Rye Creative Centre

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Rye Creative Centre

Rye Creative Centre offers a dynamic programme of events, workshops and exhibitions throughout the year in the beautifully renovated Freda Gardham school.

The Rye Creative Centre was launched as a centre of creative excellence in 2009 in the decommissioned Freda Gardham School. It provides a unique resource both for the people of Rye and beyond. A beautiful space to hire for any event. We specialise in 'The Arts' and event management with our outdoor cafe onsite, in house catering and stunning views of Ryes countryside. We house the private studios

of over 30 visiting and resident artists, who offer a range of workshops, master-classes, talks, demonstrations and exhibitions throughout the year. Our next public exhibition 'Variations' is a collection of the studio holders works and opens on the 26th of August. For more information please visit our website www.ryecreativecentre.co.uk

22/08/2025

Here’s Keith Kettle who’ll be exhibiting one of his colourful dripped gloss paint pieces at the .rye annual exhibition this year.

‘Register’ features 20 + resident artists alongside works by our guest curators &

Please join us at the private view 5-8pm on Friday 5 September then 10-4 daily until Sunday 14 September 🥂

Exhibitors
Nick Archer .nick
Summer Bourne
Melanie Comber
Nat Dive
Dave Eckold
Jillian Eldridge
Richard Elliott
Caroline Fraser
Luke Hannam
Jeb Haward
Sharon Haward
Angelika Howard
Keith Kettle
Jenny Pockley
Sue Prince
Paula MacArthur
Tara Macdonald
Lenka Medlik
Heather Rajaratnam
Helen Rawlinson
Steph Rubin
Kathy Russell
Sarah Seymour
Sally Shaw
Beverley Thornley
Georgie Watson
Kate Wallis

21/08/2025

Here’s Luke Hannam who’ll be exhibiting ECCE HOMO, oil on canvas, 261 x 210 cms
at the .rye annual exhibition this year.

‘Register’ features 20 + resident artists alongside works by our guest curators &

Please join us at the private view 5-8pm on Friday 5 September then 10-4 daily until Sunday 14 September 🥂

20/08/2025

Here are three works by Dave Eckold who’ll be exhibiting these sculptural constructions, made without the use of screws and glue, held in balance by the tension between the various elements, at the .rye annual exhibition this year.

‘Register’ features 20 + resident artists alongside works by our guest curators &

Please join us at the private view 5-8pm on Friday 5 September then 10-4 daily until Sunday 14 September 🥂

Exhibitors
Nick Archer .nick
Summer Bourne
Melanie Comber
Nat Dive
Dave Eckold
Jillian Eldridge
Richard Elliott
Caroline Fraser
Luke Hannam
Jeb Haward
Sharon Haward
Angelika Howard
Keith Kettle
Jenny Pockley
Sue Prince
Paula MacArthur
Tara Macdonald
Lenka Medlik
Heather Rajaratnam
Helen Rawlinson
Steph Rubin
Kathy Russell
Sarah Seymour
Sally Shaw
Beverley Thornley
Georgie Watson
Kate Wallis

15/08/2025

Many thanks to and for visiting the studios yesterday to select work for the forthcoming studio-holders’ exhibition ‘Register’

While we’re currently working hard to find a new home for Rye Creative Centre CIC, Register is a nod to the building’s past as a school and its history of learning and working together.

Come and join us for the private view on Friday 5 September 5-8pm
Exhibition continues daily, 10am-4pm until Sunday 14 September

11/07/2025

Join us this evening 🥂 for a celebration of printmakers and printmaking

Friday 11 July, 5.30 - 8 pm
Saturday 12 July, 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday 13 July, 10 am - 4 pm

Exhibitors:
Agata Reid,
Alison Stump,
Amanda Averillo,
Annabel Wyllie, .wyllie
Beverley Thornley,
Caroline Fraser
Claire Guest,
Fi Brown,
Helen Rawlinson, Jadesola Kloss,
Jane King,
Janet Milner,
Jenny Pockley,
Joanna Towers,
Lenka Medlik,
Marigold Plunkett,
Neil Eastell,
Nick Archer, .nick
Nicola Hill,
Paula MacArthur,
Sarah Seymour, Sarah Taylor,
Steph Rubin,

07/07/2025

As Rye Creative Centre continues to face the risk of closure, our aim is to highlight its value to the community with this special exhibition. Please join us for Print Room, a celebration of the diverse printmaking talent that calls Rye Creative Centre home.

We’ve invited printmakers from across the region to showcase their work in The Old Gym for one weekend only this July. This exhibition will feature a wide array of prints made right here at the centre, showcasing both emerging and established talent. As always, everyone is welcome to come, browse, and purchase.

Private View: Friday 11 July, 5:30 – 8 pm
Exhibition Continues: Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13, 10 am – 4 pm
Everyone is welcome!

Rye Creative Centre,
entrance between 7 & 9 New Road, TN31 7LS

Exhibitors:
Agata Reid,
Alison Stump,
Amanda Averillo,
Angelika Howard,
Annabel Wyllie,
Beverley Thornley,
Caroline Fraser,
Claire Guest,
Fi Brown,
Helen Rawlinson,
Jadesola Kloss,
Janet Milner,
Jenny Pockley,
Joanna Towers,
Lenka Medlik,
Marigold Plunkett,
Neil Eastell,
Nick Archer,
Nicola Hill,
Paula MacArthur,
Sarah Seymour,
Sarah Taylor,
Steph Rubin
Tara Macdonald

30/06/2025

Turps install in progress.
Thanks to and (and his exceptionally tiny ladder!) for installing the Turps Hastings end of year show today.

Come and join us on Wednesday evening at Rye Creative Centre to celebrate this year’s cohort 🥂

Private view, Wednesday 2 July, 5-8pm

Exhibition continues daily, 10am - 4.30pm until Sunday 6 July

Artists’ talk led by Programme Leader & Turps Margate Mentor 11am - 1pm Sunday 6 July.

The exhibition and events are all free to attend, and everyone is welcome

🌍 Set your GPS to 7 New Road, Rye TN31 7LS

The Turps Hastings Painters 2024/25

- poster image

27/06/2025

This year’s Turps Hastings end-of-year exhibition opens this coming Wednesday in the Old Gym at Rye Creative Centre. We hope you can join us to celebrate 🥂

Private view, Wednesday 2 July, 5-8pm

Exhibition continues daily, 10am - 4.30pm until Sunday 6 July

Artists’ talk led by Programme Leader Matthew Burrows MBE, 11am - 1pm Sunday 6 July.

The exhibition and events are all free to attend, and everyone is welcome

Exhibitors
Jules Annis, Julie Allan, Alison Berry, Somar Bognar, Jane Buttery, Brian Cheesewright, Michelle Cobbin, Louise Colbourne, Jane Cordery, Sarah Rianhard Gardener, Elaine Ginsburg, Samantha Guertin, Adrienne Hunter, Anna Jury, Irene Marot, Rowena McWilliams, Jane Millar, Abi Moffat, June Nelson, Catriona Pavek, Jane Papafio, Helen Savage, Paul Sayers, Anne Smith and Jo Williamson

Turps | Hastings Programme is a mentoring programme for painters whose studios are based within the geographical triangle between Brighton, Tunbridge Wells and Rye.

Turps mentors visit participants in their own studios for one-to-one tutorials and develop a supportive network of peers across the region through regular programmed group crits and monthly artists’ talks at Hastings Contemporary. The programme runs from September through June.

The deadline for the 2025/26 programme has been extended. For more details and to apply, go to turpsbanana.com

26/06/2025

Only one week to go!
Turps Hastings end of year show

🍌Private view Wednesday 2 July 5-8pm, all welcome 🥂
🍌Exhibition continues 10am - 4.30pm until Sunday 6 July
🍌Walk and Talk event led by Programme Leader with the exhibitors 11am-1pm on Sunday 6 July, hope you can join us!

Thanks to Nick & Richard for all their hard work getting our exhibition space ready!

19/06/2025

Congratulations to three of our resident studio-holders and on having their work selected for 100/50 beautifully curated by in West London.

Exhibition continues until 20 July
Tuesday – Saturday, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Unit 1 Gallery | Workshop,
1 Bard Road, London W10 6TP

You can also view and buy all the exhibitors‘ work on the .art app free to download and use on iPhone & Android

100/50 is a dynamic showcase celebrating the resilience, dedication, and long-term perseverance of artists over 50

The “100/50” exhibition will feature an inspiring selection of works from artists that are often overlooked and are often emerging talent, often those of who have not only honed their skills but have also navigated the challenging landscape of the art world with unwavering determination. This exhibition seeks to honour those who have consistently pushed forward, demonstrating that true artistic success is a marathon, not a sprint.

Sarah Seymour
Jane‘s Hands
Oil on canvas, 120x100cm

Jillian Eldridge
Kingfisher
Oil on canvas

Paula MacArthur
There will be no peace, 2024
Oil on canvas
100 x 100cm

Paula MacArthur
When nothing else remains, 2023
Oil on canvas
100 x 100cm

11/06/2025

More news from this year‘s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition; Jillian Eldridge’s work appeared in a review by Jonathan Jones in the Guardian yesterday. Four stars is unusually generous for Jonathan 🌟🌟🌟🌟 , we think Jillian‘s beautiful painting must have had something to do with it!

rye

17/05/2025

A peek inside some of the studios which are open today the public today until 4pm

Come and see what we’ve been doing!
Rye Creative Centre
Entrance between 7 & 9 New Road
Rye TN31 7LS

& there’s a café too!

The New Road Artists .rye

in the print room

Address

New Road

TN317LS

Telephone

+441797229797

Website

http://www.ryecreativecentre.co.uk/

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Our Story

The RCC was launched as a centre of creative excellence in 2009 in the decommissioned Freda Gardham School on the road to Camber. It provides a unique resource for the people of Rye and beyond. Visiting and resident artists offer a range of workshops, master-classes, talks, demonstrations and exhibitions throughout the year. For more information please visit our website www.ryecreativecentre.co.uk . Our studio holders are known collectively as the New Road Artists. This group is made up of a dynamic and exciting mix of artists from a range of backgrounds and traditions.