Latest News

Artist Christopher James has been named the winner of the British Art Prize 2025.  His work is also currently available to view at Rye Art Gallery in East Sussex, where several of his paintings are on display. Based in East Sussex, he has an established exhibition history, including shows with the Society of Botanical Artists at Mall Galleries, London. At the SBA Annual Exhibition in 2023, he received the Exhibiting Excellence Award.

His work has been recognised by the Royal Academy on multiple occasions. Two of his paintings were selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2024, while an earlier piece was shown at the Summer Exhibition in 2023 and shortlisted for the British Art Prize 2022. His painting of a greenfinch was also shortlisted for the British Art Prize 2021, in association with Artists & Illustrators magazine.

Melvyn Evans’ latest collection, now on display at Rye Art Gallery, showcases his bold, characterful interpretation of the British coastline and rural landscape. Known for his striking use of line, texture, and simplified form, Evans brings a fresh immediacy to familiar scenes, capturing both the stillness and quiet drama of place. This new body of work highlights his mastery of printmaking and drawing, offering viewers a compelling blend of tradition and contemporary expression.

See more here 

Diana Low (1911 - 1975) was a well-known painter in oils and pastels as well as a talented printmaker. Her compositions mainly landscapes, Sussex beach Scenes included figurative subjects and still life had a unique and distinctive colour palette.

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We are pleased to present Artists in Focus a captivating exhibition uniting the work of distinguished and contemporary artists whose practices are guided by close observation, imaginative vision, and a deep connection to place.

This curated selection highlights the richly narrative paintings of Emma Turpin, Louis Turpin, Melvyn Evans, Mick Rooney, Matt Hardman, and Richard Adams, showcased alongside pieces by additional gallery artists and works drawn from our permanent collection.

We're delighted to announce that a new collection of limited edition books by four celebrated local artists — Terry Hulf, Jacqueline Stanley, Polly Horner, and Annie Soudain is now available to purchase through the Gallery’s online shop. They make wonderful, thoughtful gifts,  ideal for anyone who appreciates creativity and local art. Arriving just in time for Christmas, these limited editions are a perfect way to share something truly special this festive season. 

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We have been able to reproduce this Edward Burra (1905-1976) limited edition print from the original water colour painting with the kind permission of the Burra family in Rye. "Still Life with Mixed Flowers” (1964) is a rare example of a flower painting by Edward Burra. It clearly shows his unique Skills in drawing and using water colour with such brilliant dramatic effects.

Only 25 prints available, available unframed online or framed directly from the gallery contact ryeartgallery@gmail.com

See online shop 

Rye Art Gallery are delighted to receive an acquisition for our Permanent Collection from the artist Tony Bennett. A large natural clay terracotta head made in 2005 . This one of a series of male heads in part explore the conflict between animal instinct and human intellect. This generous donation by the artist to our permanent collection means that we now have three of these head variants in natural clay in our collection

We would like to invite you to our “Friends and Artists Evening” to meet the artists and join us for a glass of wine and a mince pie on 5th December (4pm – 6pm). We will also have a selection of exclusive items in our tabletop sale including Christmas cards, prints and artworks from our stores.

RSVP 

Landscape for the Terrified brings together the work of Christopher Baker and Sally Cole, exploring the extremes of Arctic Circle, New Zealand, and more locally West Sussex and Pembrokeshire.

Their paintings emerge from an intense dialogue with land and climate, capturing both its toughness and fragility. Through colour, mark-making, and form, they search for hidden depths creating work that is both expressive and transformative.

Rooted in shared journeys and a profound engagement with place, the exhibition reflects on the reciprocity between artist and landscape, offering viewers a vision that is as immersive as it is contemplative.

We invite you to the Exhibition preview on Sat Oct 11th at 11am - 1pm

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The annual En Plein Air Competition has announced its winners, celebrating exceptional talent in open-air painting. First Prize was awarded to Georgina Allen for her outstanding artistry, with Natasha Cooke securing Second Prize and Tobit Roche taking Third Prize. Their works captured the spirit of painting directly from nature with remarkable creativity and skill. The community is invited to honor these talented artists at the official Awards Ceremony on September 28th, where their achievements will be celebrated alongside an exhibition of their winning pieces.

We are proud that our painting “seamstresses” by Laura Sylvia Gosse has been loaned to the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown Massachusetts, USA to feature in an exhibition.

The major show is called “A Room of Her Own” Women Artists-Activists In Britain (1875-1945)

The oil painting has an interesting story to tell about women and art during the early part of c20. Painted as it was, in the same year that suffragette and art student Mary Richardson went into the National Gallery and slashed ‘The toilet of Venus’ (The Rokeby Venus) by Diago Valazequez with a meat cleaver. This protest was against the government for destroying Mrs Pankhurst the leading voice on women’s rights.

Read more on the Curators Blog 

Support Art, Win Art!
We’re thrilled to launch our Art Gallery Raffle – raising vital funds for the restoration of Rye Art Gallery and preservation of our historic archives.

Incredible prizes generously donated by talented artists and local businesses, including:

First Prize: ‘Rother Sunset’ – an original oil painting by Karl Terry
Second Prize: ‘Tulips, Bumblebees and Ladybirds’ – a beautiful watercolour by Claire Fletcher
Third Prize: Handcrafted ceramic tealight by Joanna Terry

Plus fabulous runner-up prizes:

Art materials from Artwrite
Sussex Modernism book by Hope Wolf
Unique ceramic teapot
T-shirt kit from Little Masher
Rye Art Gallery cotton tote
Pimms bottle
Fortnum & Mason sparkling tea
Rye Bay E-Bike voucher
… and more!

Every ticket sold helps protect the future of Rye’s artistic legacy.

Available now at the gallery – pop in and grab yours!

Join us at Rye Art Gallery for a vibrant Summer Fair celebrating creativity, community, and conservation!

Date: 9th & 10th of August Time: 11am-onwards

We’re opening our doors for a day of summer celebration in support of the continued conservation and restoration of the Gallery’s historic archive spaces—preserving Rye’s rich artistic legacy for future generations.

Stock Sale – prints, paintings, and ceramics by local and regional artists.

Pimm’s Bar – Sip a refreshing glass of Pimm’s in the garden.

Speciality Teas & Homemade Cakes – Treat yourself to something sweet

Live Music – Enjoy a lively summer soundtrack as you wander the gallery and garden.

Raffle – Enter to win art-inspired prizes.

Curatorial Tours – Go behind the scenes with our curators for insights into the gallery’s collection

Bring your friends, enjoy the atmosphere, and support an important cause at the heart of Rye’s cultural life.

Free entry – all proceeds go towards the conservation and restoration of our archive spaces.

Synergy with Victoria Atkinson & Karen Birchwood.

Victoria and Karen have a heartfelt connection to the landscape and have chosen to work together to respond to each other's work for this exhibition. 

Join us on Saturday June 28th from 11am - 1pm 

Refreshments will be served.

RSVP HERE 

A welcome treat for all of our En Plein Air painters. We have just announced our En Plein Air painting days in conjunction with Rye Arts Festival.

Event 1. with Karl Terry RSMA 

Event 2. with Georgie Watson.

Event 3. with Tom Marsh ARSMA.

Please see our see our exhibitions and events page for full details. 

Join us on Thursday the 26th of June and the curator for an illuminating afternoon with photographer Terry Hulf, writer and photographer Tom Evans, along with special insights from esteemed photographer John Garrity.

This unique event will delve into Terry Hulf's curatorial vision, his photographic practice, and the stories behind some of his most compelling works. Tom Evans will contribute drawing out the ideas that shape Hulf’s approach to both creating and presenting photography. John Garrity, a long-time collaborator and contemporary of Hulf, will add depth and historical context through his reflections and shared experiences.

For more details and to purchase tickets please click HERE

Edward Burra (1905-1976) is a name that comes up regularly in Rye, as one of our most famous

inhabitants there are many people who remember, recollect and eulogise about this enigmatic

individual. His artwork and his life were a journey of immeasurable achievement, he was

overwhelmed with illness from birth but rather than allowing this to become his identity, he worked

tirelessly creating the paintings we now recognise as some of the most famous watercolours in the art world.

In fact, so much so that one of the finest treasures of Rye Art Gallery’s permanent collection, the

painting by “Ed”, Black Mountain, Wales (1968) has travelled up to London where it features in the

Tate Britain exhibition on Edward Burra that opens next week on June 13th .

Read more on the Curators Blog 

Synergy by Victoria Atkinson & Karen Birchwood 

Opens Saturday 28th June. 

Victoria and Karen have a heartfelt connection to the landscape and have chosen to work together to respond to each other's work for this exhibition.

Karen's paintings are not a portrayal of literal place but an emotional feeling of landscape as you move through it. In a similar way Victoria's figures are moving within a landscape, the response is an emotion of being eternally present there.

The works created for Synergy express their shared love of the natural elements, earth, wind and fire, with organic figures wandering through open, sometimes bleak landscapes.

Elements that are mirrored by the use of complementary earthy tones of landscape with colour, mark making and form all working beautifully together.

On May 31st, we invite you to immerse yourself in a unique cultural experience by joining us for an engaging curatorial walk and talk featuring the insightful perspectives of Terry Hulf, Louise Simkiss-Day, and Dr. Julian Day.

Following the curatorial walk, we are excited to present a second session of live "marsh" music within the gallery space, continuing until 5:30pm.  Tickets are £10.00 which not only grants you access to this unique event but also supports the continued programming and exhibitions at our gallery.

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Attention all artists! We invite you to take part in the thrilling En Plein Air Competition display your beautiful outdoor artwork at Rye Gallery! Seize the opportunity to win a fantastic £1000! Get inspired and unleash your creativity!

The act of artists working outdoors to produce sketches and drawings to accompany their larger works has been an established tradition for many years. The scientific approach from John Constable reveals countless sketches of skies and lands observed closely and depicting the ever-changing light, mood and weather. What was an ideal for artists like Turner and Constable soon became a reality for the impressionists. The transition to en plein air originally depended on the developments of paints and materials becoming more transportable, with the invention of the box easel allowing artists to travel easily with all the equipment they needed.

You can now apply and submit your work online. Closing date July 31st 

APPLY HERE