THE NEWBERY Trail is officially launched on Thursday 3 April. Dorset – and Bridport in particular – is the venue for an exciting, month-long trail of exhibitions, events and activities celebrating the life and work of the painter Francis H Newbery.
Newbery was brought up in Bridport and retired to Corfe Castle in 1919 after a long and illustrious career as one of the most significant directors of Glasgow School of Art.
In his day Newbery’s paintings were well regarded and widely published although they are now little known despite being held in public and private collections around the world.
As well as a respected painter in his own right he is perhaps best known for his pivotal role in promoting the work of his protégé, Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Throughout his life Newbery’s driving force was “to make art more readily available to a wider public, attempting to relate it to their daily lives and to celebrate the traditions of the specific localities in which the works were sited”.
The Trail has these same aspirations at its heart. Exhibitions will be the starting point for a number of different activities (such as talks, tours and workshops) that will explore the social, economical and industrial heritage of the communities in which Newbery worked.
For more information, log on to www.franewbery.co.uk or pick up a leaflet from local venues.
Newbery Trail events
All events are FREE unless otherwise stated
Friday 4 April, 10.00am – 3.00pm
Make a Mural family workshop led by artist Darrell Wakelam
Allsop Gallery, Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport
Charge: £2 per child – to book a place please call Bridport Arts Centre on 01308 427183
Saturday 5 April, 2.30pm
Fra H Newbery – A talk by Dr George Rawson
Allsop Gallery, Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport
Sunday 6 April, 7.30pm
Fra H Newbery – A talk by Dr George Rawson
Corfe Castle Town Hall, Corfe Castle
Tuesday 8 April, 6.30pm
Charles Rennie Mackintosh & Dorset – A talk by Dr George Rawson
Dorset County Museum, High West Street, Dorchester
Charge: £6.00 – reduction for Trail visitors showing exhibition guide
Saturday 12 April & Saturday 26 April, 10.00am – 4.00pm
Beginner’s stone carving – a one day course
Durlston Country Park
Charge: £30.00 per student (tools & materials provided but please bring your own lunch). To book please call Libby Hodd on 01929 557336 or keystone@purbeck-dc.gov.uk. Each course has room for only 6 students.
Saturday 19 April, 10.00am – 3.00pm
Dorset’s Links with Art Nouveau – A one day study course
Dorset Adult Education Centre, Dorchester
Charge: £24.00/£16.80 concession – including lunch. To book please call Dorchester Adult Education Centre on 01305 251040 or email: dorchester@dorsetadulted.info quoting course code: 5W0466DD
Saturday 19 April, 2.30pm
Bridport Town Hall – A tour with Elizabeth Gale
Bridport Town Hall
Thursday 24 April, 2.30pm
Fra Newbery and the Bridport School of Art – A talk by Fiona Tamplin
Bridport Arts Centre Cafe, South Street, Bridport
Saturday 26 April, 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Drop-in photographic workshop with Helen Muspratt’s granddaughter. Dress up in a
costume of your choice and have your portrait taken.
Dorset County Museum, High West Street, Dorchester
Charge: £6.50 adults/£4.50 concessions (annual pass). Children free.
Tuesday 29 April, 2.30pm
Bridport Town Hall – A tour with Elizabeth Gale
Bridport Town Hall
Thursday 1 May, 6.30pm
Talk on Fra Newbery by John Jagged
Bridport Town Hall
Sunday 4 May, 2.30pm
Exhibition Tour by Crystal Johnson
Allsop Gallery, Bridport Arts Centre
