Author: Miles Barry

It’s shaping up to be a very busy year!

First on the list is:

Suffolk Open Studios 2023
Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 June, 10am – 4pm

It’s unfortunate that, due to other commitments, I’ll only be able to open for one weekend this year but, on the plus side, if everyone comes on those days then I can promise you a very buzzy weekend!

Click here for a preview of the work I’ll be showing.

And later in June, I’m taking part with Easterly Artists in their latest exhibition at the First Light Festival in Lowestoft, with a selection of prints and cards for sale as well as some larger work. The festival runs Midday – 9.30pm, Saturday 17 and 10am – 4pm, Sunday 18 June.

Click here for further details and directions.

Third, I’m very pleased to have been offered a solo show in July at the excellent George Farnham Gallery in Saxmundham.

Hilary Barry Solo Exhibition
George Farnham Gallery, Saxmundham
4 – 15 July
Open: Tue – Fri, 10.30am – 4pm; Sat, 10am – 1pm (Closed Sun – Mon)
George Farnham, 6A High Street, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 1DD

This is one of the pieces I’ll be showing:

As an added incentive, Saturday 8 July is market day in Saxmundham so, if you come then, once you’ve had a chance to look round the show there will be plenty of other things to see and do in the high street.

On to September and I’m hosting a joint exhibition at The Craft House in Woodbridge, together with the very talented fellow Suffolk artist, Ros Bieber:

Hilary Barry & Ros Bieber
The Craft House, Woodbridge
27 September – 3 October
Open daily, 10am – 5pm
The Craft House, 1B Thoroughfare, Woodbridge IP12 1AA

Here’s one of the paintings I’ll be showing, with an example of Ros’ work below, to give you a taste of what to expect:

The Craft House is 5 minutes’ walk from Woodbridge Station, which is also probably the best place to leave your car if you’re driving.

Finally, Ros and I are hosting another joint show in November at The Bell Gallery in Bungay, which is rapidly making a name for itself as the place to be if you want to see compelling work by new artists from a whole range of locations and mediums.

Hilary Barry & Ros Bieber
Bell Gallery, Bungay
31 October – 25 November
Open: Tue – Sat, 10am – 4.30pm (Closed Sun – Mon)
Bell Gallery, 40 Earsham St, Bungay NR35 1AQ

You can get to Bungay by train via Beccles, followed by a short bus ride. Alternatively, if you’re coming by car, there’s plenty of car parking in the street or the public car park down the road.

And, as always, please follow me on my Instagram, Facebook or Twitter pages for all the latest images and updates.

Hope to see you in due course at one or more of the above!

It feels like I’ve only just finished Christmas, yet already I’m busily preparing for the next round of exhibitions with three shows in as many months!

First, I’ll be opening my studio again in this year’s Suffolk Open Studios on three of the four weekends in June: 11am-5pm: 4-5, 11-12 and 25-26 June – but let me know if those days don’t suit, and we can arrange another time. If you’ve visited me before you’ll know the location; otherwise, get in touch via the Contact page and I’ll send you directions.

Click here for a preview of the work I’m planning to  have on show.

Next, don’t worry if the only weekend you have free in June is the third one, because I’m also taking part with Easterly Artists in their latest exhibition Art NOW! – Midday, Saturday 18 – 2pm, Sunday 19 June at Kensington Gardens, Kensington Road, Lowestoft NR33 0HY.

Why a 24-hour exhibition, and for only two days? Because it’s part of the First Light Festival, just up the road from my studio. If you haven’t been before, it’s a really special event, timed to coincide with the dawning of a new day on the UK’s most Easterly point. It’s a great occasion, if you can make it – just let me know in advance, so I can be there at the same time to meet you.

Finally, I’m really pleased to be back with the George Farnham Gallery for All That Is Suffolk, 1 June – 31 August, at 6A High Street, Saxmundham IP17 1DD. 

If you haven’t been before, George Farnham is a lovely little gallery at the end of Saxmundham High Street, showing a wide selection of art from across the region, and is well worth a visit! Click here for opening times and other details.

I have some other exhibitions lined up for the rest of the year, but that’s enough news for now. I hope you’ll be able to make it to at least one of the above, and look forward to seeing you then!

Meanwhile, you can always follow all my newest work on my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter feeds, so don’t forget to click on the links for all the latest developments.

I was very pleased to be taking part over Christmas 2021 in Easterly Artists’ latest group show Making Our Mark, at the Ferini Gallery in Pakefield.

The exhibition ran from 5 November 2021 till 9 January 2022, and 22 other artists took part, all from the local area. I had several pieces on display; this is one example:

During the recent pandemic and lock-downs, the NHS was (and still is) constantly in my thoughts. As a painter, this prompted me to produce a new body of work, the Lock-Down Series, reflecting my own feelings and experience of that time.
You can see it here.

Recently, I was thrilled that Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge accepted two pieces from the series into their permanent art collection. I have a strong personal connection with Addenbrooke’s, so it’s good to have an opportunity to give something back to the doctors and nurses who’ve taken such good care of my family in the past, often under such difficult and demanding circumstances.

At the beginning of the pandemic, no-one anywhere was sure what was happening. PPE turned into masks of invisibility. This painting explores the strangeness and confusion, and the courage, which prevailed at that time.

Research into and production of anti-Covid vaccines relied on intense working methods and huge commitment. I imagined the relentless processes and practices required in that environment, to achieve the desired result.

I’m delighted to announce that my work “If the Time is Right” has been selected for the upcoming Federation of British Artists exhibition Figurative Art Now at the Mall Galleries!

From the Mall Galleries website: “Featuring works by elected FBA members, prize-winners, regular exhibitors, FBA Futures Alumni and artists new to Mall Galleries… (“Figurative Art Now”) explores the breadth of representational painting, drawing, sculpture and printmaking in the UK today.”

The exhibition runs 7 July – 20 September. Sadly, for all the usual reasons, this year’s show will be virtual, but please bookmark https://bit.ly/mallgalleries and make a point of visiting, to show your support!

This year’s Suffolk Open Studios comes to an end on something of a high.

Despite only being open this time for two weeks, a number of people took the opportunity get in touch or come by my studio, resulting in several sales!

You can see the larger pieces listed above and below but, for now, the most important thing is to thank everyone who made the time to visit and – in particular – all those who felt inspired to buy one of my works, however large or small, be it a painting, print, drawing or simply a card.

So, thank you all, and I’ll look forward to seeing you again next year!

Suffolk Open Studios

After the 2020 event had to be cancelled, I’m very pleased to be taking part again in this year’s Suffolk Open Studios programme. 130 artists will be opening their studios and galleries to the public across Suffolk over the four weekends of June.

You can get a taste of what I’ll be showing by visiting the Suffolk Open Studios page on my website  or – better still –  coming along to see for yourself! I’m opening my studio 11am-4pm on two weekends: 5-6 and 12-13 June (other times by appointment) and look forward to seeing you there.

“Moving On”

I’m also taking part in Easterly Artists’ Summer Exhibition “Moving On”, which opens at the Anteros Gallery in Norwich on 8 June.

The show runs Tue 8- Sat 19 June, and Anteros is at 11-15 Fye Bridge Street, Norwich NR3 1LJ. Opening times are Tue-Sat, 9.30am-5pm and entry is free.

Keep in touch

If you’d like to keep up-to-date on all the latest developments for either of these and other events, don’t forget to follow me, Suffolk Open Studios and Easterly Artists on social media.

And, of course, let me know if you’d like to be added to my mailing list: drop me a line via the Contact page on my site, with your details.

It’s been a busy few months! In between creating a number of new pieces (See the “New Work” page) and preparing for two new exhibitions – more details to follow – I’m pleased to announce a number of sales.

The following pieces have all gone to new homes:

I’m taking part in The Great Big Art Exhibition. ⁣This is the first of two charcoal on paper pieces I’ve prepared.

The idea is for people to create an artwork at home – it can be a painting, drawing, sculpture or whatever you want – to display in their window or garden. The plan is to create a rolling nationwide exhibition, inspired by the rainbows people made to celebrate the NHS and keyworkers during the first lock-down. ⁣
⁣
This is how it works. Every two weeks, a different artist chooses a new subject: the theme for the first fortnight, chosen by Antony Gormley, is animals. When I first moved to Kessingland, people I met didn’t ask “How are you?” but “Where’s your dog?” (I don’t have one) so, in their honour, I’ve chosen dogs as my first subject. ⁣

You can learn more about the exhibition and how to take part here, or follow it on social media using the hashtag #greatbigartexhibition.

2020’s been a busy year, apart from the obvious issue of dealing with Coronavirus and the associated difficulties.

With the Pit Girls exhibition in March followed by two Easterly Artists virtual exhibitions in May and September, it’s time to start the process of framing and preparing new canvases.