The Burton wins the 2026 Hallett Independent Acquisitions Award at the London Original Print Fair

We are delighted to announce that The Burton at Bideford has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Hallett Independent Acquisitions Award at the London Original Print Fair.

The award has enabled us to acquire two remarkable etchings by celebrated artist Dame Paula Rego RA for The Burton’s permanent collection: Mary, Mary Quite Contrary I (1989) and Little Miss Muffet I (1989).

Paula Rego (1935–2022) was a pre-eminent British-Portuguese visual artist and fierce storyteller who used emotionally charged figurative art to subvert fairy tales, challenge social norms, and champion women's rights. Part of Rego’s Nursery Rhymes series, the works reimagine familiar childhood tales through the artist’s distinctive visual language. Their acquisition brings work by one of the twentieth century’s most influential artists to North Devon, making internationally significant art accessible to local audiences and enriching The Burton’s growing collection.

The works were selected by our Director Harriet Cooper, for purchase through RAW Editions a London-based gallery with expertise in post-war and contemporary editions.

Harriet Cooper said:

“We are thrilled to welcome these important works to The Burton’s collection, where they will support future exhibitions, learning programmes and community engagement. This purchase is part of our strategy to bring work by leading contemporary artists into conversation with the unique heritage of Northern Devon, reflecting on how our rich local identity connects to vital global conversations.”

RAW Editions shared:

“It was fantastic meeting Harriet Cooper and we are thrilled to be able to support their curatorial and educational programme through this acquisition. These have been works close to our heart as a young family and we can’t wait to follow their journey at The Burton as they become part of the local community and inspire new artists.”

The Hallett Independent Acquisitions Award is a purchase grant to enable a museum or gallery to acquire an original print or prints for their collection. The Award aims not only to enhance art collections across the country, but also to build relationships between museum curators and the art market. Hallett Independent, who generously fund the Award, are brokers specialising in fine art and heritage insurance, committed to supporting museums throughout the country.

The Burton’s permanent collection includes over 3,000 artworks and objects, covering a breadth of specialisms including fine art, ceramics, decorative art, photography and works on paper. Originally established through artist Hubert Coop RBA’s gift to the borough of Bideford, the collection has grown through major acquisitions and gifts over the past 75-years to represent works of local, national and international significance.

The acquisitions supported by Hallett Independent will be included in the two-year project Burton 2101: Collections for the Future supported by Art Fund, and be part of a forthcoming project exploring the trope of the vilified woman in relation to the history of The Bideford Witch Trials in 1682 which resulted in the last documented executions of women accused of witchcraft in England.

Little Miss Muffet I (1989), Paula Rego, Etching with aquatint,

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary I (1989), Paula Rego, Etching with aquatint, printed by Culford Press, via RAW Editions

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The Burton at Bideford, Kingsley Road, Bideford EX39 2QQ. Free entry. For more details see www.theburton.org or get in touch at info@theburton.org.  

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A Howling Success! Sundial Care Home Hosts Community Dog Show

Sundial Care Home near Sidmouth, Devon, recently hosted its first dog show, welcoming family members (residents), team members, relatives and members of the local community through their doors.

Held in the 3 acre gardens at the care home, the team set up gazebos and umbrellas for shade, water bowls for the dogs and refreshments and cakes for everyone to enjoy. Family members were so looking forward to the event that some went out into the garden early to make sure they had a seat secured at the front!

The morning began with a parade, where each dog and handler walked around the garden and introduced themselves before the judging began. Family member Pat, who has experience in dog handling and has previously judged obedience at a variety of dog shows, took on the role for the day and, being in familiar territory, almost immediately settled into judging.

There were a number of categories to enter, including Waggiest Tail, Best at Retrieving, Gentlest Giant, Sweetest Small, Best Trick and Best in Show. Each class brought its own moments of fun, with family members and visitors clapping, laughing and sharing their thoughts as the judging took place.

Children who attended also got involved by helping hold leads and walk the dogs in some of the classes, adding to the family feel of the event.

Alongside the competition, one of the most meaningful parts of the morning was seeing the dogs and their handlers spending time with family members around the garden. Whether stopping for a stroke , saying hello or sitting alongside them, those smaller moments helped make the event feel personal and gave everyone an opportunity to connect.

At the end of the show, every dog received a certificate and a treat bag, and Pat was presented with flowers as a thank you for her judging.

One relative shared “Me & Jeep had an amazing time. Thanks to everyone & we're practicing our tricks for next year.” Another member of the community said “Thank you so much, it was great fun.”

Following the success of the event, several visitors have already asked whether the dog show could become an annual event at Sundial in the future, with some even offering to help out. The Devon care home continues to build strong community relationships while creating a home-from-home for its family members, supporting them to remain connected, involved and engaged within the local community.

 

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If you would like to learn more about Sundial Care Home, please visit: https://www.sundialcare.com/activities-in-care/

Continuing Faith, Community and Connection at a North Devon Care Home

Faith is something many of us have held onto throughout our lives, something we’ve turned to in moments of worry, loss and hope, something that has helped make sense of things when life hasn’t always been easy, and something that has connected us to a community, where people know us, remember us and we feel they belong.

When a move into a care home begins to feel like something that may soon need to be considered, we of course start by asking the practical questions about the location, care needs, food, activities, but then there are the more personal parts of life like faith, and the sense of connection that comes with it and whether those things will still be there, especially at a time when so much is changing and that sense of familiarity can matter more than ever.

For those that live at Heanton Nursing Home, that connection remains close.

St Augustine’s Church, the 13^th century parish church for Heanton Punchardon in North Devon, sits beside Heanton Nursing Home and has been part of the village’s parish life for many years.

Reverand Glyn Lewry is Priest in Charge at St Augustine’s, and he visits Heanton as a familiar and reassuring presence for many people living at the home.

People who call Heanton home can continue to visit the church if they wish. Some attend services, others spend time sitting quietly inside or in the churchyard. For those who have always had faith, these small continuations matter.  Hymns are still recognised. Prayers still hold meaning, and the sense of being part of something beyond the home remains.

Rev Lewry shared “there was someone who used to come regularly from Heanton, people knew him and he was part of the church community and that sense of being known does not disappear.”

A Continued Connection Through Life’s Difficult Moments

There are moments in life when that continued sense of connection can mean even more.

Rev Lewry supports people across the local community through some of life’s most difficult and emotional moments, often simply by being there when words are hard to find.

During more emotional and uncertain times in life, it is often that quiet presence and reassurance that matter most. A known voice, someone sitting beside you, or the comfort of being recognised can mean a great deal.

In those moments, faith can offer comfort. A prayer, a reading, or simply someone being there without expectation. Not to lead, but to sit alongside.

Moving into Heanton doesn’t mean leaving those parts of life behind, they continue, just in a different way.