Archives • Devizes Arts Festival - quality events in Devizes & the West Country

A look back at some of the highlights of previous Festivals

Here’s a reminder of some of the highlights from 2025!

Keith Brymer Jones and Marj Hogarth with Bryony Cox

Whiskey River playing at the British Lion, Devizes. The three musicians are sitting and playing on a grass lawn with a wooden face in the background. One is playing a guitar, a second is singing while the chap with a long beard is playing a fiddle

Whiskey River at the British Lion, Devizes

Crowd at British Lion Devizes for Whiskey River

David O’Connor at the opening night of the Festival Exhibition at White Chalk Gallery, Devizes

Fiddle player on a chair. A man with an impressive beard and long hair is playing a fiddle. He has a brown hat, and is wearing tan or brown clothes. There is a wooden fence in the background and the chair is set on grass,

Fiddling at the Lion – Whiskey River at the British Lion, Devizes

Audience listening to Whiskey River at the British Lion. We see audience members leaning against a wall with others sitting at benches and tables. There is a large grass area in the foreground and brick houses in the background.

Crowd goes wild to Whiskey River at the British Lion, Devizes

Stephen Davis is standing behind a table that has a number of large drawings of pink flowers. To the left, David Edwards is examining one of the drawings. In the background we see photographs of former Devizes Mayors and Mayoresses.

Photographer Stephen Davis discusses botanical art with David Edwards

DAF Co-Chair Vince McNamara with Phil and Jayne Saville in the Assembly Room of Devizes Town Hall. Phil has a check shirt and is carrying a glass of juice. Jayne has a pink top and is carrying a card. Vince has a DAF tee shirt

DAF Co-Chair Vince McNamara with Festival stalwarts Phil and Jayne Saville

Audience members enjoying Whiskey River at the British Lion, Devizes. We see a line of people sitting leaning against a wooden wall, with other sitting at picnic tables. They are all in pub garden with grass. There are brick houses in the background, and dark clouds above

Audience enjoying Whiskey River at the British Lion, Devizes

We see objects associated with the Botanical Art Workshop at the Devizes Arts Festival. There are coloured pencils aligned in a case, with coloured drawing sitting flat on a table. One shows five coloured apples. Another shows purple flowers and green leaves. There are other pictures leaning up against a wall. We see garlic bulbs in one, and red flowers with white leaves in another.

Accoutrements for the Botanical Art Workshop at the Devizes Arts Festival

Launch Party - Wiltshire Wealth Management. We see three people in the back row standing on a stage, and eight people in the front row. Some are carry wine glasses. All are smiling and looking directly into the camera. There is a banner for the Devizes Arts Festival in the background.

The Devizes Arts Festival Launch Party 2025 – Wiltshire Wealth Management in the house.

Jean Edwards and Philippa Morgan in head and shoulders pose smiling for the camera. Both have name badges and both have spectacles. We see other party goers talking in the background.

DAF Co-Chair Jean Edwards and Artistic Director Philippa Morgan enjoy the launch party in the Town Hall.

William Foulkes plays the piano at the launch party of the Devizes Arts festival. William is at the keyboard plying a piece. He is wearing a white shirt and glasses. There is an electronic device resting on the piano with music.

The Devizes Arts Festival Launch Party 2025 – William Foulkes

Bryony Cox at the opening night of the festival exhibition, White Chalk Gallery, Devizes

Opening night of the DAF 2025 festival exhibition, White Chalk Gallery, Devizes

Dr Brian Mathew MP, Mayor Ian Hopkins with Vince McNamara and Jean Edwards smile for the camera at the launch party. Ian Hopkins is wearing the mayoral regalia. Jean and Vincent are wearing black DAF tee shirts. Paintings can be seen in the background of the Assembly Room of the Devizes Town Hall

Dr Brian Mathew MP, Mayor Ian Hopkins with Vince McNamara and Jean Edwards at the launch party.

Councillor Jennie Britten and Festival Sponsor Karl Wiltshire smile for the camera at the launch party in the Town Hall. Both are wearing name badges. Jennie is wearing a green blouse with dark spots. Karl has a white shirt and dark jacket, with glasses and beard.

Councillor Jennie Britten and Festival Sponsor Karl Wiltshire at the Launch Party

The Devizes Arts Festival Launch Party 2025 - Roger Day. Roger is smiling as he holds up a glass of red wine. He is wearing a dark jacket and a black tee shirt with an image of Shakespeare on it. There is a pull up banner for the Devizes Arts Festival in the background.

Roger Day toasts the Arts Festival at the Launch Party

The Devizes Arts Festival Launch Party 2025 - Devizes Books. Two women, Jo and Sarah, are wearing Devizes Books black tee shirts as they smile from behind a desk. On the desk are a range of books in piles, with a bowl of crisps.

Devizes Books in the house – having fun at the launch party

Devizes Arts Festival 2025 - Day Two. Trustees Tony Woodison and Linda Holmshaw are behind the desk in the entrance to the Corn Exchange. There are brochures in front of them. Tony is attacking Linda with a pair of scissors. Both are wearing black Devizes Arts Festival Tee Shirts.

Devizes Arts Festival 2025 – Its only day Two!!

Jazz legend Julian Costello in a close up looking straight at the camera. Julian is carrying a brass instrument that is out of focus while he stares into the camera. He is wearing a black hat, white shite and dark jacket.

Jazz maestro Julian Costello and his band brought the Assembly Rooms to a standing ovation

Space scientist Dame Maggie Aderin Pocock in a close up of head and shoulders. She has magnificent braided hair and is wearing a red top.

Space scientist and broadcaster Professor Dame Maggie Aderin Pocock entertained and educated at the Corn Exchange

Chris Totney takes the applause at St Johns Church Organ Recital

BBC Gardeners World presenter Frances Tophill on stage at Devizes Corn Exchange. She is talking with a large image or a woman in a greenhouse projected behind her. She is wearing a black skirt and red top. The heads of audience members can be seen in the foreground

Gardeners World presenter Frances Tophill leads the new generation of gardeners onstage at Devizes Corn Exchange

Gardeners World presenter Frances Tophill shrugs as she presents to the Corn Exchange

Mark Watson with festival sponsor Karl Wiltshire. Mark is sitting behind a desk with a copy of his book in front of him, smiling at the camera. Karl is standing behind him, with a pull up banner next to him.

Comedian Mark Watson with Wiltshire Wealth Management’s Karl Wiltshire

Organist Chris Totney in front of an organ. Chris is looking over his shoulder and smiling. He is wearing spectacles, and a stripy shirt. The organ has four levels of keyboards and a large number of stops and pedals

Former St Johns Church musical director Chris Totney comes home

Whiskey River at the British Lion, Devizes

Bath Male Voice Choir in performance. The choir are all dressed in black, and form four rows, with around 30 people singing. The leader has a music stand in front of him and a microphone. There is a pianist and grand piano in the foreground, and the whole scene is inside a church

Bath Male Voice Choir are in good voice at St Johns Church, Devizes

Bath Regency Dancers in full regency dress. There are around 40 people all in costume, with many in the centre of a large room dancing. In the background are very grand windows with drapes and chandeliers.

Regency style in the Assembly Room

Those Riviera Dogs rocking the stage. The band are on stage playing live with an audience in the foreground. They are wearing rock-n-roll clothes, and we can see guitars, keyboards, drums and a singer.

Torquay’s finest fun band – Riviera Dogs!

Legends Kiki Dee and Carmelo Luggeri. Kiki is standing outside in a patio area with large bushes on both sides and branches against a blue wall behind. She is wearing a stylish brown suede coat. Carmelo is sitting in a leather chair holding a guitar.

Musical legends Kiki Dee and Carmelo Luggeri return to the festival by popular demand

Prostitutes Marry in May poster advertisting Miriam Cooper.s play. Miriam is faving the camera pointing at us. In the background we can see Queen Elizabeth 1 and Mary Queen of Scots.

Play on Words Theatre – Prostitutes Marry In May. Exploring the two queens, Elizabeth 1 and Mary Queen of Scots

Country Chicks on stage at Devizes Corn Exchange. The six women are mid-song. All are wearing black County Chicks tee shirts and cowboy hats. There is a keyboard, bass and lead guitar, and singer, with a fiddle and drum kit in the background.

Country Chicks live on stage at the Devizes Arts Festival

Radio Banska at the Cellar Bar, Bear Hotel, Devizes. The band are on stage. We see two guitarist, singer/saxophonist at the front, and drummer with drum kit to the side. The stage is set back from a cobbled floor in the Cellar Bar of the Bear Hotel.

Radio Banska back at the Bear.

Author Gill Hornby is sitting on a garden seat with trees and grasses in the background. She is smiling at the camera, with a delicate brooch and earrings. She is wearing a blue blouse.

Author Gill Hornby in discussion with Mark Jones on the occasion of 250 year anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth

Charles Cordell with David Dawson. Charles is carrying a cannon ball while David has a civil war era sword. The two are standing in front of a banner advertising Charles's book, God's Vindictive Wrath

Civil War author Charles Cordell with Devizes Museum’s David Dawson

Sarah Williamson and Simon Callaghan at the Devizes Town Hall. Sarah is playing the clarinet while Simon is at a grand piano. She is wearing an elegant red dress while Simon is in a dark suit. The Assembly Rooms curtains and wall sconces are in the background.

Sarah Williamson and Simon Callaghan in action at the Assembly Room

Regency Dancers are dancing in the Assembly Room of devizes Town Hall. There are 16 dancers, all in period costume, with a number of people sitting around the edge of the room watching.

The Assembly Room celebrating Jane Austen with Regency Dancers

Keith Brymer Jones sell out audience at Devizes Corn Exchange. The audience is all seated, looking at the camera, smiling and waving. There are around 350 people seated in rows with a wooden floor.

Audience appreciation for Keith Brymer Jones and Marj Hogarth in the Corn Exchange

The Devizes Arts Festival has long been a vibrant celebration of music, literature, comedy, and performance, bringing world-class talent to the heart of Wiltshire. From the inspiring talks of Keith Brymer Jones and Maggie Aderin-Pocock to unforgettable evenings with Frances Tophill, Mark Watson, and the Bath Male Voice Choir, the festival continues to capture the imagination of audiences. This archive of festival images preserves those moments, showcasing highlights such as Sarah Williamson and Simon Callaghan’s stirring recital, Julian Costello’s jazz performance, and even special events marking the anniversary of Jane Austen.