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

This Is Me: New photography exhibition celebrates the people of North Devon

The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon’s annual Documentary Photography Open exhibition opens this April featuring works submitted by members of the public in response to the theme, ‘This Is Me’.

The exhibition provides a fascinating insight into who the people of North Devon are today. Alongside contemporary photographs, the museum will display a collection of historic portraits by acclaimed photographer and documenter of North Devon life, James Ravilious.

The museum’s long-standing annual Documentary Photography Open is open to both amateur and professional photographers. This year’s open introduced a dedicated category for 14-18 year olds for the first time, aiming to capture the voices and perspectives of younger people in North Devon.

The exhibition also features photographs taken by GCSE students from Pilton Community College. These images were created as part of a ‘Selfies to Self-Aware Portrait Project', facilitated by a local artist and funded by the Richard and Siobhan Coward Foundation Fund.

Alison Mills, Director of the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, said: “Our annual Documentary Photography Open is an exhibition truly shaped by local people and a highlight of our year! This year’s theme, This Is Me, asked people to explore their own identity and place in a fast-moving world – it asked them to share their own personal story through the medium of photography.

“Museums are storehouses for stories past and present, and part of our mission is to tell as many of those stories as possible. We also welcome the opportunity to share photographs by James Ravilious from our collection. They capture the spirit of our region from a not-so-distant past and never fail to move and delight.”

'This is Me'. Prom dresses are useless if you only ever go to muddy fields. Photo © Nell Savage (All Rights Reserved)

The Documentary Photography Open exhibition opened on the 25th April and runs until 20th June 2026.

The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4.30pm. Entrance is free.

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

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

New exhibition opening at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

A new exhibition opening at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon on Saturday 21st March sheds light on the life and work of former Mayor of Barnstaple, Bruce William Oliver, who died 50 years ago this year.

The exhibition, Bruce Oliver: A Grand Old Man of Barnstaple, has been created in collaboration with North Devon Athenaeum and paints a portrait of an accomplished local man as of many talents. In his professional life Oliver was a well-known local architect, but he was also an accomplished artist, photographer, musician, actor, historian, and sportsman.

Bruce Oliver was elected Mayor of Barnstaple in 1931 on the strength of his services to community, charity, and entertainment. He joined the North Devon Athenaeum in 1932 as a board member, and he became Trustee and Chair in 1951. Following his death in 1976, Bruce Oliver left the bulk of his estate to the North Devon Athenaeum – which includes notes, drawings, watercolours, photographic slides and more, including his house, Homestead in South Park, Barnstaple. Some of the items from his estate will be shown as part of this exhibition.

Bruce Oliver: A Grand Old Man of Barnstaple. Photo copyright Bruce Oliver Exhibition (All Rights Reserved)

Bruce Oliver: A Grand Old Man of Barnstaple

21st March – 16th May 2026

All welcome | Admission FREE

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01271 388784 | barnstaplemuseum.org.uk

The Square, Barnstaple EX32 8LN

 

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 awarded grant to reimagine its collections for the future:

The Burton at Bideford has been awarded £50,000 from Art Fund, the national charity of museums and galleries, to reimagine how its collections are used and shared over the next two-years.

The funding is part of a total of £1.3 million awarded to 29 museums and galleries through the latest round of Art Fund’s Reimagine programme, supporting innovative collections projects in museums and galleries across the UK.

 

Burton 2101: Collections for the Future will use the backdrop of The Burton’s 75^th birthday in 2026 to reimagine the role of its collections for future generations in Torridge. It will pilot projects with schools, community groups and in the public realm to find new ways to connect residents to the stories of their past, present and future.

 

Launched in 2020 in response to the pandemic, Reimagine was developed to address the most urgent challenges facing UK museums. This latest round focuses on collections – a cornerstone of Art Fund’s mission and one of the areas of museum practice with the greatest demand for funding.

 

The UK is home to some of the world’s most remarkable collections, yet the resources required to care for and interpret them are increasingly strained. Art Fund’s Museum Directors Survey in 2024 found that 56% of museums cite a lack of funding for collections as a major barrier to essential work such as digitisation, collections reviews and acquisitions.

 

Harriet Cooper, Director at The Burton at Bideford said:

“It has been a challenging few years for the museum sector and as The Burton at Bideford enters its 75^th year in 2026 we are excited to think about the role we can play in the next 75-years of culture in Torridge. Our rich collections are at the heart of this and this vital funding from Art Fund will help us to reimagine how they are used over the next two years. ‘Burton 2101: Collections for the Future’ will see us pilot expansive collections projects, consult more closely with our local community, learn from innovative organisations across the UK, and build a long-term strategy to support art and artists in North Devon to thrive.”

 

Jenny Waldman, Director at Art Fund, said:

“At the core of Art Fund’s purpose is supporting museums to develop, care for and share the collections that enrich people’s lives. I'm delighted we've been able to support The Burton at Bideford through our final round of Reimagine funding, enabling museums to explore their collections, connect with communities and ensure that works of art, objects and their stories are shared and preserved for future generations.”

 

The Burton at Bideford was originally established in 1951 to house the collection of artist Hubert Coop RBA, gifted to the town of Bideford. The permanent collection now holds a rich array of objects and artworks that vividly capture the history of Bideford and its surrounding area.

 

Highlights include work by artists including Gillian Ayres, Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA FRS, Aubrey Hunt, Bertram Prance and James Ravilious; alongside one of the leading ceramics collections in the South West and the archive of Mary Stella Edwards and Judith Ackland.

 

This funding has been made possible thanks to support from The Kirby Laing Foundation, Art Fund members and supporters of Art Fund's Expanding Horizons appeal.

 

If you would like to find out more about Burton 2101: Collections for the Future and how you can get involved, please sign up to The Burton’s newsletter at www.theburton.org or get in touch at info@theburton.org.   

 

 Bowl from The Christine Halstead Collection. Photo copyright (All Rights Reserved)

Watermouth Castle Unleashes Descend Into Darkness

 A Bigger, Darker and More Twisted Experience Than Ever Before.

This Halloween, North Devon’s Watermouth Castle invites fear-seekers and horror fans to Descend into Darkness - an immersive and utterly bone-chilling scare event running on selected nights from 17^th October to 1^st November 2025. Prepare for a night of terrifying thrills and teeth-chattering chills...

With five immersive zones filled with live actors, shocking special effects and pitch-black terror, guests will navigate a nightmare world of gore, suspense and hair-raising encounters. This year, the experience is bigger, darker and more twisted than ever before.

Two New Scare Zones for 2025

Two brand-new scare zones join the line-up this year - Bad Barnyard and The Z Factor.         

• Bad Barnyard - Nightmare-inducing farmyard creatures lurk in the shadows, step carefully as every creak, squeak and squeal is a nightmare waiting to consume you.

• The Z-Factor - An outbreak has brought the undead back to life and they’re hungry for more than just your brains. Can you make it to the other side?

These brand-new horrors join three returning fan favourites:

• Cursed Forest – Deep in the shadowed woods, ancient fears awaken. Tread carefully through the Cursed Forest where whispers echo through the trees as unseen horrors close in around you.

• The Haunted Castle – Foolish mortals, step into a twisted nightmare that only the bravest of souls will escape.

• Carnival of Clowns – Roll up, roll up - a feral fairground freak show of twisted laughter and manic menace has made its blood-curdling return.

When the sun goes down and darkness cloaks the castle, Watermouth Castle transforms into a playground of horror. This event is not for the faint-hearted: children under 12 are not permitted, and those aged 12–16 must be accompanied by an adult. Expect jump scares, gore, total darkness and intense live performances designed to push you to your limits.

Enter if you dare... With trembling terrors lurking around every corner, only the bravest can make it through Watermouth Castle’s blood-chilling scare event, Descend Into Darkness. Whether you’re a spooky season regular or a Halloween newcomer, Watermouth Castle will leave you with haunting memories and spine-tingling tales for years to come.

Don’t miss out on Devon’s ultimate Halloween event. Rally your crew, summon your courage and embrace the darkness at Watermouth Castle’s Descend Into Darkness.

Too Scared for Descend Into Darkness? Try Our Daytime Spooktacular Family Fun

Families can still get into the Halloween spirit at Watermouth Castle this Halloween with their daytime spooky family fun event, running daily from 25^th October to 2^nd November 2025, 10:00am to 4:00pm. Packed with fang-tastic fun for all ages, follow a spooky Halloween Trail, hunt for mischievous gnomes and collect magical crystals in the gardens. With all activities included in admission, it’s the perfect way to enjoy a spell of spooky fun without the blood-curdling screams.

Extend Your Visit with a Short Break

Escape the playground of horror and extend your stay in Watermouth Castle’s on-site accommodation. Book a spooky short break and spend the night inside the castle itself.

Watermouth Castle is open until 1^st November 2025. Tickets start from £30pp when booked in advance online. For more information and to book, visit: www.watermouthcastle.com/events/descend-into-

 Watermouth Castle Unleashes Descend Into Darkness - Its Most Terrifying Halloween Yet Featuring Brand-New Frights

 

About Watermouth Castle.

Hepworth, Moore and Lowry come to North Devon as part of summer exhibition

‘Into Abstraction: Modern British Art and the Landscape’ runs until 14 September at The Burton at Bideford. Free entry.

Works by a host of well-known 20th century artists including Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, L.S. Lowry, Patrick Heron and Elisabeth Frink are currently on display in Bideford as part of The Burton’s major summer exhibition.

‘Into Abstraction: Modern British Art and the Landscape’ examines the intersection of abstraction and landscape in British art from the 1920s to the early 1970s. Organised in collaboration with The Hepworth Wakefield, ‘Into Abstraction’ draws on their extensive holdings of modern art to explore how artists used abstraction during periods of social upheaval to engage with the natural world and human experience.

The exhibition considers landscape in relation to themes such as regionalism, class, sexuality, psychological anxiety, and industry. Created during times of national crisis, these works demonstrate how abstraction offers redemption when realism falls short. As we navigate our own unsettled times, this exhibition underscores the importance of abstraction in understanding the world we live in.

The exhibition also spotlights works by artists connected to North Devon, including Northam-born Allin Braund, who studied at Bideford School of Art, and South West-based Gillian Ayres and Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, who are both represented in The Burton’s permanent collection.

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

“The Burton is delighted to collaborate with The Hepworth Wakefield to bring world-class works of modern art to North Devon, many for the first time.

“The rich artistic history of the South West is deeply connected to the power, beauty and complexity of our landscapes. This exhibition helps us reflect on how abstraction has been used as a tool to explore this by artists throughout the 20th century and still to this present day by the many artists and makers in this region.”

The exhibition includes works by over 40 notable artists such as Roger Fry, Duncan Grant, Emmy Bridgwater, Elisabeth Frink, Patrick Heron, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Prunella Clough, L.S. Lowry, and many others.

Installation view, ‘Into Abstraction: Modern British Art and the Landscape’ at The Burton at Bideford, 2025. Photography by Jim Wileman.

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 ‘Into Abstraction: Modern British Art and the Landscape’ is organised in collaboration with The Hepworth Wakefield, with support from The Golsoncott Foundation and Little Greene Paint Company.

The exhibition runs from 19th July – 14th September at The Burton at Bideford, EX39 2QQ. Free entry.

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

ABOUT THE BURTON AT BIDEFORD

Polar icebergs and North Devon cliffs brought together in exhibition at The Burton at Bideford

Art inspired by warming polar extremes and the connections to North Devon landscapes is being explored in an exhibition by Royal Academician Emma Stibbon.

‘Melting Ice | Rising Tides’ at The Burton at Bideford features a series of monumental large-scale drawings and prints made in response to field trips to Svalbard in the High Arctic, and the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

The centrepiece of the exhibition is a new site-specific installation including a 5-metre wide drawing which directly responds to sites of erosion and rock falls in Bideford Bay. This will be presented alongside a body of drawings and prints exploring erosion on the North Devon coast, connecting the global and local impacts of climate change.

Included in the exhibition is a film which explores Emma’s research and creative process, featuring contributions from Andy Bell from the North Devon Biosphere, former Green Party leader and MP Caroline Lucas, and Dr Dylan Rood, a scientist directly studying coastal erosion rates in Bideford.

The exhibition is accompanied by a programme of events and a symposium on art and environment supported by the Paul Mellon Centre for British Art Studies. Taking place on Friday 27 June, the event will bring together academics, scientists, artists and local environmental organisations to explore the role of art in climate discussions.

Emma’s work is provoked by the wonder and drama of nature but underpinned by contemporary anxieties about our precarious future. Often working on location in some of the world’s most isolated regions, she draws environments that are undergoing dynamic change, using the physical materials of sites such as earth pigments, carbon and sea water, including local pigment Bideford Black for this exhibition.

The Burton has launched a new limited edition print to support the exhibition. Atlantic Edge (2025) is part of Emma’s new body of drawings and site-specific work about erosion on the North Devon coast, and shows waves crashing onto the Hartland coastline. There are 50 works in the edition, priced at £390 (unframed). All profits from the sale of the prints will be used to support the work of the gallery, which is a registered charity.

Emma Stibbon says: ““Increasingly I believe art has an important role to play in the urgent debates of our time. As an artist I feel I'm a witness to what is happening in my lifetime, and the challenge for me is how to render it through my drawings. There is a tenderness to the human touch of drawing that really connects us, it has a directness that speaks in ways that hard science can't. Although scientific data clearly demonstrate the impact of dramatic increases in global warming, and we can see the effects of this for ourselves, perhaps the artist's more creative methods of communication can engage our emotions to provoke thought and even help to galvanise us into changing our behaviour.”

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

“We are delighted to work with Emma Stibbon RA to bring ‘Melting Ice | Rising Tides’ to The Burton at Bideford, connecting global climate discussions to our local environment. The monumental changing landscapes of the polar regions can often seem far away, but Emma’s new body of work explores the impact of rising sea levels and erosion on the coastlines around Bideford Bay. This exhibition embodies The Burton’s mission to bring internationally renowned art and artists into conversation with the heritage, landscapes and communities of North Devon today.”

 

 

Rock Fall, Bideford Bay (2025) by Emma Stibbon. North Devon sourced pigment on paper and mixed media. Photograph by Jim Wileman. (Copyright All Rights Reserved)

The exhibition has been organised in collaboration with Towner Eastbourne and Cristea Roberts Gallery.

‘Melting Ice | Rising Tides’ runs from 10th May – 5th July 2025 at The Burton at Bideford, EX39 2QQ. Free entry. See www.theburton.org for more details on the exhibition and accompanying events.

 

Artist Biography>

The Ultimate Stitching Event Returns: Stitching 4 All & Craft4Crafters 2025

Calling all stitching enthusiasts! The Stitching 4 All & Craft4Crafters Show is back at Westpoint Arena, offering three unmissable days dedicated to textiles, dressmaking, embroidery, quilting, and more. Whether you're a seasoned creator or just beginning your stitching journey, this event has everything you need to spark inspiration and bring your projects to life.

 

A Stitcher’s Paradise

Explore an incredible range of supplies and expertise from some of the biggest names in the stitching and textile world. Discover exhibitors like Shute Lane, Caffle Crafts, Coolcrafting, Exeter Sewing Machines, and Jan Tillett, alongside fabric companies including Fabrics Galore, Lili Fabrics, Maple Textiles, Sewing Sanctuary, Sew Enchanting, and Sugar Bowl Crafts. With a variety of materials, tools, and ideas, you'll find endless possibilities to enhance your projects.
 

Workshops, Demonstrations, and More
Engage with hands-on workshops, live demonstrations, and expert talks, all designed to elevate your stitching, embroidery, and quilting skills. Learn from industry leaders, discover new techniques, and leave inspired to create something amazing.
 

Quilt Exhibition
Over 40 beautiful quilts will be on display including exhibits from SouthWest Quilters, SouthWest Modern Quilters and more.

Don’t Miss the Red Dress Project
A true highlight of the show, the Red Dress Project is a breathtaking collaborative embroidery masterpiece created by artisans from over 50 countries. Admire this powerful symbol of global creativity and craftsmanship, on display daily throughout the event.

The Ultimate Stitching Event Returns: Stitching 4 All & Craft4Crafters 2025
March 27th–29th, 2025 | Westpoint Arena | 10am–5pm Daily

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Plan Your Visit

The show runs daily from 10am to 5pm, with free parking and tickets available online
or at the door. Whether you're searching for the perfect fabric, tools, or just a day
immersed in stitching inspiration, this event is not to be missed.

 
Visit craft4crafters.co.uk to book your tickets and find out more. 

Join us at the ultimate stitching event of the year!