Welcome

The Fry Public Art Gallery was opened in 1987 and houses an impressive number of paintings, prints, illustrations, wallpapers and decorative designs by artists of the 20th century and the present day who have local connections and have made a significant contribution to their field. There is an emphasis on those who for a variety of reasons settled in Great Bardfield between the early thirties of the last century and the death in 1983 of John Aldridge RA who had lived in the village for fifty years.

The Gallery is run by volunteers, both invigilators when it is open to the public and other helpers throughout the year. Please contact us if you would like to become more involved.

The Fry Art Gallery is now closed for the winter.

We re-open on Sunday 6th April 2025, with exhibitions celebrating our 40th anniversary.

In the mean time, we look forward to seeing you at one of our winter lectures. Johnny Hannah gives us ‘England, my England’ on Friday 10th January, and we have ‘an evening with Ella Ravilious’, to look forward to on Friday 14th February. More details and tickets are on this website under ‘News’.

Film by Thomas Völker © 2022

Online Shop

The Fry’s online shop has a range of gifts, from textiles to books.

Please click HERE for more information.

The Fry receives no regular funding. Should you wish to contribute to our running costs, please use the button below.

Become a member

If you would like to become a Fry Gallery Member you can now do so online. Please choose an option below.

Visit the Collection

Browse the Fry Gallery collection online here.

News and Events

Fry Gallery Lecture series: Jonny Hannah

Fry Gallery Lecture series: Jonny Hannah

ENGLAND, MY ENGLAND an outsider looking in at all things quintessentially English A talk by Jonny Hannah Friday 10th January 2025 at 7.30pm Quaker Meeting House, High Street, Saffron Walden, CB10 1AA Tickets £6.00 in advance - see below,  or on the door Jonny was born...

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Fry Gallery Lecture series: Ella Ravilious

Fry Gallery Lecture series: Ella Ravilious

Eric Ravilious, an evening with Ella Ravilious A talk by Ella Ravilious Friday 14th February 2025 at 7.30pm Quaker Meeting House, High Street, Saffron Walden, CB10 1AA Tickets £6.00 in advance - see below,  or on the door Eric Ravilious was a designer, painter,...

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New Acquisition – Alan Spencer Green pottery

New Acquisition – Alan Spencer Green pottery

Ceramics by Alan Spencer Green, Potter, 1932 - 2003 From time to time, the Fry is lucky enough to be given works by North West Essex artists to add to its collection. The latest offering is a wonderful collection of vases, dishes and lidded pots made by Alan Spencer...

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Work of the month

Work of the month: The Chapel, Hartest by Tirzah Garwood

Work of the month: The Chapel, Hartest by Tirzah Garwood

The Chapel, Hartest, Mixed media PC69 on loan from a private collector, 1947 In the years after her husband Eric Ravilious's death, Tirzah Garwood turned particularly to making models of local schools, cottages and chapels from cardboard, paper and even leaf-prints....

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Work of the Month: Fry Sale Pictures

Work of the Month: Fry Sale Pictures

We have a huge variety of paintings, prints, ceramics, sculpture, textile and jewellery at this year's Fry Gallery Annual Sale. Here is a small selection of pictorial highlights from Rosie Philips, Michael Rothenstein, Edward Bawden and Mark Hearld. There are many...

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Work of the Month: The Potato Field by Eric Ravilious

Work of the Month: The Potato Field by Eric Ravilious

The Potato Field, Watercolour PC3037 on loan from a private collector Only four weeks left to enjoy a number of Eric Ravilious's delicate watercolours, along with works by fellow artists from Great Bardfield, before the Fry closes for the season at the end of October....

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Exhibitions

Great Bardfield and Beyond: A Working Landscape

Great Bardfield and Beyond: A Working Landscape

7th April to 27th October 2024 Great Bardfield and Beyond: A Working Landscape Great Bardfield was described by Olive Cook as 'paradisial' in her book about the North West Essex Artists. But Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious, who initially settled there in 1931 had a...

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Charles Mahoney RA: The Pleasures of Life

Charles Mahoney RA: The Pleasures of Life

6th July to 27th October 2024 in the Gibson Room Charles Mahoney RA: The Pleasures of Life Charles (Cyril) Mahoney (l903-68) has been largely forgotten and this exhibition offers a reassessment. Mahoney was a close friend of Bawden and Ravilious who first met while...

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Visiting us

Opening Times

The Gallery is open in 2024 from Sunday 7th April to Sunday 27th October.

Admission is free. Step-free access is available.

 

Monday Closed
Tuesday 2pm – 5pm
Wednesday 2pm – 5pm
Thursday 2pm – 5pm
Friday 2pm – 5pm
Saturday 11am – 5pm
Sunday and bank holidays 2pm – 5pm

Contact us

We would be delighted to hear from you and you can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The links are in the footer below.

 

Location

The Fry Art Gallery
19a Castle St, Saffron Walden CB10 1BD.
The nearest public car park is at Swan Meadow, a five-minute walk from the gallery. Pay and Display, card payments only.
Blue Badge holders may use the Residents’ Parking spaces in Castle Street.
THE ART FUND
THE ART FUND
THE ART FUND
THE ART FUND