Goings on at Gainsborough's House

An exhausting morning for all concerned took place on Saturday morning at Gainsborough’s House. The event was the opening of a retrospective exhibition by local artist Richard Bawden, pictured here in front of one of his distinctive works. The enthusiasm of visitors was such that at one stage I volunteered to take over the task of ‘clicking people in’, so that the Reception desk could get on with the job of taking money for gift shop items and selling paintings.

Well over 200 people came into the House to see the paintings, prints and ceramics on display. I do recommend that people go in and take a look. If you want to buy a souvenir there are some great works still unsold and if you can’t stretch to an original there are some great tea towels in the shop decorated with Bawden woodcuts.

Richard Bawden was born in Braintree in 1936 and has spent his working life in East Anglia. Regularly shown at the Royal Academy Summer exhibition, his works can be found in the collections of the Tate and the Victoria and Albert Museum and also in the Government Art Collection. He has exhibited widely throughout East Anglia and also in Germany. The artist has had a long-standing relationship with Gainsborough’s House, being Chairman of the Print Workshop between 1984 and 1990, and participating in exhibitions in 1974 and 1996. He also created a mural and designed china for Ford’s Bistro, situated adjacent to Gainsborough’s House, in the 1980s.

The exhibition continues until just before Christmas, and entry to the Museum is free on Tuesdays (although donations, however small, are gratefully received!)

There is a good deal of activity at Gainsborough’s House at present. November 1^st marks the beginning of Autumn Arts, a series of evening events including a Musical Evening, with actress Liz Norman and lectures on Victorian lady explorers and the experiences of a war artist. These are open to the public once Friends and volunteers have had the chance to book (which they now have!). Details from Reception in Weavers Lane, or on 01787 372958. Entry costs £8 per head per event.