Our members enjoy a range of benefits through our partnership with the Munnings Art Museum. Members receive a generous discount on an annual visitor pass; we regularly use the museum grounds as a painting venue, and the museum contributes to and enriches our annual programme of art events. As an art society based in Dedham, we feel very fortunate to have this exceptional museum on our doorstep.

The Munnings Art Museum is located at Castle House, the former home of Sir Alfred Munnings (1878–1959) and his wife, Violet. Described by Munnings as “the house of my dreams,” he lived and worked in this elegant Tudor and Georgian building for more than forty years until his death. The house, artist’s studio, and garden sit within forty acres of beautiful countryside in the Dedham Vale on the Essex–Suffolk border.

The museum holds the largest collection of works by this prolific East Anglian painter and former President of the Royal Academy (1944–1949). Visitors can enjoy the unique ambience of Castle House, where furniture and personal items remain in place, creating the feeling that Sir Alfred and Violet might return to the room at any moment.

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Norfolk. The charity offers families flexibility and control over where they receive their care, and its family-centred approach includes specialist nursing, symptom management, short breaks, wellbeing activities, therapies, end-of-life care, bereavement support and counselling. Care is provided at home, in hospital, or at one of EACH’s three hospices: Milton (Cambridgeshire), The Nook (Norfolk) and The Treehouse (Suffolk). HRH The Princess of Wales is the charity’s Royal Patron.

EACH relies heavily on public support and provides all its specialist medical and emotional services free of charge.

In recognition of this important work, the Dedham Art Society supports EACH through the sale of members’ artwork.

Art gives us the opportunity to create, express and communicate — a vital element of the art therapy EACH offers to the children and families in its care. Click here to learn more about EACH’s Art Therapy programme.

The Dedham Art Society has always sought to exhibit within the heart of the local community, using village spaces that are welcoming, accessible, and valued by residents.

Traditionally, the Society has held exhibitions in St Mary’s Church, Dedham, a much-loved and historic village setting that has long supported local arts and community activity. While the church is currently undergoing renovation works, we very much look forward to returning when this becomes possible.

During this period, the Duchy Barn has provided an important and flexible alternative exhibition space, enabling the Society to continue its programme of exhibitions and community fundraising and to remain firmly rooted in the village through its annual Summer Exhibition.

The Sentinel Gallery in Wivenhoe has become an important and valued supporter of the Dedham Art Society and is now our preferred venue for our Winter Exhibition. The gallery provides a welcoming, friendly yet professional and inspiring setting, and has become a very special exhibition space for local artists to show their work.

We are extremely grateful to Lorraine George, owner of The Sentinel Gallery, for her generosity, encouragement, and ongoing support of both DAS and its members.

Through exhibitions held at the gallery, profits actively support The Rob George Foundation, helping to raise awareness and funds in memory of Rob George and to support the Foundation’s charitable aims.

The Sentinel Gallery is also available for hire as an exhibition venue.

Dedham Primary School pupils are regularly invited to take part in the Dedham Art Society’s Summer Exhibition by creating and exhibiting their own artwork. We are delighted to allocate the school a dedicated space within the exhibition, giving young artists the opportunity to see their work displayed publicly alongside that of Society members.

This involvement is a much-valued part of the Summer Exhibition and reflects DAS’s commitment to supporting creativity within the village and encouraging artistic confidence from an early age. We greatly enjoy welcoming the children’s work into the exhibition and celebrating their enthusiasm and imagination.

Susan has been painting in watercolour for over 25 years and her passion has led her to share this enthusiasm with others through her teaching.

Susan has lived in East Anglia all her life and is constantly stimulated by the beautiful landscape. She also enjoys the challenge of painting busy street scenes as she explores many European cities.

Although Susan is mainly self taught, she has been inspired by artists such as Mike Chaplin, Trevor Linguard, Soraya French, Alvaro Castagnet and Joseph Zubokvic.

Susan has had several solo exhibitions and participated in many local shows. She also leads regular workshops and courses and is a frequent demonstrator to art clubs in East Anglia.

Susan regularly gives demonstrations and holds workshops at DAS as well as at local art groups, focusing on a particular topic or technique.
She is always ready to answer questions and offer guidance.

Essex Rose Tea Rooms is a much-loved and welcoming spot in the heart of Dedham, and has supported the Dedham Art Society for some time by generously providing wall space for our members to exhibit their artwork. This gives artists the opportunity to show their work in a relaxed, friendly setting that is enjoyed by both villagers and visitors alike.

The team at Essex Rose also kindly allow us to display our promotional boards on their railings for the annual Summer Exhibition, helping to raise awareness of the event and encouraging wider engagement with the Society’s activities. We are very grateful for their ongoing support of local artists and their contribution to the cultural life of the village.

Kingsleigh Residential are long-standing supporters of the Dedham Art Society and an active presence in the village, with their estate agency office based on the High Street. They kindly provide wall space in their office for DAS members to exhibit their work, giving artists valuable visibility within the local community. Kingsleigh also sponsor the promotional boards around the local area for our annual Summer Exhibition, helping to raise awareness of the event and encourage wider public engagement. We are very grateful for their continued support of local artists and community activity.

Goodmove Removals have been wonderfully supportive of the Dedham Art Society and continue to help us each year by sponsoring the collection and delivery of our exhibition boards for the Summer Exhibition. Their practical, can-do support has made a real difference to the Society, solving what had been a long-standing logistical headache for us.

By helping in this very hands-on way, Goodmove play an important part in enabling our exhibitions to take place and in supporting the fundraising and community activity that sits alongside them. We are extremely grateful for their ongoing support and generosity.