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.
Our winter lecture series continues into the New Year. For more information, see under ‘News’ on this website.
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
New Acquisition: Sacred Place by Michael Ayrton
Michael Ayrton was born in London, the son of the poet and critic, Gerald Gould and MP, Barbara Ayrton Gould. He studied art in London before visiting Paris in 1938 with the artist John Minton, where they studied with the French neo-romanticist Eugene Berman...
Treasures
Collage & Drawing Workshop with Chloe Cheese A summer workshop based on the Fry Gallery exhibition Finding a Home at the Fry (which we shall visit). Participants will bring along a shoe box filled with personal belongings – treasures - which will be used to...
Fry Gallery Lecture series: Alan Powers
FINDING THE LOST MURALS OF THE BARDFIELD ARTISTS A talk by Alan Powers Friday 25th April at 7.30pm Quaker Meeting House, High Street, Saffron Walden, CB10 1AA Tickets, £6 are available from the link below, or on the door. Alan Powers will uncover the long-lost or...
Work of the month
Work of the Month: Design for Royal Mail Stamp by Sheila Robinson
Alternative Idea for British Rural Architecture Stamps, Ink and Pencil on Paper 1970. In February 1969 the Royal Mail’s Stamp Advisory Committee discussed the stamp programme for 1970. It was felt that the British architecture series started with Cathedrals in May...
Work of the month: Brick House by Edward Bawden
Brick House, Great Bardfield Watercolour PC350, 1955 Purchased by the Fry Gallery in 1995 with grant aid from the National Art Collections Fund To mark the arrival of the first of this winter's snow in North West Essex, we are featuring this wintry scene from Great...
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....
Exhibitions
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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.
For general enquiries about volunteering with us, contact info@fryartgallery.org.
Where there are specific opportunities, we will advertise them here.
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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
