Beecroft Art Gallery

The Beecroft Gallery is the largest public art gallery in Essex and holds Southend's historic art collection. The collection holds works by the likes of Molenaer, Ruisdael and Berchem plus 19th-century artists including Rossetti, Constable and Edward Lear. Our photography collection includes notable works by Josef Koudelka and we have a large collection of historic costume. There are works by Carel Weight, the Great Bardfield Group, and a fine bronze by Jacob Epstein. The local artist Alan Sorrell is represented by his Drawings of Nubia series depicting a visit to Egypt prior to the building of the Aswan Dam. The Thorpe Smith Collection of local landscape views contains paintings, drawings and prints from as early as 1803. Due to the size of the collection, key works are displayed on a rotational basis. The Beecroft also has a rotating programme of touring exhibitions Some of our recent exhibitions have included 'Subcultures', 'Colour' and artwork from the local community.