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ArtWorks East Exhibition 2025
Key details
When:
Date:
Time:
13th - 28th Sep
10:00 - 16:00
Where:
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Pricing:
Free Entry
25th Anniversary Exhibition of Artworks
With its reputation for high standards of fresh and contemporary work, Artworks East seeks to interest and inspire in a wide range of media created by 30 of East Anglia’s leading artists and has been doing so for 25 years now.
A highlight of the East Anglian art scene, this is a great opportunity to see contemporary 2D and 3D work by 30 of East Anglia’s established and popular artists. All the exhibits are new to the Artworks each year and are for sale.
A great favourite of the exhibition is the Mini Artworks Prize Draw; thirty mini artworks created by the Artworks artists will be on display during the main exhibition and the proceeds benefit their Schools Programme and a chosen East Anglian charity, which this year is East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
Meet the Artist
There are also daily opportunities during September to Meet The Artist at the exhibition, where one or more artists will be demonstrating how they create their work:
Saturday 13th: Lucy Perry – Artful florals
Sunday 14th:
Martin Coe – Against the landscape
Monday 15th: Terry Bryan – Eureka!
Tuesday 16th:
Christine McKechnie – Collage my way
Wednesday 17th:
Cathy D’Arcy – The owl and the pussycat
Thursday 18th:
Lousie Chapman – Talk to me, a woman who loves to paint
Friday 19th:
Elisabeth Rutt – In stitches and
Lillias August – Watercolour, freedom and control
Saturday 20th:
Valerie Armstrong – Marks and mixed media
Sunday 21st:
Hazel Bradshaw – Printing for fun and
Lyn Aylward – Painting an oil portrait
Monday 22nd:
Christine McKechnie – Collage my way
Tuesday 23rd: Kit Price Moss – Painting for Pleasure or Printmaking for Pain?
Wednesday 24th:
Eileen Revett – The wonderful world of woodcut printing
Thursday 25th:
Cathy D’Arcy – The owl and the pussycat
Friday 26th:
Valerie Armstrong – Marks and mixed media
Saturday 27th:
Judith Glover – Ten minute pastel portrait sessions
Sunday 28th:
Chris Gamble – Enjoying drawing
You can sign-up for tickets to be invited to the Private Viewing for this 25th Anniversary show on 12th September, by going to the Artworks East website.
The setting for the exhibition is the spectacular thatched, late medieval Blackthorpe Barn, part of the Rougham Estate.
Important information
There is plenty of free parking at Blackthorpe Barn.
Accessible parking is near the café/shop.
More parking is available slightly further down the avenue.
Please be aware that this is a rural location and paths can be muddy depending on the weather conditions.
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25th Anniversary in 2025
This September Artworks will be celebrating its 25th annual exhibition at Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham Estate near Bury St Edmunds.
The initial idea for Artworks was the inspiration of friends Katie Millard and Graham Portlock. They stood together in the beautiful 15th Century thatched barn, looked around and decided as one it was the perfect setting for an art exhibition. Then they set to, phoned artist friends and colleagues and the first exhibition was soon underway proving such a success that there was a resounding vote to exhibit the next year and so it has continued.
“We still have original members in the group and none of us ever dreamt, when we took part in the first exhibition at Blackthorpe Barn in 1999, that we would still be going strong 25 years later. It’s a very exciting time and shows that people in East Anglia have a real interest and appreciation for high quality art from professional artists.
As a group, we have always encouraged the addition of new guest artists and this approach has worked well over the years. It means in addition to the new work of familiar artists there are always surprises. For our 25th exhibition though, we have invited back 3 previous members whose inspiring work we’ve continued to admire; Lillias August, Louise Chapman and Lucy Lutyens.”
Gillian Crossley-Holland, Chair and one of the founder members of Artworks
Over the years Artworks has also established strong ties with local schools, providing free workshops and inviting school visits which are often as surprising to the artists as to the children.
As has been the practice for 25 years all the work exhibited is new to Artworks and ranges from colourful abstract art to exquisite botanical illustrations, dramatic landscape paintings to insightful portraiture, robust ceramics to delicate figurative work, elegant bronze sculptures to surreal constructions.
At the exhibition there will be opportunities to meet the artists and take part in the popular ‘Mini Artworks Prize draw’ which raises money for this year’s charity, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and the Artworks Schools Programme.
Where to find us
Plenty of free parking on site
Please keep to the 5mph limit
Disabled access available
This is a rural location and paths can be muddy
Blackthorpe Barn is situated just south of Junction 45 of the A14, three miles east of Bury St Edmunds, in the village of Rougham.
Look out for the entrance gates to a long tree-lined avenue at the White House junction.
The Barn is down the avenue, on the right.
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What a wonderful year 2025 was, here on Rougham Estate!
Thank you to every one who visited us in the past year, and also to each one who worked hard in the café and shop, who worked on events and on the farm, and so many others who keep things running behind the scenes. Without you, Rougham Estate would not be the same. Thank you!
Here are the past year’s fabulous seasons and events condensed into a minute or two.
Which is your favourite memory?
We wish you a very happy new year for 2026 and hope to see you again - we’ve got plenty of new ideas for the coming year😃👍👋
Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear!
#roughamestate #blackthorpebarn #2025reels #burystedmunds #suffolklife
It’ll soon be time to think about what to do with your real Christmas tree now the festive season is over.
Instead of putting it out for the bin men, how about considering a recycling scheme that helps a fantastic local charity?
The MyWish Charity - Treecycle initiative allows you to responsibly recycle your Christmas trees, benefiting the community and reducing waste.
You can take part in this fantastic scheme by registering here:
http://www.mywishcharity.co.uk/treecycle
#treecycle #charity #fundraising
Discover peaceful countryside walks around Rougham Estate, perfect for a dog-friendly day out followed by a cosy stop at Roots Café for drinks and freshly made seasonal food.
There are a range of walks for all abilities with easy to follow paths around Rougham Estate offer rolling farmland, tree-lined avenues and countryside views ideal for walkers and dogs with plenty of history along the way.
Dogs are welcome in the cafe but we ask for paws on the floor, please 🐾
To explore the walking options and to plan your route visit https://roughamestate.com/whats-on/blackthorpe-barn/walks/
#roughamestate #walks #suffolkcountryside
We are back open tomorrow!
Roots Café will be open from 9am til 4pm daily, and we are offering 10% Off cards for January and February. Pick one up on your first visit to Roots and use it on your next visit (valid only during Jan and Feb).
Also don’t forget to grab a loyalty card and get your 8th coffee free. 🙌
There’s a good excuse to come to Rougham Estate!
Also while you’re here, why don’t you enjoy one of our walks around the Estate? There’s 18 miles of public footpaths and cycling routes to enjoy. There are routes tried and tested on our website or you can enjoy your own! Perfect to burn off some of that Christmas pudding!
We hope to see you soon.
Please note we will be closed 5th January for maintenance.
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We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and thank you to those who have visited us over the festive period. We hope your day is truly magical!
#merrychristmas
Well, that’s it from us this year as we closed the doors for Christmas.
It’s been another fantastic year made possible by our incredible team across the Estate.
Thank you all for your loyalty and custom and making Christmas so magical.
We will be closed on the 24th, 25th and 26th December and look forward to welcoming you all back to Roots cafe on the 27th December.
Merry Christmas everyone! 🎄
#2026 #thatsawrap #thankyou
Still struggling with the last minute Christmas gift?
A Rougham Estate gift voucher is flexible option, perfect for anyone who loves good food, and home and lifestyle treats.
It can be used in the Roots Café or across the Estate shops, from festive finds in the Christmas Shop (for next year) to treats in the Pantry and Garden and Lifestyle Shop.
Valid for 12 months and usable over multiple visits, it’s a gift they can enjoy in their own time.
Purchase here roughamestate.com/welcome - link in profile
#roughamestate #giftvoucher #festivegifting #suffolkdays #shoplocal
If you’re planning a festive visit to Rougham Estate, please note our opening times over Christmas and the New Year.
We’ll be taking a short break on 24th, 25th and 26th December (and the 5th January for essential maintenance).
On all other days, including bank holidays, we’re open from 9am to 4pm.
Whether you’re popping in for a winter walk or a seasonal treat, we look forward to seeing you over the festive period.
The Rougham Estate Shop will be closed from tomorrow, 23rd December until the 6th January when we restock for some very beautiful and desirable lifestyle goodies.
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