Rye Art Gallery

About the museum

Rye Art Gallery occupies two former homes joined together by a short staircase: Ypres Studio, an Arts and Crafts house on Ockman Lane, and 107 High Street, once the home of the painter Eileen Easton. Ypres Studio was the home of the artists Howard Gull Stormont (1859-1935) and Mary Stormont (1871-1962), who both exhibited in the region, and Mary also showed at the Royal Academy.

Mary Stormont set up the Rye Art Gallery Trust in 1957 and left Ypres Studio to the Trust when she died in 1962. Eileen Easton, a friend of the Stormonts and one of the first trustees, later left her High Street house to the Trust as well. The top-floor Stormont Room, once the couple's studio, has views down to the Rother estuary.

The permanent collection holds about 700 works, mainly two-dimensional, with some three-dimensional pieces and an archive, and includes both nationally known artists and regional favourites. Only a small part can be shown at one time. The gallery also runs changing exhibitions of contemporary art and craft, most of which are for sale, and has six exhibition spaces.

Highlights

• Permanent collection of about 700 artworks
• Two linked historic houses with six galleries
• Stormont Room with views over the Rother estuary
• Changing exhibitions of contemporary art and craft
• Gallery shop and free entry

Permanent exhibition

• Permanent Collection – About 700 artworks, mainly two-dimensional, by nationally known and regional artists, shown in rotating selections.

Operated by

Rye Art Gallery Trust

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free; the gallery invites donations.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The building is a Grade II listed house and wheelchair access is limited. Gallery 1 opens onto the street and is accessible. Galleries 2 and 3 have a few steps up. Galleries 4 and 5 can be reached from the rear door, which staff open on request. Gallery 6 is upstairs, and visitors who need help with the stairs should contact the gallery.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Rye is on the A259 and A268.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

There is a gallery shop and an online shop. The gallery has no café of its own; the visit page recommends cafés nearby.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit