The Munnings Art Museum

The Munnings Art Museum galleries are now closed for the winter and will reopen on Wednesday 1st April 2026.

We will be celebrating the 65th Anniversary of the museum in 2026 with new displays, projects and events.

The office, archives and curatorial department remain open during the winter time, Monday to Friday.
Please contact:
office@munningsmuseum.org.uk, curator@munningsmuseum.org.uk
tearoom@munningsmuseum.org.uk or call 01206 322127 with your enquiry.

To enquire about a group visit in 2026 then please complete the online form.

Address: Munnings Art Museum
Castle House, Castle Hill
Dedham, Colchester, Essex
CO7 6AZ

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“Who would have thought I should ever be President of the Royal Academy, or be knighted by the King? ” What a go ! ” as an Essex farmer friend wrote to me in a letter.” – Alfred Munnings

2026 Calendar available to buy online

“Horses, my supporters, friends – my destiny, in fact.”

Each month is illustrated with a painting by Sir Alfred Munnings of the horses he owned and loved throughout his life.

Shop 2026 calendar

About the museum which houses the largest permanent retrospective of paintings by Sir Alfred Munnings

Each year, April to October, the walls of the museum are sumptuously adorned with well-known pictures by Sir Alfred Munnings and lesser seen sketches and studies taken from the artist’s studio when he died in 1959. Thickly painted impressionistic scenes of ponies standing still against the bright East Anglian sunshine jostle for position with smooth and shiny racing thoroughbreds and their jockeys a-blaze in brightly coloured silks. Sir Alfred Munnings’ former working studio, complete with his brushes, paints and easels, stands in the grounds whilst ponies still look on from the paddocks nearby.

Get creative: Learn to paint and draw horses at home with James Power (Society of Equestrian Artists)

This four-part series of pre-recorded workshops will take you through the basic steps needed to successfully draw and paint horses.

Session 1: Basics of Drawing the Horse

Session 2: Adding colour and form to the Horse

Session 3: Looking more closely at the horse’s head.

Session 4: Painting the horse’s head in oils.

Watch workshop

Claudia Pfeiffer, National Sporting Library and Museum in front of Winner at Epsom by Sir Alfred Munnings

Watch film

Not brave enough to pick up a paintbrush then watch and listen instead

Turf to Turf: The Horseracing World of Sir Alfred Munnings

The Sport of Kings inspired Sir Alfred Munnings to create some of his most famous paintings. See how they were created and how they have travelled the globe inspiring the artists of today. Under the theme Art History: Local to Global we present this short film in partnership with Art Historian, Christopher Garibaldi and the National Sporting Library and Museum, Virginia, USA.

Curator’s talk: The life and work of Alfred Munnings

Pre-recorded online event. Recording lasts 41 minutes.

Marcia Whiting, Curatorial Associate, provides an overview of Alfred Munnings’ life and work.

You will be sent a link to play the film via Vimeo (installation not required).

watch talk