Welcome to the Wayland Dragonfly Gallery

The Dragonfly Gallery and Visitor Centre is one of the many local attractions that make Wayland unique and distinctive. Owned and managed by community charity the Wayland Partnership, the gallery is a part of Wayland House and situated in Watton High Street. It is the home of the Visitor Centre but its main function is as an art gallery – It is the only community owned gallery in the area and supports artists and craftspeople from across east Anglia, where a wide range of exhibitions are mounted throughout the year. Artists appreciate the gallery for its intimate and friendly atmosphere and its exceptional lighting. Mixed media collections, solo shows, photography, art textiles, quilts and ceramics have all been included and there is an exhibition in most months of the year.

Partnership Exhibition

On three or four occasions each year the Wayland Partnership invites local artists to take part in a mixed media or specialist exhibition. These are always very popular and artists are selected, on the basis of the information provided in their applications, to create a varied and balanced exhibition. Media, style, subject, size and price are all taken into consideration and artists new to the gallery are included as well as those well known to us. A maximum of six items per artist will be accepted.

Solo or Group Exhibitions

Applications from individuals or groups of artists to hold exhibitions in the gallery are welcome and the number of these increases each year as the Gallery becomes more widely known. We are fortunate to have the services of the Tourist Information Centre Volunteers who act as stewards during exhibitions. However the public enjoy meeting the artists and appreciate it if they can attend for at least some time during the exhibition. From time to time we are able to organise workshops and demonstrations with our artists. Anyone interested in learning a new skill or honing an old one should contact us at Wayland House.

Exhibition times

Exhibitions are normally open on weekdays between 10.00am and 4.00pm, (Saturdays 10.00 – 1.00) though these may be varied by agreement and we may be able to open out of these hours by appointment. Exhibits should be hung in good time prior to the opening and removed immediately after closing time on the final day unless an alternative time has been agreed. Artists should not normally remove their paintings while the exhibition is open to the public.

Patrons

The first Patron of the Gallery was Peggy Spencer MBE, a wonderful supporter very greatly missed by all of us here.

Helena Anderson, daughter of Peggy, is following her mother's footsteps as Gallery Patron. Helena is an artist in her own right and has been painting and teaching for the past twenty years, and retired from her Art Supplies Shop and studio in Kings Lynn in 2006.

The Gallery is currently also supported by Sue Welfare, bestselling writer and artist from Downham Market; Marie Dawe, renowned local glass artists; and Marie's husband Tony, BAFTA Award-winning (and Oscar-nominated) sound engineer.