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 season. We are open in 2026 between Sunday 5th April and Sunday 25th October.
Our 2026 season opens with two exhibitions:
- ‘Fry’s Popular Delights’ co-curated by Mark Hearld and Colin Wilkin featuring works from our Collection, and exploring the link between the ‘Fry Artists’ and Popular Art.
- a selection of work by illustrator and collage artist Michelle Thompson, who has been shown at the RA and whose clients include The Guardian, The New York Times, and Marvel.
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.
Become a member
If you would like to become a Fry Gallery Member you can now do so online. Please choose an option below.
DONATE
The Fry Art Gallery receives no regular core funding. Click here if you would like to make a donation.
Visit the Collection
Browse the Fry Gallery collection online here.
News and Events
New season: People at work!
The gallery is closed for the winter and the walls are bare. But behind the scenes things are stirring. Colin Wilkin, the Keeper of the Fry Collection has been busy with Mark Hearld selecting pieces from the stores to put on show in ‘Fry’s Popular Delights’. The...
Recent arrival: Richard Bawden’s watercolour box
Watercolour box owned by Richard Bawden The Fry Gallery's collection doesn't consist solely of artworks. We also own a surprising quantity of ephemera relating to 'our' artists, as well as an ever-expanding treasure trove of archive material. We were therefore...
Fry Gallery Lecture Series: Helen Ritchie
British Studio Pottery A talk by Helen Ritchie Friday 9th January 2026 at 7.30pm Quaker Meeting House, High Street, Saffron Walden CB10 1AA Our final winter talk will be given by Helen Ritchie, Senior Curator Modern & Contemporary Applied Arts at the Fitzwilliam...
Work of the month
Work of the Month: Christmas Card by Bernard Cheese
A merry Christmas to you all Print by Bernard Cheese c.1958 Bernard Cheese was born in Sydenham, London, in 1925. He studied at Beckenham School of Art and, following four years in the army, studied at the Royal College of Art from 1947, in London, where he studied...
Work of the Month: Still life with an oil lamp by Robert MacBryde
Still life with an Oil Lamp Oil on Canvas by Robert MacBryde c.1955 Only a few weeks to go until we close our exhibition celebrating 40 years of the Fry Gallery 'Finding a Home at the Fry', on Sunday 26th October. One of the themes explored in the exhibition by our...
Work of the Month: Apple Tree by Olga Lehmann
Apple Tree Oil on board by Olga Lehmann Serendipity plays its part in expanding the Fry Gallery collection. This painting by Olga Lehmann turned up recently in a local second hand shop, and was generously donated to the gallery. The arrival of this piece is timely,...
Exhibitions
40th Anniversary Exhibition: Finding a Home at the Fry
6th April to 26th October 2025 Finding a Home at the Fry The Fry Art Gallery is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and we are delighted to have as guest curator of the exhibition in the main gallery Ella Ravilious, granddaughter of Eric Ravilious and Tirzah...
Bardfield Murals: Ravilious, Bawden, Rowntree and others
6th April to 13th July 2025 Bardfield Murals: Ravilious, Bawden, Rowntree and others We kick off our 40th anniversary year in the Gibson Room at the Fry Gallery with an exciting exhibition which brings together rarely-seen works that shed light on an important strand...
Forty years of the Fry Art Gallery
The Fry Art Gallery celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. To mark this milestone, the gallery opens in April 2025 with two exhibitions: In the Main Gallery: Finding a Home at the Fry containing art and design depicting and made for the domestic space, curated by...
Volunteer
We could not open the gallery without the commitment and enthusiasm of our dedicated band of volunteer helpers. We pride ourselves on running a gallery to the highest professional standards while remaining a small and friendly group of people, united by our love of the artworks in our collection.
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Visiting us
Opening Times
The Gallery will open in 2026 from Sunday 5th April to Sunday 25th 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
