The Society’s 103rd annual open exhibition runs from 27 September until 2 November at The Burton at Bideford. Free entry.
The Westward Ho! and Bideford Art Society (WHOBIDARTS) Annual Open Exhibition returns to The Burton at Bideford later this month.
Founded in 1922, WHOBIDARTS’ annual exhibition has been held at The Burton since 1954 and it remains the Society’s most important event and showpiece, featuring work in a range of media.
The annual show gives artists from across the South West the opportunity to see their work exhibited at The Burton. The exhibition is open to members and associates of the Society as well as non-members, with over 300 artworks on display and available to buy.
The Ken Doughty prize is awarded each year to an outstanding artwork chosen from the exhibition. Ken Doughty served as Chair of WHOBIDARTS from 1993 and president from 2002. Last year’s winner was Jenny Smy for her painting Headland II.
Eilean Eland, the Chair of WHOBIDARTS, commented:
“WHOBIDARTS is very pleased to be able to welcome visitors to our open exhibition for the 103rd time. It’s a great privilege to show our work at The Burton and visitors will find a lively and inspiring exhibition with a huge range of artworks. Sales are always brisk and comments from visitors are almost always warmly appreciative. This year we will host a Visitors’ Choice opportunity for people to commend their favourite works. As work can be taken home when purchased, new work will frequently appear, so it’s worth coming more than once!”
Harriet Cooper, Director of The Burton, said:
“We are delighted to welcome WHOBIDARTS back to The Burton at Bideford. Part of our mission is to support artists in the South West region at all stages of their careers, and the WHOBIDARTS Annual Open Exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for local creatives to see their work displayed in the same space that has previously hosted work by household names such as Barbara Hepworth, L.S. Lowry, Paula Rego and Antony Gormley. And of course, there is the added attraction for visitors of being able to purchase the artworks they love!”
?The Westward Ho! and Bideford Art Society Annual Open Exhibition runs at The Burton from 27 September until 2 November 2025. Free entry.
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