The Allen Gallery in Alton is hosting two exhibitions by Ukrainian artists.

From September 13 to 19 it is showing Unbowed: Stories of Ukraine, an exhibition of portrait photography.

This powerful photography project was produced by a group of Ukrainian women in Surrey who met through an arts-for-wellbeing programme in Farnham.

The project, partly funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, records the women’s personal experiences of leaving their homes, their friends and family in Ukraine, living in the UK and of the ongoing trauma of the war.

The Ukraine art group was set up in November 2022, supported by Creative Response Arts and Activate Learning. Among the members was award-winning photojournalist Natalia Sharomova, who taught portrait photography to others in the group.

All the photographs in the exhibition were taken by members of the group using their newly learned skills, and each portrait is accompanied by a personal story in the sitter’s own words, translated into English.

This will be followed by Genesis of Creation, an exhibition of paintings, graphics and mosaics, from September 21 to October 1.

Genesis of Creation presents work by three established Ukrainian artists who are all members of the same family: Olga, Maria and Irina Borysova.

Olga, an architect and urban landscape artist, will show her watercolours inspired by Alton and nearby views since she came to England in 2022.

Maria is a contemporary artist whose work reflects on themes of the female experience, motherhood and life in war conditions. The work includes paintings, graphics and mosaics.

Irina is a well-known Ukrainian-American artist with a wide range of art practices: animation, ceramics, graphics, book illustrations, unique dolls, stage sets and puppets for theatre. Her graphics will be presented at the exhibition.