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Tuesday 2pm - 5pm Thursday 2pm - 5pm Friday 2pm - 5pm Saturday 11am - 5pm Sunday 2:15pm - 5pm

The Fry Art Gallery

Name: The Fry Art Gallery
Address: Castle Street, Saffron Walden, CB101BD, GB
Telephone: +441799513779
Price range: Not applicable

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The Fry Art Gallery

The official page of The Fry Art Gallery, Saffron Walden

The Fry Art Gallery is housed in a Victorian Gentleman's Gallery of two main rooms built in 1856 for the Quaker banker Francis Gibson. In 1985 it was taken over by the Fry Art Gallery Society, a charity set up to create the North West Essex Collection of work by artists of the locality. The focus is primarily on the remarkable group of painters and printmakers who settled in nearby Great Bardfield

from the 1930s to the 1970s, and which included Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious, John Aldridge, Michael Rothenstein and Kenneth Rowntree. The Fry's permanant collection is now a considerable resource, and in addition the gallery mounts regular tempory displays to broaden its appeal. For full details and to view the collection visit www.fryartgallery.org
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29/08/2026

If your Bank Holiday diary is not yet full why not drop in to see our two current exhibitions - Fry's Popular Delights and Olga Lehmann: a Versatile and Vivacious Artist. Each curation features some of the best work in the North West Essex Collection, as well as some exciting pieces on loan. See you soon!

19/08/2026

Do not miss the opportunity to discover more about the work of Olga Lehmann in Margy Kinmonth’s film War Paint: Women at War. The film is showing at Saffron Screen in Saffron Walden this Sunday, 23 August at 7.30pm. Margy’s film offers fascinating insight into the contribution of women in WWII who used their art the service of the war effort and is a perfect companion piece to our exhibition Olga Lehmann: A Versatile and Vivacious Artist.

14/08/2026

We regret that we are again closed today, August 14th, due to the ongoing amber warning. Thanks to all our visitors for sharing some wonderful photos and reflections from your summer visits to and we'll see you soon for more of Fry's Popular Delights and works by our latest featured artist Olga Lehmann.

12/08/2026

Unfortunately the gallery will be closed tomorrow, Thursday 13 August. Our beautiful 1856 building has no air conditioning and cannot cope with an amber heat alert, however we do look forward to welcoming visitors back again soon. Meanwhile enjoy Olga Lehmann's glamorous souvenir programme design for 'Music from the Operas' a 1947 Royal Albert Hall performance by the London Symphony Orchestra.

02/08/2026

If you are partial (as we are) to the work of the magnificent Bardfield Artists, this Lino cut Map of Bardfield designed by Richard Bawden is sure to appeal.

Now printed by Stuart Morris Textiles in Hadleigh, Suffolk, the design has been transformed into decorative tea towels made from 100% unbleached cotton. For orders and further details, visit our on-line shop

31/07/2026

Portraits of the artist - in our latest exhibition Olga Lehmann: a Versatile and Vivacious Artist we have a cabinet of Olga's personal items including photos with her son Paul Huson, her paintbox and war permit. Also displayed is Self Portrait with Flowers (1965) which captures her lively character so well.
Enjoy this exhibition, together with Fry's Popular Delights, until 25 October

25/07/2026

Olga Lehmann's designs for the Argo Record Company include these beautiful covers for Dylan Thomas' 'Under Milk Wood' (voted one of the top 100 Best Record Covers) and the initial design for T S Eliot’s 'The Wasteland' - see these and many more examples of Olga's work for stage and screen in our Gibson Room exhibition 'Olga Lehmann: a Versatile and Vivacious Artist'

20/07/2026

With the Summer Holidays now in full swing Britain’s beautiful beaches are starting to fill up. Take an imaginative trip instead at our exhibition Fry’s Popular Delights...the gallery is alive with whimsical treasures to delight the eye and transport visitors to the seaside, the fairground, traditional English villages and pastimes.
As a souvenir why not take home a colourful exhibition broadsheet designed by St Jude’s.
The exhibition, curated by Mark Hearld and Colin Wilkin, is sponsored by Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers and runs to 25 October.
Painting: Edward Bawden, By the Sea (1929-30), oil on board

19/07/2026

12th July to 25th October 2026 Olga Lehmann: a Versatile and Vivacious Artist
Our second exhibition of the season in the Gibson Room showcases the work of Olga Lehmann whose diverse artistic talents embraced portraiture, mural design, World War Two artwork, graphic design, and film, television and theatre costume and set design.
Born in 1912, she spent much of her childhood in Chile, before winning a scholarship to study at The Slade School of Art. In wartime Olga was asked to paint murals in Government buildings to boost worker morale. 'Red Tape' was a satirical mural for the British Censorship Department!
For more on the artist's long and fascinating creative life Amanda J Stone's new biography Olga Lehmann: Artist has been released to coincide with the exhibition - pick up a copy at the gallery or from our online shop.

12/07/2026

Olga Lehmann “a versatile and vivacious artist” has opened! The Fry team, including our Chair Mark Myers, and exhibition co-curators Mo Johnston and David Oelman, welcomed visitors to the Gibson Room yesterday for a private viewing. We were joined by Robert Worley, who worked with Olga for many years, and author and artist Amanda J Stone. Amanda has researched the artist’s life and work extensively and her book is now available at the Gallery. We are most grateful to Amanda for her expert contribution to the exhibition. Olga’s work certainly deserves to be better known, so don’t miss this opportunity to see this special curation.
Photos:
David, Mark and Mo
Chair’s introduction
Andrea Stone and Robert Worley
Mark and mayor Jeanette Curtis
Mo, Andrea and Robert

Address

Castle Street
Saffron Walden
CB101BD

Opening Hours

Tuesday	2pm - 5pm
Thursday	2pm - 5pm
Friday	2pm - 5pm
Saturday	11am - 5pm
Sunday	2:15pm - 5pm

Telephone

+441799513779

Website

http://www.fryartgallery.org/

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