North Devon art gallery marks 75 years and unveils rarely seen works

An art gallery in Bideford is celebrating its 75th anniversary with the opening of two new exhibitions that highlight its history, community and future.

The Burton at Bideford Art Gallery and Museum was established in 1951 as a memorial to Mary E. Meredith (1904–1949), a talented local artist and daughter of Thomas Burton.

Mary, who had trained in the arts locally, died suddenly at the age of 45, leaving her father determined to preserve her legacy. 

Thomas Burton, a prominent local businessman and former Mayor of Bideford, spearheaded the project in collaboration with artist Hubert Coop to create a space where art could be enjoyed by the wider community.

Originally opened on 31 October 1951 as the “Meredith Englefield Art Gallery,” the building was designed by architect Frank Whiting.

It later became known as The Burton Art Gallery. 

In 1994, the facility underwent a major refurbishment and extension, increasing its capacity fourfold.

Today, it operates as a registered charity and has been an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation since 2018.

The gallery houses extensive art collections, the Bideford Town Museum, a craft gallery and a café, and serves as a cultural hub for North Devon. 

Its collections feature historic and contemporary works, including paintings, prints, ceramics and archival material that reflect the town’s artistic, cultural and maritime heritage.

To mark its 75th anniversary, The Burton has opened two new exhibitions.

The first, Hubert Coop and Friends: A Legacy of Art and Influence, features 75 artworks and objects from the gallery’s collection. 

ABOVE: The works of Hubert Coop

It highlights the work of founding artist Hubert Coop and his contemporaries, including pieces by Colin Hunter, Bertram Prance, Charles Sims, Gillian Ayres, James Ravilious, Lucie Rie, Mary Stella Edwards, Michael Cardew and Paul Lewin. Many of the works on display have rarely been seen outside The Burton’s storage rooms.

The exhibition also includes The Burton’s latest acquisition, Mayflower, All Flowers (2020), by internationally-renowned artist Yinka Shonibare CBE RA. 

The purchase was supported by Art Fund, Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund and The Friends of The Burton, a local charity that supports the gallery through fundraising and sponsorship.

The second exhibition, The Annual Schools Exhibition, opens at the end of January and features the work of young artists aged 4-18 from schools across Torridge and neighbouring areas. 

The show offers a snapshot of Northern Devon’s next generation of artists and celebrates the role of teachers and art in encouraging creativity across the curriculum.

Harriet Cooper, Director of The Burton at Bideford, said: “We are delighted to launch our 75th 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.”

The exhibitions are part of a broader programme at The Burton, which supports schools and communities through initiatives such as Burton Futures. 

This programme provides travel bursaries, artist workshops and professional development sessions to help schools engage with world-class art.

Hubert Coop and Friends: A Legacy of Art and Influence runs from 17 January to 15 March 2026, while The Annual Schools Exhibition runs from 30 January to 15 March 2026. 

Entry to both exhibitions is free.

The Burton is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-5pm, and Sunday, 11am-4pm. .