This Autumn, from 9-11 October 2026 (12 – 5pm), Art Friend Gallery is delighted to present Secret Artists Exhibition & Raffle at The Batsford Gallery, 266 Hackney Rd, London E2 7SJ. Artworks from the hit podcast, Secret Artists with Annie McGrath, will be on view for the first time in a charity exhibition raising funds for CREATE, a charity which aims to use the arts to connect, empower and inspire society’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable people.
All artwork will be for sale in a secret raffle. It’s no ordinary raffle though… The twist? Everyone is a winner! If you purchase a ticket (£100 per entry) you are guaranteed to win an artwork. Artists include comics and actors Mae Martin, Alex Horne, Isy Suttie, Jamie Demetriou, Jenny Eclair, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Phil Wang, Pierre Novellie, Fern Brady, Paul Foot, Imogen Poots, Brett Goldstein, Leo Reich, Nina Conti, Tom Allen, Elis James, Lou Sanders, and lots more.
Secret Artists podcast was created in 2019 by comedian and artist Annie McGrath. The premise is: funny people doing art, offering a light-hearted and accessible ‘way in’ to art through the realm of comedy. Each episode sees Annie and her guest creating an artwork inspired by the guest’s chosen muse. After six series, there have been over 120 episodes (so, over 120 artworks!).
With personal insights into comedians’ lives, Secret Artists bridges the worlds of art and comedy, exploring something more interesting than you might find in your standard comedy interview podcast. The podcast celebrates the act of creating, whilst breaking down the idea that art is exclusionary.
“A hugely enjoyable podcast [where] philosophical nuggets emerge unexpectedly amid off-the-cuff conversations.” – The Art Newspaper
Art Friend Gallery is a non-conventional, inclusive space run by gallerist Shona Bland. The idea is to makes art accessible, inviting and fun by showcasing and celebrating art from artists of all backgrounds and identities. This is a safe space where everyone can enjoy art – no stuffy vibes and
no admission fees.
Annie McGrath and Shona Bland first worked together at Art Friend’s Rejects exhibition, when Shona selected one of Annie’s works to be part of the group show. Rejects is a tongue-in-cheek spin-off of the Royal Academy’s annual Summer Exhibition, celebrating of some of the work which the RA had rejected.
Richard Todd, Family dinner, Mixed media on paper, 29.7 x 42cm
Rachel Stubbing, Stingray, Acrylic on canvas board, 20.2cm x 25.5cm