Art at Beningbrough

Beningbrough's changing exhibitions are thoughtfully curated. Working with artists, in partnership with museums and galleries, and drawn from National Trust collections. Over the coming years, the gallery will showcase high quality contemporary and historic art. A special thread running through the exhibitions will be the relationship to the gardens at Beningbrough, and the developments being led by garden designer Andy Sturgeon. 

Between exhibitions

Comings and Goings

1 April - 10 August 2025

The first floor of the hall has such striking craftmanship and architecture, the rooms are worth exploring, even between exhibitions. During spring and summer, we add temporary interpretation in the space for those who want to know more about the people and history of Beningbrough. Uncover the varied and fascinating stories of the people who have shaped the hall and called it home over the centuries. Discover new stories, voices from the past and find out how they left their mark on Beningbrough. 

Outside of these dates, the galleries are closed to allow for preparation, removal and installation of exhibitions. 

Coming next - Whispers of the Wilderness: Exploring Wilderness Gardens

2 September 2025 – 12 April 2026 on open days

Step into a world where art and nature intertwine in a celebration of Beningbrough’s Wilderness Garden, past and present.

In the year that garden designer, Andy Sturgeon breathes new life into the landscape with enhanced planting and reimagined vistas, artist Laura Ellen Bacon brings the essence of the garden indoors with her striking, large-scale willow sculptures. Inspired by nature and rooted in place, Bacon’s flowing, organic forms transform Beningbrough Hall, capturing the movement and energy of the wild.

In the Great Hall, woven willow sculptures will rise from black plinths - echoing lost statues and swaying as if shaped by time and memory and, in the Saloon Gallery, an oversized looping sculpture invites you to step inside, becoming part of the piece - an immersive reflection on nature’s resilience and our connection to the land.

Alongside these contemporary works, nine historic pieces from the National Trust collection - paintings, books, and sculpture - trace the eighteenth-century passion for wilderness gardens and their role as sensory retreats. The exhibition follows suit, filling the hall with the scent of fragrant willow and a new nature inspired soundscape.

For those inspired to create, a new drawing studio invites you to put pen to paper, echoing Laura Ellen Bacon’s artistic process of responding to nature through sketching.

The Reddihough Galleries

The late Mr Ian Reddihough, a proud Yorkshireman and avid supporter of Beningbrough Hall, has left a lasting gift in his will to support the conservation and care of this cherished place. 

To commemorate Mr Reddihough’s exceptional gift, the first-floor art gallery spaces have been named in his honour. His generous contribution will ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the beauty and history of Beningbrough.

Mr Reddihough’s gift serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that gifts in wills can have. Whether it’s a gift to plant a new sapling or a gift to build an entire garden, we hope it inspires others to consider leaving a lasting legacy – no matter the size – of their own. 

Find out how gifts in wills play a vital role in supporting the preservation of our nation's heritage and the special places that you love.