For ‘Fry's Popular Delights' curators Mark Hearld and Colin Wilkin created some exciting paste papers for the Main Gallery, which work so well with the exhibition's lively, eclectic displays. Visit us soon and enjoy the best of the North West Essex Collection at your leisure.
Photos: Doug Atfield
3 woodcuts from the N W Essex Collection by Michael Rothenstein feature in The Sun and The Moon: Art Inspired by the Celestial @saatchi_gallery 5/6 - 8/9/2026. Connecting art, installations and rare objects, the show explores how such forces shaped art, science, belief + imagination across the ages.
See Tea at Furlongs, Eric Ravilious’ iconic watercolour, and many other treasures in our sparkling show ‘Fry’s Popular Delights’ curated by Mark Hearld + Colin Wilkin. N W Essex Collection favourites are celebrated, exploring their links with Popular Art not originally intended for gallery walls.
10 days ago we opened the doors
@FryArtGallery for our new exhibition season. Local freelance illustrator and collage artist Michelle Thompson has a solo exhibition in the Gibson Room, and Celia Bartlett shot some striking images of the artist and her work. Visit us soon for this unique show.
Our work of the month is Surrealist Collage by Olive Cook (d. 2002). Cook’s work features prominently in our exhibition Fry’s Popular Delights. She grew up in Cambridge, and was educated at the Perse school and Newnham College. After graduating she worked at Chatto & Windus and the National Gallery.
Come and celebrate World Collage Day on 9th May with a relaxed, creative workshop exploring the theme Fragments of the World – Reimagined. Together explore how everyday printed materials can be transformed into personal artworks, gathering images, textures, and words to create new compositions
Opening weekend @fryartgallery is always such a joy and very busy! Join us soon for two fantastic new shows: our permanent collection is celebrated and re-imagined in Fry's Popular Delights, while Papercuts: 30 Years of Collage Illustration showcases Michelle Thompson’s stylish, innovative practice.
New season training underway! The gallery couldn't function without its trusty team of Invigilators who welcome the 12,000 or so visitors who visit annually. As well as learning how to open and manage the gallery, there's also a sneak peek at our new exhibitions. All welcome from Sunday 5 April
Self Portrait oil on canvas by Olga Lehmann.
Although her later years were spent in N W Essex, Lehmann’s background was cosmopolitan. Born and educated in Chile, she came to the UK to study at the Slade. We are offering an exciting glimpse into her underrated creative world July - October this year.
This colourful tapestry design by Edward Bawden, The Farmyard (1951), is sure to brighten your weekend. Heading toward March, we look forward to reopening in just over a month’s time for Fry’s Popular Delights and Michelle Thompson Paper-cuts: 30 Years of Collage Illustration. More previews soon!
This watercolour paintbox was Richard Bawden’s. The Fry collection doesn’t consist solely of artworks. We also own a surprising quantity of ephemera relating to ‘our’ artists, as well as treasure trove of archive material. Delighted to receive this well-used box owned by the artist (1936-2024).
With romance in the air this week, our work of the month is Spring Wedding, oil on canvas by John Bolam (1922-2009). The season is turning, but is not yet full Spring, as the bare trees and long coats of the depicted guests suggest. The painting is newly donated to us by Bolam’s niece Frances Hurd.
More exhibition news! It’s busy behind the scenes. Colin Wilkin, our Keeper of Pictures, has worked with Mark Hearld selecting loans and pieces from the stores.’Fry’s Popular Delights’ explores the link between ‘Fry’ artists and Popular Art. Co-curated by Mark and Colin, the show runs 5/4 to 25/10.
Our first exhibition in the Gibson Room this year will be Michelle Thompson's solo show Papercuts: 30 Years of Collage Illustration. Opening 5 April.
Papercuts presents a retrospective of Michelle's three-decade career, featuring original collage pieces alongside her printed illustration work.
Before we begin our 2026 exhibition previews we are sharing sketches by Hannah Webb drawn in November at our Annual Sale. The reportage style images really capture the energy of the occasion. She regularly lectures, teaches and exhibits her work, and is widely published and collected. Thanks Hannah!
As we look ahead to a new exhibition year, we are pleased to introduce the Fry Art Gallery's new Chair, Mark Myers. Mark has a broad range of cultural interests across the arts and has made a considerable contribution to his previous roles. We are looking forward to working with him. Welcome Mark!
While icy conditions are longer with us all, January afternoons often demand comfort. These two fireside images, although different in style and medium, are both influenced by English Neo-romanticism: Turf Fire, oil, by Edwin Smith (d. 1970) and Fireplace and Kettle by Michael Rothenstein (d. 1993)
A Snowy Day by Edward Bawden is our work of the month. The weather warnings for snow and ice at the start of 2026 could equally apply to Great Bardfield in January 1955, at the start of what was known as ‘Britain’s big freeze’ - purchased with assistance from the Art Fund and the V&A Purchase Fund.
The Bardfield Artists sculpture by @ianwolter and the gallery looking picture perfect in the snow. We hope everyone is keeping safe and warm this chilly January. Thanks to @candyaclark for capturing the moment ❄️
#fryartgallery #greatbardfieldartists #saffronwalden #modernandcontemporaryart
A reminder to join us next Friday 9 January, from 7.30pm at the Quaker Meeting House, Saffron Walden for our final winter talk by Helen Ritchie. Helen is responsible for researching, interpreting and curating modern and contemporary European Applied Arts at the Fitzwilliam Museum. Tickets £6
Two beautiful Bawden works to mark the year's end. Brick House, Great Bardfield (1955) by Edward Bawden and Winter Evening by Richard Bawden. It has been a truly memorable fortieth year for the Fry with exciting new acquisitions and exhibitions. We wish you a happy, healthy and creative 2026!
A date for January diaries! Our final winter talk will be given by Helen Ritchie, Senior Curator Modern & Contemporary Applied Arts at the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge. Join us at the Quaker Meeting House in Saffron Walden on Friday 9th January 2026 - 7.30pm. Tickets on the door or via our website.
Many of Great Bardfield's artists made seasonal greetings cards for friends and family. We've some wonderful examples, including this Christmas Card Design Linocut by Michael Rothenstein.
To all our amazing volunteers and visitors, thank you for making our 40th year so memorable. Merry Christmas!
Winter Roof, Istanbul is a brilliantly observed cardboard cut by Sheila Robinson. Contented cats and alert looking birds keeping well away from the kitchen!
A student of Edward Bawden at the RCA, Robinson lived and worked in Great Bardfield and Saffron Walden. Her later work focused on printmaking.
Night by John Bolam (oil, 1966) is our choice to mark this year's Winter Solstice. A time when we look forward to longer daylight hours, and to festive celebrations which are now just days away. Will you light a fire at home to honour the shortest day?
We hold the public collection of Bolam’s work.
A Merry Christmas to You All, a print by Bernard Cheese c.1958. Cheese was born in Sydenham, London in 1925. He studied at Beckenham School of Art and at the RCA. While addressed ‘to all’ this card was most likely sent to Marianne Straub who included it her 1950s scrapbook, now in our collection.
A reminder that our 2nd winter talk is this Friday 12/12 at 7.30 pm, by distinguished wood engraver Anne Desmet RA. Her talk explores this historic technique and shows some of the imagery it is capable of producing. Tickets via our website or on the door at the Quaker Meeting House, Saffron Walden.
We are seeking a new Chair of Trustees - could this be you? Skills to Chair and a passion for our cause are essential. Applications close on 19 December. Further information about the role and appointment process can be found via this link fryartgallery.org/chair-of-tru...
We’re feeling festive! Join us Saturday 6 December 10-1pm at the gallery (19a Castle Street, Saffron Walden) for some Christmas shopping: books, prints, jewellery and textiles galore 🎁 #essexevents #sale #buyart #giveart
Back by popular demand the Fry Gallery Christmas Sale returns on Saturday 6 December! Join us at the gallery 10-1pm for access to a great selection of gifts and collectibles - vintage and costume jewellery, hand crafted buttons, fabrics, a wide range of books, Olive Cook sketches and so much more…