London Event: Decorative Fair Spring Edition to Celebrate Beatrix Potter’s 160th Anniversary with Special Mr. McGregor Display

As Britain prepares to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the birth of beloved author, illustrator and conservationist Beatrix Potter, a summer-long programme of exhibitions, public art installations and heritage events will honour the enduring legacy of one of the nation’s most cherished literary figures.

Artwork panels from Fromental's Peter Rabbit™ collection will be featured at the Decorative Fair Spring Edition
from May 12 - 17 2026.

Born on 28 July 1866, Potter remains internationally renowned for her charming “Little Tales”, including The Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Tale of Two Bad Mice. Between 1902 and 1930, she wrote and illustrated 23 original stories celebrated for their detailed observation of the natural world and whimsical anthropomorphic storytelling.

Across the UK throughout summer 2026, organisations and cultural institutions are planning special anniversary events. In the Lake District, celebrations will focus on Potter’s role not only as an author but also as a pioneering conservationist whose work helped preserve much of the region’s landscape.

The National Trust is placing particular emphasis on Hill Top, Potter’s former home in Near Sawrey, where visitors will be able to view a special display featuring the original dollhouse furniture that inspired scenes in The Tale of Two Bad Mice.

Meanwhile, in north-east England, a large-scale public art trail featuring uniquely decorated Peter Rabbit sculptures will run across Newcastle and North Tyneside from 15 July to 14 September 2026. Retailers are also expected to mark the milestone with commemorative merchandise and limited-edition 160th anniversary collections.

One of the most distinctive tributes will form part of the Spring edition of the Decorative Fair Spring Edition 2026, returning to Battersea Park, London, from 12 to 17 May 2026.

Organisers have announced a specially commissioned foyer installation imagining “the perfect potting shed” for Mr. McGregor, the famously irascible gardener from Potter’s stories. The nostalgic display will combine antique garden pieces, vernacular furniture and country-house styling in a collaboration between Fromental and dealer Gilbert Bannerman, descendant of noted garden designers Isabel and Julian Bannerman.

All items featured in the installation will be sourced from exhibitors at the fair and offered for sale. Fromental, celebrated for its hand-painted wallcoverings, will contribute two artwork panels from its Peter Rabbit™ collection to complete the display.

Jenna Burlingham Gallery

Alongside the Beatrix Potter tribute, the Decorative Fair will showcase a broad range of antiques, twentieth-century design, art and decorative objects. New exhibitors this spring include Dodo-Lamberty, specialising in twentieth-century design and Street Art; Modern World Ltd; and Shackleton Fox, known for antique lighting and decorative pieces.

Made in Italy

Returning exhibitors include Antique B•R, Flora Black and Callaghan Fine Art, while recent newcomers attracting attention include Maud Vaughan, Frank Story Ltd, Judith van Helden Fine Art and Punch the Clock, noted for rare examples of twentieth-century decorative arts.

Garden antiques are expected to feature prominently throughout the fair, with dealers offering stone and metal furniture, planters, urns, statuary and decorative garden objects. Visitors will also find a strong selection of vernacular furniture and traditional treen — small handcrafted wooden domestic objects whose name derives from the Old English term meaning “of the tree”.

Organisers say the event will continue its longstanding tradition of bringing together exceptional dealers recognised for sourcing unusual and distinctive pieces, while the Beatrix Potter anniversary display is expected to provide one of the fair’s major highlights.

Images courtesy of Decorative Fair Spring Edition