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ArtWorks Exhibition 2026
Key details
When:
Date:
Time:
12th - 27th Sep
10:00 - 16:00
Where:
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Pricing:
Free Entry
Artworks are for sale and are priced individually
26th Year of Artworks Exhibitions
With its reputation for high standards of fresh and contemporary work, Artworks (known as ArtworksEast online) seeks to interest and inspire in a wide range of media created by 28 of East Anglia’s leading artists and has been doing so for over 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 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.
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 12th September – Julia Groves, Gail Loftus
Sunday 13th September – Billie Buck, Doug Patterson
Monday 14th September – Valerie Armstrong
Tuesday 15th September – Terry Bryan
Wednesday 16th September – Hazel Bradshaw
Thursday 17th September – Stephen Kirin
Friday 18th September – Sue Caddy
Saturday 19th September – Gillian Crossley-Holland, Liz Waugh McManus
Sunday 20th September – Angela Hall, Christine McKechnie
Monday 21st September – Eileen Revett
Tuesday 22nd September – Elisabeth Rutt
Wednesday 23rd September – Judith Glover
Thursday 24th September – Sarah Abercrombie
Friday 25th September – Valerie Armstrong
Saturday 26th September – Cathy D’Arcy, Judith Glover
Sunday 27th September – Lucy Perry, Doug Patterson
Find out more detail about these artists from this page on the ArtworksEast website.
You can sign-up for tickets to be invited to the Private Viewing for this show by going to the ArtworksEast website.
The setting for this wonderful 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.
Gallery
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26th Anniversary
This September Artworks will be celebrating its 26th 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.
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 26 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.
“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 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.”
Gillian Crossley-Holland, Chair and one of the founder members of Artworks
Where to find us
Plenty of free parking on site
Please keep to the 20mph 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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Not sure how to find Rougham Pumpkins, because we’re not in the same field as last year? We’ve got you covered!
Finding the Rougham Pumpkin Patch is easier than you think, just follow this reel and you’ll know exactly where you’re going before you even leave the house.
We’re about 3 miles east of Bury St Edmunds, just south of Junction 45 on the A14, in Elderstub Lane.
(This is the same junction as last year, but south of the A14 instead of north.)
SatNav: IP30 9HX
What3words: others.flaunting.anchorman
Open 9am – 5pm at the weekends in October and daily 24-31 October.
Free entry, free parking, no booking needed.
Thousands upon thousands of pumpkins.
Games, bale pyramids, sand pits and more.
A fabulous festival selection of street food trucks.
Evening openings and SEN hours.
One golden pumpkin to be found in the field each day, winning the finder a free barrow-load of pumpkins.
All the info from our website, link in profile.
See you at the patch! 🎃🧡
#RoughamEstate #RoughamPumpkins #PickYourOwnPumpkins #SuffolkAutumn #BuryStEdmunds
The wait is over - Rougham Pumpkins opens today 🎉🎃 Just look at all these pumpkins on this year’s field!
Thousands upon thousands of pumpkins, squashes and gourds are waiting for you to pick them. Prices range from 75p to £10.
If you find the GOLDEN pumpkin hidden on the field, you win one wheelbarrow of pumpkins for free!
The patch is open 9am-5pm each weekend in October, and until 9pm on Saturdays 17th and 24th, and then daily from 24th to 31st.
There’s plenty of room to play and wander, enjoy games and photo-ops and food, glorious food!
🎃These wonderful food trucks are bringing the festival vibe here this weekend:
Roots&Co - coffee, bagels, crumble, drinks including wine, beer and cocktails
@whatthe_peck - Suffolk-reared fried chicken
@BadBoiBurritos - toasted burritos
@Pigs_In - all your pork favourites
@GeeGeeBakes - cheesecakes, milkshakes & coffees
@KiernansCoffee - coffees, drinks & snacks keeping you going at the “Pitch in the Patch”
@FullThrottleCoffeeCo - coffees & snacks
@Tikka_Tonic - New Delhi style street food (Saturday only)
@TheCreperieShack - sweet & savoury crepes
Or bring your own picnic if you like.
🎃NEW FIELD! The pumpkins are in a new field this year, the same as the sunflowers were, south of J45, A14 on Elderstub Lane.
SatNav: IP30 9HX
Maps and directions on our website
🎃Free entry, free parking, no booking needed - there’s no reason not to come
Grab a wheelbarrow, explore the patch, pick your favourites.
Come and feast and enjoy this glorious late summer sunshine.
Don’t forget:
🎃Pumpkins by Torchlight and Silent Disco on 17th and 24th October - headset tickets available from 5th October,
🎃 the quieter SEN-hours where there is ticket-only entry on 27th and 29th October 9am-10am.
Due to the very dry summer, most of the pumpkins are standard size.
Well-behaved dogs welcome on a lead in the picnic area, but not in the main patch because of problems in previous years.
All the details and almost every question answered on our website.
We can’t wait to welcome you here!! See you in the patch! 🧡
#roughampumpkins #roughamestate #burystedmunds #autumnfestival #suffolkevents
There’s something rather lovely about autumn leaves when they first start to turn.
On Saturday 10 October, the Canvas Club returns to Rougham Estate for an afternoon of painting inspired by the colours of the season.
Artist Sarah Rawlinson will guide you step by step as you create your own autumn leaves painting using acrylics. No previous painting experience is needed, and everything you need is provided, including your canvas, paints and brushes.
It’s a relaxed, social afternoon, with tea, coffee and sweet treats included. And, of course, you get to take your finished artwork home with you.
Saturday 10 October
1pm–4pm
£45 per person
The Meadow Room, behind Blackthorpe Barn
Age 16+
Booking is essential.
Find out more and book your place on our website or via the link in our bio.
#RoughamEstate #CanvasClub #PaintYourOwn #AutumnLeaves
Goodbye September.
As we say goodbye to September, we’re looking back on a month full of moments here at Rougham Estate. From time at Roots Café, to events at Blackthorpe Barn, to quiet walks through changing fields.
And now, we turn the page to October.
Hello, October. We’re looking forward to crisp mornings, autumn colours, and all that’s ahead this season.
#SeptemberAtRougham, #HelloOctober. @noelleescreative
Take a little inspiration from the garden and turn it into something you can keep.
On Saturday 17 October, join textile artist Caroline Hyde-Brown for our Stitching the Sunken Garden Workshop.
The day begins in the Sunken Garden, taking inspiration from the colours, textures and shapes around you before learning the Japanese botanical printing technique of Hapa-Zome.
You’ll then use your prints as inspiration for slow stitching and embroidery, creating your own unique piece of artwork to take home.
No previous experience is needed, so whether you’re already a keen stitcher or simply fancy trying something different, you can join in.
Saturday 17 October
10am–4pm
Meadow Room, Blackthorpe Barn
Tea, coffee and sweet treats are included, and all materials are provided.
Places are limited and booking is essential. Find out more and book your place on the Rougham Estate website.
#RoughamEstate #StitchingTheSunkenGarden #SuffolkWorkshops
As the weather gets cooler, we turn our attention to warmer dishes at Roots Café.
This week’s special is our sweet potato and chilli soup with Rougham honey. A warming combination of sweet potato, a little chilli and our own Rougham honey, perfect for an autumn day.
Our brunch special is our oven-baked nachos with cheddar, mozzarella, jalapeños, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and cowboy caviar (crunchy veg salsa in case you were wondering). Perfect for sharing, although we won’t judge if you keep them all to yourself!
Pop in after a walk around the Estate or simply come along for a cosy lunch.
Roots Café is open daily from 9am–4pm.
#RoughamEstate #RootsCafe #WeeklySpecials
You may notice the Rougham Estate Shop looks a little different at the moment...
As we start to transition towards our Christmas Shop, which opens in mid-October, we’ve downsized the shop for a short while as we make room for all the festive treats to come.
There’s still plenty to discover, with beautiful homeware, gifts and seasonal pieces, including some lovely autumnal touches and pumpkins.
Roots Café is open as usual, so why not combine a browse around the shop with a coffee, lunch or something sweet?
The shop and café are both open daily, and we look forward to seeing you.
#RoughamEstate #RoughamEstateShop #RootsCafe
Believe it or not, the 2027 harvest is already underway!
The first crop to be planted this season is our Oilseed Rape (OSR), which means those famous sea of yellow fields will be back before we know it.
OSR is usually planted in early to mid-August, but after such a dry summer, we had to wait for the right conditions. Planting was delayed until late August and into early September.
One of the challenges with growing OSR is the Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle, a pest that can cause significant damage to young plants. Rather than relying on broad-spectrum insecticides, we’ve sown a companion crop of buckwheat alongside the OSR. The idea is to confuse the beetles and hopefully reduce their impact on the crop.
It’s early days, but we’ll be watching it closely as it gets established. The yellow fields of 2027 might seem a long way off, but the work starts now!
#RoughamEstate #Farming #SuffolkFarming
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