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 2024 season continues with these exhibitions:
Great Bardfield and Beyond: A Working Landscape, in the main gallery, and Charles Mahoney: The Pleasures of Life in the Gibson Room until Sunday 27th October.
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
INTRODUCTION TO WOOD ENGRAVING
Saturday 27th July 2024 9.45am to 4.30pm Cost £100, including all materials To book click HERE Full details will be emailed to participants after booking. Limited to 8 participants Tuscan Trees by Kate Dicker A one-day practical workshop with printmaker Kate Dicker...
Richard Bawden 1936 – 2024
Everyone at the Fry is saddened by the news that Richard Bawden, artist, illustrator, designer died peacefully at home on May 31st 2024. Richard was a generous supporter of the Fry Art Gallery, and he is well represented in the North West Essex Collection. We are...
New season opens
Ransomes RHA Plough This horse drawn plough, manufactured by Ransomes of Ipswich, the biggest agricultural equipment manufacturer in Britain, is on show in the exhibition in the main gallery 'Bardfield and Beyond: A Working Landscape'. Ploughs and other farm...
Work of the month
Work of the Month: Oak Cottage by Charles Mahoney
Oak Cottage, Oil on Canvas Cyril (known as Charles) Mahoney (1903 - 1968) studied at the Royal College of Art with Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious. The three artists won the commission to paint the murals at Morley College in Southwark between 1928 and 1930....
Work of the Month: My Mother’s House by Chloë Cheese
My Mother's House, Lithograph, 1986. Sheila Robinson was a pupil of Edward Bawden at the Royal College of Art. Encouraged by him, she moved to Great Bardfield in 1953, and immersed herself in the creative life there while raising two small children, Ben and Chloë. She...
Work of the Month: Young Chickens by Walter Hoyle
Young Chickens, Gouache, pen and ink, 1958. ‘If I were asked which were the best years,’ wrote Walter Hoyle (1922 - 2000) ‘I would not hesitate to answer those spent in and around Great Bardfield and Great Saling'. During that happy time, between 1952 and 1975, Walter...
Exhibitions
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...
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...
Visiting us
Opening Times
The Gallery is open in 2024 from Sunday 7th April to Sunday 27th October.
Admission is free.
| 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
