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 2022 season runs until 30 October.
2022 Exhibitions
Regeneration: highlights from the permanent collection, with works by Ravilious, Bawden, Rothenstein, Aldridge and many more.
The Many Sides of Isabel Rawsthorne: an in-depth look at the work of this celebrated and prolific artist, who made her home in the area for nearly 40 years. The exhibition includes important loans from the Sainsbury Centre and the Royal Opera House.
Pre-booking is not essential, but recommended.
For opening times and booking free admission, please click HERE.
Professor Martin Salisbury of Anglia Ruskin University will conduct tours of the main exhibition at 3pm on the the last Friday of each month. Pre-booking not necessary.
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 and the pandemic has affected visitor numbers during. 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.
Art & Artists
Work of the Week 55: The Pagoda by Edward Bawden
linocut 1964 Kew’s Pagoda was completed in 1762 as a gift for Princess Augusta, the founder of the Gardens. It was one of several Chinese buildings designed for Kew by Sir William Chambers, who had spent time travelling and studying the architecture of East Asia. A...
Work of the Week 54: Demonstrating a Machine Gun by Eric Ravilious
1942, watercolour Purchased with assistance from Art Fund. This poignant work was incomplete when the artist died while working as an Official War Artist in Iceland in September 1942. Ravilious was working at RAF Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire in May 1942 while...
Work of the Week 53: the new exhibition
This work of the week is really 'Works of the Week' as it gives a taste of our new exhibition - 'Regeneration'. In particular you will find many fine examples of works by Eric Ravilious, Edward Bawden and John Aldridge. The exhibition runs until the 30th October 2022,...
Exhibitions
Annual Exhibition and Sale
The Annual Fry Art Gallery Exhibition and Sale will take place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th November 2022. It will open 12-4 both days, in our newly-extended and refurbished main galley in Castle Street. And as always we are delighted to welcome members to a...
The Many Sides of Isabel Rawsthorne: the story of a local and international artist
© The Estate of John Blake 8th May – 30th October 2022 Opening times: Tuesdays to Fridays, Sundays and bank holidays 2 – 5, Saturdays 11 – 5 supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund and sponsored by Shirley Parish in memory of Dorothy Staples. Thirteen...
REGENERATION: Works from the Permanent Collection
Two Women Sitting in a Garden, Eric Ravilous, watercolour, 1932. Purchased with assistance from National Heritage Memorial Fund and the V and A Purchase Fund 8th May – 30th October 2022 Opening times: Tuesdays to Fridays, Sundays and bank holidays 2 – 5, Saturdays 11...
News
Repeat Print Wrapping Paper Workshop
NOTE: This event is at The United Reformed Church, Abbey Lane Saffron Walden Essex CBW 1AG. Emily May is an award winning artist working from her studio in the middle of the Radwinter countryside. Her favourite clients include fashion designer Coco Fennell, and The...
Annual Exhibition and Sale
The Annual Fry Art Gallery Exhibition and Sale will take place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th November 2022. It will open 12-4 both days, in our newly-extended and refurbished main galley in Castle Street. And as always we are delighted to welcome members to a...
Rawsthorne Talk Online
Curator Carol Jacobi shines a light on the career of artist Isabel Rawsthorne (1912 – 1992), “a missing link of 20th century art”. “We think of Isabel as … this incredibly glamourous figure … but she challenged that fundamental divide between the model and artist … in...
Visiting us
Opening Times
The Gallery is open from 8th May – 30th October 2022.
Admission is free.
Pre-booking is not essential, but you can reserve a timed-entry ticket HERE.
Professor Martin Salisbury of Anglia Ruskin University will conduct tours of the main exhibition at 3pm on the the last Friday of each month.
| 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
