GIZMOBOTS

20 June - 9 September 2026

Gizmobots are found object robot sculptures made by artist Mark Haig. Each sculpture is carefully crafted to bring each of the objects together as a whole, bearing in mind their age, colour, texture and style. Some of the sculptures are purely decorative whilst others have functions such as being a lamp, radio or Bluetooth enabled music player. 

"My name's Mark and 30 odd years ago I used to sit in front of my parents’ electric fire as an 8 year old child and make robots and spaceships out of cogs and wheels and bits of wood that my dad bought back from his job as a clock repairer. Fast forward through the years and I have continued to use these skills to teach about recycling and re-appropriating old electronic equipment so it doesn’t just end up in land fill.
 
Gizmobots start life as found objects from skips, second hand shops, car boot sales and scrap yards. I carefully craft each robot so that all the parts come together to create a desirable, cute, robot. Each Gizmobot comes with a tag explaining his or her own personality, likes, dislikes, hobbies and catering requirements. As a qualified electronics engineer, I re-appropriate old electronics to give some of the robots I make a purpose, such as being an I-pod dock, a desk light or a working radio." 

UNVEILED EVENTS

GIZMOBOTS EVENTS

Exhibition Exclusive 

'BECOMING A ROBOT'

Robert Llewellyn star of Red Dwarf, Scrapheap Challenge, Discworld Noir and Everything Electric in conversation with Tom Heap environmental journalist and author, Radio 4 Rare Earth and BBC 1 Countryfile,


 Friday 10 July 5.30-6pm start

Tickets £10

Suitable for ages 12+

Bits and Bots Family Fun Day
Saturday 20 June 11am - 3pm

 Unleash the inventor inside you with a day of making and creating.  More details to follow.

GIZMOBOTS VOLUNTEERING

We’re transforming part of the Gallery into a lively hands-on Gizmobots 'shed' where children can build their own imaginative robots using cardboard, bottle tops, paper, recycled materials, and plenty of creativity.

Alongside the exhibition by Mark Haig 'Gizmobots' and the famous Robot Wars house robots, the shed will give families the chance to design, make, invent, and play together in a fun and welcoming environment. We’re expecting the space to be incredibly popular and we’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us bring it to life.

Help is needed Tuesdays - Saturdays from 10.30am - 4.30pm,  23rd June -12th Sept
Whether you can spare a few hours, a full day, or several sessions, your help would make a huge difference.

We don’t need experts, engineers, or artists - just friendly, reliable people who enjoy working with families and being part of something creative and exciting.

Volunteers would help by:
• Welcoming families into the space
• Encouraging children with their robot creations
• Helping keep materials organised and stocked
• Tidying tables and work areas throughout the day
• Supporting the overall smooth running of the workshop

Parents and carers will remain responsible for their children, so your role is very much about assisting, encouraging, and helping create a positive atmosphere.

Why volunteer?

• Be part of a major family exhibition and event
• Help inspire creativity and confidence in young people
• Meet new people and become part of a friendly team
• Gain experience in museums, events, education, or community engagement
• Add valuable volunteering experience to your CV
• Enjoy a fun, energetic, and rewarding environment
• Support an activity that brings families together through creativity and imagination


If you’d like to get involved, or would simply like to find out more, please EMAIL us -   we’d love to hear from you.

Thank you for considering being part of what promises to be a fantastic summer experience.