Established by artist-gardener Cedric Morris and his partner Arthur Lett-Haines, the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing at Benton End became the centre of a diverse community of artists, writers, and horticulturalists throughout the 1940s and 1950s. With no distinction between amateur or professional, Morris and Lett-Haines believed everyone could be creative.

This exhibition, created in collaboration with the Colchester Art Society, showcases the inspiring role Benton House played in influencing the artists who lived and worked there, celebrating the beauty of the East Anglian scenery and the importance of creative spaces.

Explore over 100 artworks by the artists and cultural figures with links to Benton End, including Lucian Freud, Maggi Hambling, John Nash, and Frances Hodgkins, along with works by Morris and Lett-Haines.

Be inspired by this diverse selection of paintings, sculptures, etchings and drawings in this interactive exhibition which examines Benton End’s remarkable, inclusive, artistic environment and ethos.

Explore your own creativity with opportunities to create your own artworks in the exhibition, and experience the benefits that making and experiencing art can bring to our wellbeing