Cabinet Member for Culture Salman Shaheen said:

“I am delighted that we can help fund Brentford’s fifth Creative Mile event and offer the iconic Boston Manor House as a venue.

“As a borough, we have a proud history of supporting the creative industries to flourish and this event will certainly showcase the very best local talent”.

Artists’ community Johnson’s Island

Celebrating Brentford’s ‘neighbourhoods’

The theme for the fifth annual art trail is ‘neighbourhood’, a nod to the new neighbourhoods that are emerging in a rapidly changing Brentford.

Founder of the Creative Mile ‘Mr Mr Pearce’ said: “Creative Mile has always been the town working together to put a spotlight on what is already here.

“The weekend provides an opportunity for artists and other creatives to show their work to a large audience in one weekend”.

Mr Mr Pearce set up the Creative Mile to bring more recognition to Brentford’s thriving, yet hidden, community of artists. He was amazed by how few people knew about Johnson’s Island, and set about building a project that encompassed the whole area.

He said: “It got me thinking about how we could increase awareness, and I thought maybe the best way would be by joining forces with other artists, museums and art centres, so we did something together.”

“Hub of creativity”

Artist Matilda Wilkinson will open her studio to the public for the Creative Mile

Matilda Wilkinson, an artist at Johnson’s Island, said that the Creative Mile is an important way for local artists to gain confidence and exposure:

“Last year, having over 1,200 people visit the island was a shock to everyone.

“The Creative Mile has offered me and my studio the chance to reach people from Brentford and other parts of London who wouldn’t have known about the hub of creativity that resides here.

“It is truly special to know how many people in the area appreciate and support creativity”.

Artists and creatives have until the 15 June to register via the website if they wish to show their work at the Creative Mile.