ABOUT BEVERLEY ART GALLERY

Beverley Museum and Art Gallery officially opened to the public on 23rd August 1910.  Two local benefactors, John Edward Champney and William Spencer, originally approached the Town Council in 1902 regarding funding for the new Museum and Art Gallery. At the time, both museum items and works of art were displayed alongside each other, and the collections were quite diverse.

Beverley Art Gallery has two exhibition spaces. The first shows works from the permanent collection, and also includes the largest holding of paintings by celebrated local artist Fred Elwell and his wife Mary. The second gallery hosts a diverse range of temporary exhibitions, and a lively programme of events and lectures.

In the museum gallery, there are things to keep younger visitors entertained. These  include hands-on interactive exhibits and historical costumes to try on. Further along the corridor in the art gallery, additional activities include a “Spot the Picture” activity, and there are two fun worksheets to complete. There are also art, history and archaeology books to browse through.

WHAT’S HERE

One of the gallery’s most famous paintings is ‘A Panic’ by Henry William Banks Davis R.A. Measuring 286 x 480 cm, this is reputed to be the largest cattle picture in the world. The iconic painting, showing a herd of stampeding cattle, was originally hung in the Royal Academy in 1872. It was presented to the gallery by John Edward Champney in 1921.