I’m Mary, co-founder of Wonky Wheel, which I run alongside my partner, Rob. Since launching in July 2019, we have grown from our first gallery space in Finchingfield (opened in October 2019) to our current home in Castle Hedingham, where we relocated in April 2025 for a larger, more accessible space. Castle Hedingham, Essex, is steeped in creative history and was the original home of Essex Pottery, founded in 1837 by Edward Bingham Snr.
Vision
Our vision is to make art accessible and affordable for all. By providing reasonably priced artwork, we aim to inspire individuals from diverse backgrounds and demonstrate that art is within reach for everyone!
Mission
The initiative aims to championing local artists and makers by providing a platform and fostering an inclusive art community for artists of all backgrounds.
Wonky Wheel story began long before I moved to North Essex. As a child, I learned to sew and knit with guidance from my grandmother and aunts. When I was three, my grandmother gifted me my first pair of knitting needles, sparking a lifelong love of handmade craft. That early passion led me to study Fashion and Textiles, and even during a 20-year detour into the corporate world, I kept creating through acrylic painting, pen and ink, and silk art.
Over the past two decades I’ve worked across retail (Marks & Spencer and Tesco), the NHS, and utility services. My dream of owning a shop was inspired by my mum, who worked in a store in Ireland. In the 80s I’d join her on Friday evenings, disappear into the stockroom with her list, and play shop with the old cash register—imagining it was my own. That memory still makes me smile.
Our art gallery space is designed to offer a dynamic and ever-evolving experience for art enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. We proudly host quarterly exhibitions that bring fresh perspectives and new artistic voices to our community, and we feature a different artist each month to ensure there’s always something exciting and unexpected to explore. This rotating schedule means that every time customers step through our doors, they have the opportunity to discover something new and inspiring. At the same time, we understand and deeply appreciate that many of our customers develop strong connections with particular artists and specific artworks that resonate with them on a personal level. Because of this, we make it a priority to ensure that the work of these beloved artists remains on display, allowing visitors to return again and again to the pieces they’ve come to love and cherish.
Our carefully curated gift shop showcases a beautiful range of authentic, handmade products from skilled artisans and independent makers. You will find everything from hand-thrown ceramics and thoughtfully poured candles to luxurious body care and sustainably produced recycled-leather goods. Wherever possible, we choose products that haven’t travelled by ship or plane. We aim to keep our selection as local and environmentally mindful as we can, supporting makers near Castle Hedingham or within an hour’s travelling distance.
We also have a particularly deep love of greeting cards in all their forms. For me, writing a card is never “just a gesture”. It is a genuinely meaningful way to connect with a friend or family member, or even with yourself through a quiet moment of reflection. We warmly encourage you to take a moment to write to someone who would benefit from that kind of heartfelt connection, and to let them know they are being thought of. When you choose a card from our collection, you are directly supporting an independent artist and their creative practice, even if an original painting or larger artwork is not within reach right now.
We also host external Exhibitions and Makers’ Market events in Finchingfield Guildhall and The Old Goods Shed in Clare. This way we are expanding our reach and able to champion even more artists and makers.
From day one, our purpose has been to create a welcoming, distinctive gallery experience and to provide a platform for local artists and makers who have limited opportunities in our area. That mission continues to guide everything we do. While Cambridge and Suffolk have established open studios, North Essex still lacks a collective art trail event—something I hope to help bring to life very soon.
Our Castle Hedingham gallery is now open, welcoming visitors Tuesday to Thursday, 09:30–15:00, and Saturday, 09:30–15:00. We look forward to welcoming you to our space, or to one of our pop-up events, very soon. Please check out our events page for exhibitions and event dates in 2026.