Northern Art Galleries to Visit This Winter
This is our guide to where to browse and buy the best art
Alexander Millar Fine Art Gallery
55–59 Grey Street, Newcastle NE1 6EF
0191 230 4440
alexandermillar.com
With his unmissable gallery on Grey Street, Alexander Millar is a contemporary impressionist who is renowned across the UK for his very recognisable work. Within the gallery, you’ll find a collection of his paintings, drawings and prints displayed over three floors depicting his iconic ‘gadgies’ (working class men and women from a bygone era) and industrial cityscapes. Enjoy Alexander’s new collection of artworks ‘A Sense of Place’ when you next visit.
Allendale Forge Studios
Market Place, Allendale Town, near Hexham NE47 9BD
01434 683975
allendaleforgestudios.co.uk
Allendale Forge Studios is a hub for artists, and for the local community and visitors. The gallery hosts monthly creative exhibitions, workshops and opportunities to meet the artists behind the works on display, and there’s a gift shop to browse art by Northern creators. Don’t miss an exhibition of Gillian Swaile’s prints throughout October.
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
Gateshead Quays, South Shore Road, Gateshead NE8 3BA
0191 478 1810
baltic.art
Displaying contemporary art by artists from across the world, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art creates and produces exhibitions and activities with the aim of encouraging a greater understanding of the world. In 2022 (its 20th anniversary year) it became the first Gallery of Sanctuary in England, in recognition of its work to support forced migration communities in the North East. Whilst visiting to explore the exhibitions, visitors should stop by the Baltic Shop on the ground floor to browse a collection of arty gifts and homeware, and if you want to see more after you leave, check out the Baltic Archive online and discover more at here.
Wild & Free Gallery
3A Ilfracombe Gardens, Whitley Bay NE26 3ND
wildandfreegallery.co.uk
Wild and Free gallery is an independent art gallery in Whitley Bay, owned and run by local artist Gail Curry. The gallery works with local and national artists to provide a regular exhibition programme of varied mediums, with an opportunity to meet those artists during their exhibitions. Items on sale include a carefully-curated selection of original contemporary paintings and prints, ceramics, glass, and greeting cards, as well as selection of original seasonal gifts.
RePUBlic Gallery
The Kings Head, 85 Bridge Street, Blyth
NE24 3AE
republicgallery.co.uk
RePUBlic Gallery is both an art gallery and a community space based on the ground floor of a former public house, aiming to inspire creativity. In October and November, the gallery will be exhibiting work by artist Gary Wilkinson, but visitors should also check out the PUBlic Window (a lockdown idea and micro-gallery) which displays artwork to encourage public engagement.
Hancock Gallery
2 Jesmond Road West, Newcastle NE2 4PQ
0191 241 0442
hancockgallery.co.uk
Newcastle’s popular Hancock Gallery is a fine art gallery which works with both emerging and established artists to display works across all floors, and to provide expert advice on art investment.
The Biscuit Factory
Stoddart Street, Shieldfield, Newcastle NE2 1AN
0191 261 1103
thebiscuitfactory.com
This is the UK’s largest independent contemporary art, craft and design gallery. Established in 2002, this former Victorian biscuit manufacturing warehouse is now a landmark in the region’s cultural landscape. Visitors can see work by local artists, established artists and emerging designer makers, and The Biscuit Factory also hosts creative workshops.
Brightwater Gallery
10 Narrowgate, Castle Quarter, Alnwick NE66 1JG
07817 947406
brightwatergallery.co.uk
In the heart of the market town of Alnwick, Brightwater Gallery exhibit and sell local and international contemporary art, jewellery and crafts as well as fine foods. Shop the new collection of feather vases and bowls from Nicola Briggs Ceramics, browse original paintings of Northern and Scottish coastal scenes by Fiona MacDonald Holt, and see Drew Caines’ fabulous sculptures on display.
Lucy Pittaway
Galleries in York, Harrogate, Keswick,
Brompton-on-Swale, Richmond & Yarm
lucypittaway.co.uk
Multi-award winning artist Lucy Pittaway shares her artwork via her galleries, as well as in independent shops across Yorkshire. There’s always a personal story that inspires each of her pieces and she takes a lot of her inspiration from the sights and sounds of the Dales. She’s well-known for her whimsical paintings of sheep and local landscape, and outdoorsy art-lovers will want to check out her new cycling range of artworks. Read more about her artistic journey and what to expect inside her galleries (including gifts and homeware).
MIMA
Centre Square, Middlesbrough TS1 2AZ
01642 931232
mima.art
An international contemporary art gallery, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art connects art, people and ideas and commissions and collects modern and contemporary art. As the artistic heart of the School of Arts & Creative Industries at Teesside University, MIMA is also dedicated to collaborative learning and research. The impressive Middlesbrough Collection (more than 2,350 works of art and craft from British and international artists from the mid-1800s to today) plays a role in many of the gallery’s events and exhibitions that visitors enjoy all year round.
Mining Art Gallery
Market Place, Bishop Auckland DL14 7NP
aucklandproject.org
Mining is the character and history of much of the North East, and has inspired many of our artists, so it’s only right that it is celebrated with an art gallery, especially one in a former mining town. The Mining Art Gallery is the permanent home for the Gemini Collection of Mining Art, which includes more than 420 works by prominent local artists including Norman Cornish. Most importantly, every visit to the Mining Art Gallery helps The Auckland Project to ensure that the town’s future is as vibrant as its past.
Come View My Art Gallery
122 Sheriffs Highway, Low Fell, Gateshead
NE9 5SD
07742 749906
comeviewmyartgallery.co.uk
What started out as a Facebook group set up by a husband and wife duo, Come View My Art Gallery now offers a unique space where you can not only (as the name suggests) view art, but also show off your own creations. The gallery’s goal is to make art accessible to all and visitors to the gallery are encouraged to view, talk about art and create art. You can even watch artists create via Art In The Window.
Mary Ann Rogers Gallery
West Woodburn, Hexham NE48 2SE
01434 270216
marogers.com
Born and bred in the North East, Mary Ann Rogers lives and breathes Northumberland. When she’s not exhibiting at Living North’s fairs you can find her highly collectable artwork on display within her own gallery in West Woodburn, in galleries throughout the UK and in private collections worldwide. Her work is inspired by wildlife and her surrounding landscape, and often follows the seasons. Her art is also available on throws, bottles and stationery. We recently caught up with Mary Ann as she reflected on her successful career to date, find out what she said.
The Hepworth Wakefeild
Gallery Walk, Wakefield WF1 5AW
01924 247360
hepworthwakefield.org
The Hepworth Wakefield is named after art icon Barbara Hepworth and presents major exhibitions of the best international modern and contemporary art. Visitors to this award-winning art gallery within Wakefield’s historic waterfront can discover Wakefield’s growing art collection as well as enjoying art fairs and markets throughout the year (including their Festive Market this Christmas). Don’t miss their family workshops this autumn/winter alongside Forbidden Territories, an exhibition marking 100 years of Surrealism. As a charity, all shop purchases here support the gallery directly.
The Station
Station Yard, Richmond DL10 4LD
01748 828259
thestation.co.uk
Across three gallery spaces, The Station (a community hub within Richmond’s lovingly re-imagined station buildings) hosts events and displays artwork by new and established artists in changing exhibitions. If you like what you see, the art on display can be bought from The Station Shop, and if you’re a budding artist you can apply to exhibit in The Station Gallery.
Andrea Mosey Art Studio and Gallery
18 The Stables, Newby Hall, Ripon HG4 5AE
andreamosey.com
Located at The Stables, Newby Hall near Ripon, is Andrea Mosey Art Studio and Gallery – a lovely light-filled working studio which is home to a large selection of Andrea’s oil paintings and limited edition prints. Andrea creates beautiful images of the wide-open spaces, big skies and dramatic landscape and coastlines of the North; capturing a special quality of light. You can book an appointment to visit the studio and gallery on her website.
Ashley Jackson Gallery
13–15 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, Huddersfield HD9 2JR
01484 686460
ashley-jackson.co.uk
Since opening his first gallery back in 1963, Ashley Jackson’s distinctive paintings have shared the beauty and ruggedness of the Yorkshire landscape with art lovers. Now one of our country’s most successful landscape watercolourists, our directory wouldn’t be complete without him. Displaying limited editions and prints by Ashley, his Holmfirth gallery is open to the public six days a week, but we recommend booking a private viewing of his originals that are hung in the viewing rooms. Limited edition Christmas cards are now on sale.
Inspired by… Gallery
Danby Lodge National Park Centre, Danby, Whitby YO21 2NB
01439 772737
northyorkmoors.org.uk
In the heart of the North York Moors National Park, Inspired by… Gallery hosts exhibitions, workshops and events and showcases the artwork of established and emerging artists who draw inspiration, as many do, from the surrounding landscape. Housed in Danby Lodge National Park Centre, all the artworks on display are available to purchase in this gallery.
Leeds Art Gallery
The Headrow, Leeds LS1 3AA
museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk
Holding its own collection of modern and contemporary British art, Leeds Art Gallery sits at the heart of the city and offers visitors a dynamic and exciting exhibition programme throughout the year. The creative sessions designed for young adults offer the opportunity to put your inspiration into action and the on-site shop means visitors can browse carefully-selected products, gifts and artwork created by local makers.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
West Bretton WF4 4LG
01924 832631
ysp.org.uk
The leading international centre for modern and contemporary sculpture, Yorkshire Sculpture Park attracts visitors from all over the world – it’s the largest sculpture park of its kind in Europe. Within 500 acres of 18th-century landscaping, visitors can see changing exhibitions throughout the year, both indoors and outdoors.
Sunny Bank Mills
Farsley, Leeds LS28 5UJ
0113 256 3239
sunnybankmills.co.uk
This contemporary art gallery has a growing studio artist community and also offers courses and events. This year the team are celebrating 10 years of arts and culture at the mills. In the past 10 years, the gallery has hosted 75 exhibitions supporting over 1,000 artists and makers, and introduced creative events including a regular print fair, vintage fairs and a hugely successful Christmas market. Whether you’re shopping in the former cloth warehouse that houses the gallery, taking part in a course in the Spinning Mill or The Twisting Studios, or attending an event in the Old Woollen, it’s all about a shared experience of art.
Masham Gallery
24 Market Place, Masham,
North Yorkshire HG4 4EB
01765 689554
mashamgallery.co.uk
The home of artists Josie Beszant and Ian Scott Massie, at Masham Gallery (which is celebrating 30 years), visitors will also find the work of other artists and makers who they love. Shop a variety of creations here from sculpture and jewellery to paintings and ceramics, and check out their changing exhibitions throughout the year.
Seagull Gallery and Ebbing Tide
12 John Street, Filey YO14 9DQ
01723 512091
seagullgalleryandframing.co.uk
Seagull Gallery are an award-winning gallery and framer, committed to providing quality artisan works, original artwork and prints by UK-based artists, as well as providing the highest level of bespoke framing of artwork and other items. Established more than 25 years ago, they specialise solely in artwork and goods designed and created in the UK, prioritising Yorkshire-based artists where possible, and are members of the Fine Art Trade Guild, the organisation which sets standards and guidelines for picture framing.
