The Blackwater Polytechnic is an exhibiting collective and informal educational establishment based in North Essex. It began when artists Ben Coode-Adams and Freddie Robins started converting a sixteenth century timber framed barn to live and work in. There was a need to retrain in order to be able to complete the project as envisioned, so the Polytechnic was born. The Polytechnic combines construction, farming, forestry, art, craft and collecting with a strong focus on the local and collaboration. We believe that people are only interesting in conversation with each other.
Blackwater Polytechnic has been self-sufficient and self-sustaining since its inception. We have established our own rigorous theoretical aesthetic framework based on expediency, matter-of-factness, substance and a gung-ho ‘let’s get this party started’ attitude. We think it is interesting and new. We equate quality with hard work, attention to detail, very fine sanding and beautiful knitting.
We are strongly rooted in our locale. Essex is a county with a rich Utopian history. People come here to make things better. Successions of pioneers have built their own dreams on the margins of everything. Here people respect fiercely each other’s right to an individual vision. We do our own thing and come together over shared kinship, and dirt, shooting, horses, cars, and bikes, heels, short skirts, fish pedicures, ale, and giant car-boot sales. We may look a bit like you. We are not you.
The Blackwater Polytechnic
The Grange Projects
10 June – 22 June
10am to 5:00 pm everyday
The Grange Projects hosts artist led integrated creative activity at The Grange in Norfolk. Everything that takes place here is made possible by the generosity and support of the owners of The Grange. Located in the small rural village Great Cressingham, Norfolk, The Grange was originally built as a rectory. This wonderful Georgian house is set in 10 acres of tranquil gardens and grounds. It is a beautiful and magical place offering space and peace for everyone to benefit from. The Grange is currently home to graphic novelist Dr Nicola Streeten and artist John Plowman who jointly lead The Grange Projects, with help and advice from their artist daughter Sally Plowman.
Žasmina Nedelčevova
Imperfect Perfection
Modern abstraction, not just to be seen, but to be felt. Work that explores controlled complexity to trigger positive emotions.
Tuesday 2 - Sunday 7 June
10am-5pm Everyday
12PM
12 Print Makers
Thursday 21 May to
Tuesday 26 May
Including work from:
Kit Leese
Helen Maxfield
Julia Vezza
Evelyn Polk
Jane Hunter
PLUS seven other print makers
Inspired by Nature
An Exhibition in collaboration with the Wivenhoe Open Gardens - Friday 15th to Sunday 17th May 2025
11am-5pm every day
Buy your tickets for Open Gardens at
Old Grocery - £5 each (Cash only please).
Barbara Peirson and
Joe Lichtenstein
10am-5pm everyday
As part of the Wivenhoe Art Trail.
A joint exhibition of original paintings, drawings and prints, inspired by Wivenhoe and East Anglia.
1 - 4 May 2026
Nick Lumb and Olivia Browne will be showing paintings, drawings, collages and giclée prints.
Olivia Browne studied at Sussex University (Art History) and the Institute of Education, University of London. Her work has been featured in collage publications in Milan (Olltre Collage) and in New York (Cut Me Up magazine) and is in The Priseman Seabrook Collection of Brtitish Prints, Drawings and Photographs. She exhibits nationally and internationally and recent exhibitions include RE-BOP at the Simmerling Gallery, Chicago, Fierce Scandal at Lido Stores Margate and A Room of Her Own at Irving Gallery, Oxford.
Olivia uses analogue collage to create semi-abstract compositions from found images. Her work plays with surface and depth, with loose connections and recurring motifs, processing everyday experiences and dreams.
Nick Lumb trained at the RCA. His work has been shown in many exhibitions, including Even in the Darkest Hour There Will be Light, at The Serpentine Gallery, London and Selected Works from the Murderme Collection, at Newport Street Gallery, London. He has artwork in the Saatchi collection and the Murderme collection.
Nick works in pencil, acrylic and oil paint and, also, has a sculpture background. He obsessively and meticulously layers pencil on paper to create evocative drawings of landscapes, forests and the human form. His paintings are more spontaneous: using the same subject matter, trapping energy using brush strokes and a build-up of paint.
Lawrie Simonson:
27 to 29 March
Avant-Garde Sculpture
Avant-Garde Sculptor
Lawrie Simonson, one of Britain’s foremost avant-garde sculptors. Simonson's quirky pieces, created from objet trouvé and kitchen objects, are based on serious observations of nature and range in size from a 3-metre water bird to a tiny chrome spider. His work has been exhibited in galleries across Europe and the UK and is held in private collections worldwide.
New Light
19th-25th March
A joint exhibition by local watercolour artist Emma Wren and ceramicist Kim Croysdill. This Spring exhibition celebrates renewal, growth, and new beginnings with vibrant, nature-inspired pieces. Emma Wren's watercolour paintings range from large floral canvases to vibrant abstract landscapes, while Kim Croysdill's ceramics are inspired by nature and living forms, embracing the Wabi-sabi philosophy of embracing imperfection.
Mothering Sunday Pop-Up
Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 March
Victoria Yum - Fleurs du Coeur - Wivenhoe Flowers
In collaboration with local florist Wivenhoe Flowers and illustrator Fleurs du Coeur, this four-day event celebrates creativity and connection.
Visitors can join workshops such as cake decorating, card making, lino printing, and floral posy workshops, as well as drop-in creative sessions for children.
A reflective art workshop will also be held to honour and remember mums who are no longer with us. The pop-up will feature beautifully curated Mother’s Day gifts, including bouquets, posies, handmade keepsakes, and Victoria Yum’s signature gift-wrapped baked goods.
Guests can relax with cream teas, fresh bakes, tea, coffee, and a glass of bubbles.
Mothering Sunday itself will begin with a special children’s workshop where little ones can create a hand-decorated gift for someone they love, accompanied by a breakfast of fresh bakes and hot drinks. Workshops are limited, so booking is recommended.
The Happy Shelf curates bright, joyful, handmade objects for seasonal pop-ups, showcasing independent makers with a focus on colour, optimism and everyday usefulness.
