The Burton at Bideford presents 'A Joyful Parasite’ by Saelia Aparicio.

The Burton at Bideford presents 'A Joyful Parasite', the largest commission to date by Spanish-born, London-based artist Saelia Aparicio. Through sculpture, murals and installation, the exhibition creates an imagined ecosystem of curious hybrid creatures, inviting visitors to explore transformation, belonging and our connections with the living world.

Playful, humorous and visually captivating, 'A Joyful Parasite' reflects The Burton's commitment to bringing ambitious contemporary art and distinctive artistic voices to North Devon. Saelia draws on folk mythologies, biology and science fiction to create imagined worlds where the boundaries between humans, animals and plants begin to dissolve. Often working with reclaimed materials, she invites us to think differently about care, coexistence and the ways living things adapt and thrive.

Commissioned by Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, in partnership with Southwark Park Galleries, London, and The Burton, 'A Joyful Parasite' marks an important moment in The Burton's programme. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting ambitious new commissions and ensuring that significant contemporary art is developed and experienced across the UK.

Harriet Cooper, Director of The Burton at Bideford, said: "Supporting artists to realise ambitious new work is an important part of what we do at The Burton. Through this partnership, we're delighted to bring Saelia's work to North Devon, giving audiences the chance to experience a major new commission they might otherwise have to travel elsewhere to see. What makes her work so compelling is the way it combines humour, imagination and beautifully crafted sculpture with ideas that feel deeply relevant today. It's full of warmth, curiosity and generosity, inviting us to see the natural world—and our place within it—with fresh eyes."

The title, 'A Joyful Parasite', asks us to reconsider how we value different forms of life. Inspired by the hierarchies humans often place on the natural world, Saelia imagines the perspective of a parasite—simply living the life it is meant to live. Rather than dividing the world into useful and harmful, welcome and unwelcome, the exhibition encourages us to think more generously about coexistence and the many ways living things support, depend upon and adapt to one another.

At the heart of the exhibition are three sculptural characters inspired by the butterfly’s life cycle: the caterpillar, the chrysalis and the butterfly. Together they represent different stages of transformation, offering a simple and universal metaphor for change. Visitors move through a landscape of hybrid figures that appear joyful, vulnerable and constantly evolving. Humour and tenderness sit alongside moments of unease, creating an exhibition that is both welcoming and thought-provoking.

Plants and flowers weave throughout the exhibition as symbols of identity, belonging and place. National flowers occupy positions of pride hanging from the ceiling, while overlooked plants and so-called weeds quietly flourish at the edges. Saelia is interested in how the same plant can be understood differently depending on where it grows: rhododendron ponticum is native to parts of Spain where it is now endangered, while in Britain it is widely established as an invasive species. These shifting perspectives ask us to reconsider how we define belonging and remind us that the meaning of a place—and of the life within it—is always changing.

Presented in North Devon, within the UNESCO Biosphere that stretches from the River Torridge to the surrounding coast and countryside, 'A Joyful Parasite' feels especially resonant. In a landscape shaped by the close relationship between natural systems and human activity, The Burton is a place where conversations about ecology and belonging feel especially immediate. At a time when these themes continue to shape public life, Saelia offers a hopeful response, celebrating resilience, coexistence and the possibility of flourishing in unexpected places.

Saelia Aparicio said: "Every living being just wants to live more and wants a better life. Communities aren't only a human thing—plants, animals and every living being want to thrive too. That's where the idea of 'A Joyful Parasite' comes from."

Rich with unexpected encounters, moments of wonder and playful discovery, 'A Joyful Parasite' invites visitors of all ages to look more closely at the living world and discover that transformation often begins with changing the way we see one another.

Installation View. 'Saelia Aparicio, A Joyful Parasite at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art ©️Saelia Aparicio -Photo Reece Straw(All rights Reserved)

‘Saelia Aparicio: A Joyful Parasite’ runs from 1 st August – 4th October 2026 at 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. 

Opening Hours:Tuesday to Saturday 10am–5pm ] Sunday 11am–4pm

Free entry  

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Exhibition Credit/Artist Biography

New exhibition opening soon: North Devon’s Home Front Writers, 1937-45

An exhibition reflecting on the lives of people visiting and living in North Devon during a significant period in history, as captured in the nation's Mass Observation diaries.

 

Between 1937 and 1946, just over 100 men and women were recruited as untrained volunteers to keep diaries and respond to questionnaires that would document their lives in Devon in what formed part of a national social research project known as Mass Observation.

The writers were encouraged to be honest and truthful as they wrote about a wide range of topics. The result was a milestone not only in detailing everyday life but in understanding British values, opinion and perspectives. Writers not only documented otherwise unrecorded events but also revealed views and attitudes about a variety of subjects including ones relating to the war, such as evacuees, bombing, rations, blackout, foreign servicemen, and politicians. Perhaps more unexpectedly, the writers commented upon race, the empire, the place of women in society, religion, the press, and sex.

 

Thirteen of the writers recorded life in North Devon. They were based in Barnstaple (2), Bideford (3), Clovelly (1), Ilfracombe (2), Lynmouth (1), North Molton (1), South Molton (1), Westward Ho! (1) and Woolacombe (1). Some were on holiday but most were longstanding residents who wrote of local life as it descended into war.

 

The diaries and questionnaires were sent each month to a central archive that is today housed at The Keep in Brighton.  Few of the descendants of the Devon writers were aware that their family members had written for Mass Observation.

 

The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of talks, including one by Dr Todd Gray MBE, historian, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, and author of Devon's Home Front Diaries, 1937 to 1945, published in 2025. More information and booking details will be made available soon on our website.

 

6 year old Maureen Foley and her 9 year old brother Maurice look through a life-ring at Bideford harbour, North Devon in 1941 ©️ Imperial War Museum (All rights reserved)

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NEW EXHIBITION AT THE MUSEUM OF BARNSTAPLE & NORTH DEVON

 North Devon's Home Front Writers, 1937-45

25th July – 17th October 2026

 

FIND OUT MORE >- North Devon's Home Front Writers, 1937-45 – Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

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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Opening Hours:

Tuesday – Saturday 10am–5pm

Sunday 11am–4pm

Free entry

Summer Exhibition. Sir Alfred Munnings: Exmoor Through the Seasons at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

An exhibition of paintings by Sir Alfred Munnings, former President of the Royal Academy of Arts, capturing the evocative landscapes, people and ponies of Exmoor.

Sir Alfred Munnings and his wife, Violet, escaped the restrictions of their requisitioned Essex home, during the Second World War, by moving to a cottage in the Exmoor village of Withypool. During this period, Exmoor provided a joyful retreat. The oil paintings he produced while there capture the wild beauty of Exmoor through all four seasons. This exhibition showcases his love of Exmoor and its changing landscapes, its people and wild Exmoor ponies. The exhibition brings together art works and selections from Munnings’ published diaries and poetry written while living in Withypool. These offer a rare personal insight into his artistic process, the people he befriended while living there, and his relationship to the land.

 

Our summer exhibition is complemented by a series of events and activities for both adults and children, including En Plein Air sessions in Barnstaple and on Exmoor, and our regular Curious Creators programme of family-friendly artist-led sessions on Wednesdays throughout the school holidays.

Sir Alfred Munnings: Exmoor Through the Seasons

Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, The Square, Barnstaple EX32 8LN

4th July – 26th September 2026

Website link - Sir Alfred Munnings: Exmoor Through the Seasons – Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

South West collectors bring their unusual collectables for unique display in Devon

The Burton at Bideford celebrates the act of collecting this summer in an exhibition which reveals the hidden objects and stories found in front rooms, home museums and storage spaces across the South West of England.

This year marks the 75^th anniversary of The Burton and its long history of caring for collections of art, heritage and curiosities. The act of collecting is almost universal – evident throughout human history from the Stone Age to the modern day – and collections can be found everywhere from the back rooms of private abodes to national museums.

 

Through an open call, The Burton invited members of the public to share their own personal stories of collecting - asking them what they collect and if they would be willing to show it off to the world. Almost 70 submissions were received from collectors of all ages based across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, covering a vast range of objects including skateboards, pottery, bottle openers, fine art, handbags, glass bottles, matchboxes, tools, musical instruments, trading cards, comics, shells and vintage toys.

 

Taking over The Burton’s galleries this summer, ‘What We Keep’ presents a selection of these collections in a joyful exhibition which tells the tales of how they were formed and the collectors who care for them. The accompanying events programme will include tours and talks which bring the exhibition to life and celebrate the hidden collector inside all of us.

 

Abi Obene, Curatorial Coordinator at The Burton and curator of ‘What We Keep’ says:

 

“What We Keep’ is a celebration of our shared impulse to collect and the personal worlds we make with the objects around us. What we choose to surround ourselves with is part of who we are – it’s our life experiences, beliefs, loves, fascinations and hobbies. It’s putting bits of ourselves on shelves, leaving fingerprints on what might only be precious to us, and squirreling ourselves away in attic spaces and cellars to cheer ourselves up on a rainy day. That’s what life and living is and what it’s all about: things, stuff and us.”

 

The Burton itself was originally established to house the personal collection of artist Hubert Coop RBA, and its holdings now contain many other collections put together by passionate individuals. This includes The Christine Halstead Collection of Studio Pottery, Arthur McTaggart Short’s collection of calling card cases and The RJ Lloyd Collection of North Devon Slipware.

The Collectors featured above are:

*Alan Edward Roberts and his collection of 80s hip hop memorabilia, photo by Carole Evans 2026.

*Fiona Balfour and her collection of rocking horses, photo by Carole Evans 2026.

*Kim Jones and her collection of tins containing mini collections, photo by Carole Evans 2026.

*Rachel Ward and her collection of handbags, photo by Carole Evans 2026.

What We Keep, images from the collection at The Burton at Bideford

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‘What We Keep: The Art of Collecting’ runs from 9the May – 19th July 2026 at 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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Opening Hours:

Tuesday – Saturday 10am–5pm

Sunday 11am–4pm

Free entry

Barnstaple Reflections. 'This is Me!' Documentary Photography Open 2026 Exhibition

The Documentary Photography Open 2026 is an exhibition of photographs sent in by the public in response to the theme, This Is Me.  The theme asked the public to explore who they are, as people living in North Devon today.  In a world that is constantly changing, where people are constantly moving, the public was invited to reflect on what makes them unique.

To complement the Open, a selection of historic portraits by photographer, James Ravilious, will also be on display. The warmth and affection that Ravilious felt for his subjects shines out, each bringing to life the unique character and personality of each individual.

 

In addition, the exhibition will include photographs taken by GCSE students from Pilton Community College as part of a portrait project run by local photographer, Carole Evans and funded by the Richard and Siobhan Coward Foundation Fund. The ‘Selfies’ to Self-Aware Portrait Project encouraged students to explore what makes a good portrait, how to use low key and natural lighting and consider the question ‘what one word captures what is it to be a young adult in 2025’ in their portraiture.

Bill Cooke in his kitchen, Colehouse, May 1988, James Ravilious © Beaford Arts (All Rights Reserved)

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This is Me! Documentary Photography Open 2026

Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

25th April – 20th June 2026

 

Website link - This is Me! Documentary Photography Open 2026 – Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

 

01271 388784 | barnstaplemuseum.org.uk

The Square, Barnstaple EX32 8LN

‘A Roof and A Sky’ photography exhibition launches at The Burton at Bideford

A new photography exhibition launches at The Burton at Bideford with work created by individuals supported by The Pickwell Foundation.

 

‘A Roof and A Sky’ is an exhibition of work made by five refugees, under the guidance of socially-engaged photographer Jamie Dormer-Durling. The participants have attended 10 workshops at The Burton, where they have learned various image making skills, including alternative processes such as creating lumen prints alongside learning how to use digital cameras.

The Pickwell Foundation supports both people and planet, empowering communities to welcome resettled families, supporting those seeking asylum, and championing climate action.

This project has allowed the group to share their story with images, where words are sometimes difficult when there is a language barrier. The photographs in the exhibition are a peek into their domestic lives and the new landscapes they find themselves in. The group said the project “has helped us notice small details and to grow more confident in expressing ourselves.”

The title of the exhibition, ‘A Roof and A Sky’, reflects what the group hope for in their lives. A roof to give them safety, protection and the security of a sanctuary, and the sky which represents freedom and hope – the space to grow.

 

Carole Evans, Learning and Engagement Manager at The Burton at Bideford said:

“It has been brilliant to watch the participants grow in confidence over the last few weeks; through photography but also in telling their story. They have created work which shares their own perspective of North Devon; a place they now call home.”

 

‘A Roof and A Sky’ is part of The Burton at Bideford’s social practice work which develops collaborative and participatory projects with their local community.

It was facilitated by Jamie Dormer-Durling, a socially-engaged photographer based in Weston-super-Mare. He is a founder/director of Common Waves CIC, a community arts organisation supporting underrepresented people to build creative confidence and share stories, based at The Common Room, a community art space that he co-founded. Jamie is also the creative director of Photo Weston, a photography festival bringing international artists to the region, and a board member and regular collaborator with IC Visual Lab.

The project is run in partnership with The Pickwell Foundation and funding from The Foyle Foundation.

Lumen prints by Hiba (left) and Mohammed (right) Image Copyright (All Rights Reserved)

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‘A Roof and A Sky’ runs from 5th March – 17th May at The Burton at Bideford, Kingsley Road, Bideford EX39 2QQ. Free entry. 

For more details see www.theburton.org.

 

Opening Hours:

Tuesday – Saturday 10am–5pm

Sunday 11am–4pm

Free entry

The Burton at Bideford acquires work by internationally-renowned artist Yinka Shonibare CBE RA

The Burton at Bideford is delighted to announce the acquisition of Yinka Shonibare CBE RA’s Mayflower, All Flowers (2020) to its permanent collection.

The work – a large relief print with woodblock and fabric detail – was created to mark the 400^th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower ship to America, a pivotal moment in the histories of migration, colonisation, and transatlantic exchange.

Shonibare is one the UK’s leading contemporary artists, whose interdisciplinary practice incorporates painting, sculpture, prints, photography and film. Through examining race, class and the construction of cultural identity, his work comments on the tangled interrelationship between Africa and Europe, and their respective economic and political histories.

He was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 2004, and his first public art commission, Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle, was displayed on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square in 2010. In summer 2024 The Burton presented his solo exhibition ‘Yinka Shonibare CBE: Modern Spiritual’ which was attended by over 15,000 visitors.

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 acquisition of Mayflower, All Flowers marks an important step in The Burton’s strategy of bringing work by leading contemporary artists into conversation with the unique stories heritage and culture of Northern Devon. The work encourages conversation about migration, identity and global exchange in connection with Bideford’s maritime history.

Harriet Cooper, Director of The Burton at Bideford, says:

“Yinka Shonibare CBE RA’s Mayflower, All Flowers is a significant acquisition to The Burton at Bideford’s collection and we look forward to sharing this work with our audiences through our 75^th anniversary year and beyond. 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.”

Mayflower, All Flowers is initially on display in ‘Hubert Coop and Friends: A Legacy of Art and Influence’, an exhibition tracing the development of The Burton’s permanent collection in 75 objects for 75 years. The work will be a key part of their two-year project Burton 2101: Collections for the Future supported by Art Fund, and the centrepiece of an exhibition in 2027 exploring Bideford’s ceramics and transatlantic trade.

Image Copyright 2026 Yinka Shonibare CBE. All Rights Reserved, DACS

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‘Hubert Coop and Friends: A Legacy of Art and Influence’ until 15 March 2026 at The Burton at Bideford, EX39 2QQ. Free entry.

See www.theburton.org for more details on the exhibition and accompanying events.

The Burton at Bideford launches 75th anniversary year

The Burton at Bideford opens two new exhibitions this month to launch its 75^th anniversary year.

 

‘Hubert Coop and Friends: A Legacy of Art and Influence’ invites visitors to explore the rich history of The Burton through a selection of 75 artworks and objects from its collection. Starting with the work of founding artist Hubert Coop and his contemporaries, the exhibition brings together rarely seen objects and artworks from The Burton’s stores including pieces by Bertram Prance, Charles Sims, Gillian Ayres, James Ravilious, Lucie Rie, Mary Stella Edwards, Michael Cardew and Paul Lewin.

The exhibition includes The Burton’s newest acquisition to the collection: Mayflower, All Flowers (2020) by internationally-renowned artist Yinka Shonibare CBE RA. The purchase of the work was made possible with support from Art Fund, Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund and The Friends of The Burton; and marks an important investment in The Burton’s continued mission to bring world-class art to Bideford.

Opening at the end of January, ‘The Annual Schools Exhibition’ showcases the incredible talent, imagination and creativity of young people aged 4-18 from the local area. A calendar highlight at The Burton, the gallery will be filled with hundreds of works submitted by schools in Torridge and neighbouring boroughs, offering a glimpse into the inspirations and concerns of Northern Devon’s next generation of artists.

The exhibition also celebrates the vital work of teachers, and the contribution of art in encouraging innovation and creative thinking across the curriculum. In 2026 The Burton will continue to deliver and develop Burton Futures, it’s programme supporting schools to engage with world-class art through travel bursaries, artist workshops and professional development sessions.

Harriet Cooper, Director of The Burton at Bideford, says:

“We are delighted to launch our 75^th anniversary year with two exhibitions that celebrate the past, present and future of The Burton at Bideford. ‘Hubert Coop and Friends’ sees us bring many rarely seen artworks out of our stores to tell the story of The Burton’s collection today. ‘The Annual Schools Exhibition’ is a colourful, joyful reminder of the vital role that art and creativity plays in the lives of children – supporting our next generation of artists in Northern Devon. Together these exhibitions set the tone for us to use this year to reimagine what the next 75-years of The Burton’s journey could look like.”

Photo credit Detail from Hubert Coop’s sketchbook, 1921.

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‘Hubert Coop and Friends: A Legacy of Art and Influence’ runs from 17 January to 15 March 2026 at The Burton at Bideford, EX39 2QQ. Free entry.

‘The Annual Schools Exhibition’ runs from 30th January to 15th March 2026 at The Burton at Bideford, EX39 2QQ. Free entry.

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See www.theburton.org for more details on the exhibitions and accompanying events.

 

 

 

Annual Schools Exhibition launch event at the Burton at Bideford

The Burton at Bideford Annual Schools Exhibition launches 2026 with a diverse range of artworks showcasing the talent, imagination and creativity of young people aged 4-18 from the local area. With no set theme, the exhibition is a glimpse into the inspirations and concerns of our next generation of artists. It is also a celebration of their teachers and the contribution of art to encouraging creativity and innovation across the curriculum. Submissions are accepted from schools and colleges across Torridge and neighbouring boroughs, and include artworks in a variety of media. An awards programme organised by The Arts Society North Devon spotlights outstanding entries in the exhibition and culminates in an awards ceremony. You are warmly invited to help celebrate the opening of the exhibition at the gallery on Friday 30th January, 4pm–6pm.  Speeches at 5pm, refreshments kindly provided by Asda.

Artwork from 'The Annual Schools Exhibition', 2023. ----------------------------------- Launch Event The Annual Schools Exhibition - Burton at Bideford Friday 30th January, 4pm – 6pm Exhibition dates: 30th January – 15th  March 2026 👀👀👀 The Burton at Bideford, Kingsley Road, Bideford, Devon EX39 2QQ  Tel: 01237 471455 open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 11am-4pm  Entry to galleries is FREE

Joan Miró: Painting and Poetry at The Burton at Bideford

The Burton at Bideford is proud to present the Hayward Gallery Touring exhibition ‘Joan Miró: Painting and Poetry’. The exhibition will bring together 26 lithographic prints created to illustrate the writings of the celebrated French surrealist poet Robert Desnos.

 

One of the 20th century’s most influential and recognisable artists, Joan Miró’s highly individual style placed him at the forefront of Surrealism and Dadaism. Primarily known as a painter and sculptor, Miró was also a celebrated and dynamic printmaker. Within this practice the artist produced a remarkable and extensive output of book illustrations, often created for artists, writers and poets associated with the Surrealist movement.

 

The first prints Miró ever made were illustrations for a book of poems, and literary sources would prove a constant inspiration for the artist. Miró never considered his involvement in these books to be strictly that of an illustrator. He worked from the free expression of what the text suggested to him and embraced the process of finding the image through experiment and accident.

 

The exhibition will shine light on Miró’s prints and how they are not only an excellent example of the richness and variety of his print production, but also his famous experimentation with vivid colours and abstract shapes.

 

Harriet Cooper, Director of The Burton at Bideford, says:

 

“The Burton is excited to present the work of internationally celebrated artist Joan Miró this autumn. The South West of England is home to a thriving creative community working in print, and this exhibition showcases Miró’s vibrant and playful approach to the artform. Our collaboration with Hayward Gallery Touring on this project recognises The Burton’s ongoing role in bringing world-class art to North Devon, inspiring audiences young and old.”

 

Joan Miró, Untitled, 1974 © Successió Miró / ADAGP, Paris and DACS London 2025. (All Rights Reservied).

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‘Joan Miró: Painting and Poetry’ runs from 22nd November 2025 – 18th January 2026 at The Burton at Bideford, Kingsley Road, Bideford EX39 2QQ. Free entry. For more details see www.theburton.org

Westward Ho! and Bideford Art Society Annual Open Exhibition

The Westward Ho! and Bideford Art Society (WHOBIDARTS) Annual Open Exhibition returns to The Burton at Bideford later this month.

Founded in 1922, WHOBIDARTS' annual exhibition has been held at The Burton since 1954 and it remains the Society's most important event and showpiece, featuring work in a range of media.

The annual show gives artists from across the South West the opportunity to see their work exhibited at The Burton. The exhibition is open to members and associates of the Society as well as non-members, with over 300 artworks on display and available to purchase.

Come along to experience works by some of the top artistic talents in the region, with the opportunity to take home your favourite.

Image Credit: Jenny Smy, Headland II. Winner of the Ken Doughty Prize 2024. 

Westward Ho! and Bideford Art Society

Annual Open Exhibition

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Exhibition Dates

Saturday 27th September – Sunday 2nd November 2025

*Free entry*

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For more details about WHOBIDARTS see their website at whobidarts.co.uk