Pete McKee - Sheffield Museums Trust

A painting of a young child being bathed in a sink of a 197s style kitchen. Around the sink are a rubber duck, a bottle of washing up liquid, a jug, a kettle and a mug.

Pete McKee, Bath Time © Pete McKee

Join one of Sheffield best-loved artists, Pete McKee, as he takes you on a nostalgia-filled journey through his 1970s childhood.

Playful, evocative, funny and moving, this interactive exhibition chronicles the artist’s formative years through over 90 McKee creations. Key moments and treasured memories are captured in a new series of paintings, prints and sculpture, as well as highlights from across his career. The artworks are complemented by displays celebrating the clothes, games, music and popular culture of the period, transporting visitors back through the decades.

Split into five sections, the exhibition spans Pete’s earliest memories, including the loss of his mum, through to the teenage joy of finding his identity through fashion and music. Exploring the places and the events that shaped his life and influenced his art, the displays also feature key works from the city’s collection that had an impact on Pete growing up.

As they follow Pete’s journey, visitors will have the chance to play an arcade classic, Space Invaders, hear his 70s pop music playlist and get creative in the exhibition’s Cartoon Workshop zone.

While you're visiting by sure to catch Pete's work in amazing augmented reality! Download the Look Up app and see Pete's creations come to life on the top of both the museum and the Children's Hospital. You'll find all the instructions in the exhibition.

Suggested donation £5 – please donate if you're able and help keep your museums open for everyone to enjoy.

Generously sponsored by:

Free Entry | Please Donate £5

Opening Times

Tue–Sat 10am–4pm | Sun 11am–4pm

Weston Park Museum

Western Bank

Sheffield

S10 2TP

Frequently Asked Questions

Find useful information on planning your visit in the FAQ below.

Tickets are currently available to book for visits up until Thu 16 Jan, but walk-ups are welcome too. From Fri 17 Jan, there's no need to book, just drop in. You can pre-book your ticket at ticketsource.co.uk/petemckee
Tickets to the exhibition are free, but there will be an opportunity to make a donation to support Sheffield Museums’ work as a charity as part of the transaction process. Please donate £5 and help keep your museums fee and open for everyone to enjoy.
Tickets are currently available for slots every 15 minutes through the day – you’ll need to book and arrive for the start of your allocated slot, but there’s no limit to how long you can spend in the exhibition.

You can email us at mckeetickets@sheffieldmuseums.org.uk

You can find information about getting to the museum, including direction, public transport and parking, on this page: https://www.sheffieldmuseums.org.uk/visit-us/weston-park-museum/plan-your-visit/

You can find information on accessibility at Weston Park Museums on this page: sheffieldmuseums.org.uk/visit-us/weston-park-museum/accessibility/
The exhibition itself includes a vintage horse ride which makes repetitive noise when in use. The vintage Space Invaders machine will make arcade game machine noises when in use. The Cartoon Workshop tutorial film includes spoken word which is played through speakers, but this area is sectioned off to minimise sound transfer. The sound for all audio-visual content is accessed via headphones. There is no low lighting in the exhibition and there is seating is provided.

Due to the delicate nature of some of the displays food and drink is not permitted in the exhibition and other galleries, and we are only able to welcome assistance dogs into the museum.

Yes! You’re welcome to take photographs in the exhibition for non-commercial use, but please be mindful of other visitors. The use of tripods isn’t permitted and we ask that visitors don’t use a flash.
If you’re sharing on social media, be sure to tag us:
- Instagram: @sheffmuseums
- Facebook: @sheffieldmuseums
- X: @ sheffmuseums

Exhibition merchandise is available exclusively from the Weston Park Museum shop. Visitors to the museum do not need exhibition tickets to access the shop or buy products from the Pete McKee merchandise range.