I always assumed this was a pop up art store and only here for a short period, on passing by…read morerecently noticed that this small art store was still here and that was a year ago. With nearly all the space in the wall there are a number of masterpieces on display from artists from Glasgow many if the artists who have work's displayed here studied at the Glasgow school of art. Some prices range from the lower thousands of pounds to over ten thousand. There are also prices of individual crafted furniture For sale in this shop, very nice items. Definitely a place to recommend if you want to own an original piece of Glasgow art.

I hate to sound like a dork, but this gallery is SO COOL!…read more I've always passed by and been intruiged by the designers. I finally got a peek in today and was not disappointed. It's kept fairly minimal inside and each month it hosts a new exhibition, varying from art school graduates to independent illustrators attempting to get their name out there. I hate using contrived phrases but there's something very guerilla urban about this place - a lot of the art towards the back is made out of simple objects and spray painted before being sold off for a few very reasonable pennies. This month they're hosting illustrators from London but have new art moving in next week. For those interested in collecting any artist's work, the owners are very laid back and will provide you with all the information you need to become a fan. There are also some graphic tees at the back, mainly of a wild animal in the city type theme. Which sounds mind boggling, but you'd understand if you saw it. Bears in suits wrestling people and whatnot. There was some art in here that blew me away - most of it actually - but particularly a designer called Inkie, whose tag name does not begin to summarise the amount of beautiful elegance in their work. It was all very psychadelic, and seemed to bring Mucha into the 21st century. I fell in love. I love this gallery because it hosts local art with a difference. They have a number of catalogued sketches and original prints from artists of all areas but it's not commercial or high brow. The graphic design is outstanding in most and I adore the satirical sketches of a humourous nature (taking the piss out of pop culture like Kanye West, for example). The imagination stored in here is genuinely unique and brings a unique, street element to the art galleries in this area. One of the most exciting art galleries if you're big up on your Banksy or Dolk. I'm bowling over talking about this place because I was blown away with the talent showcased inside.

This delightful little graffiti treasure trove sweats honest art at an honest price…read more Located in a side road near Kelvin Bridge Subway, this petite shop must surely be a major contender for the spiritual home of Scottish street art. Its owners, Amy and Ally, may well be the hardest working pair in the graffiti business. Within a year the Recoat Gallery had snowballed from its West End corner to become a hub for Scotland's graffiti and ever blossoming street art scenes. It is now into the terrible twos and its continued success proves that Scotland's first dedicated graffiti space is more than just a gallery. With work from legends such as Crash and Daze (of Style Wars fame) dotted about the shop there are items to warrant even the most grandiose of chin strokes. For the more discerning of browsers the ever changing stock means that a trip will differ from month to month. I was particularly impressed by the Andrew Rae (Monkey Dust creator) collection. If you visit be sure to ask to see the mural on the side of the shop. It was painted as part of the galleries first birthday by UK heavyweights SHEONE, O, and the Edinburgh artist Elph and it is unique within Scotland. Each month ithe gallery hosts a new exhibition from an established artist or a rising prodigy. My personal favorite was the bike themed Two Year celebration instillation. Exhibitions are free and open to all and the vibe is always friendly, indeed the owners are all too happy to have a chin wag about anything, from the highs and lows of street art to the best way to stay dry while cycling. A Recoat tale which made me smile during on particularly brutal day of rain in Glasgow involved a disgruntled granny bellowing at Ally and his fellow artists as they put the finishing touches on the Kelvin Bridge mural (commissioned by the City Council). "What are you all doing?" she screamed. "You are not even wee!" Classic... Recoat is currently showing its two year bike themed exhibition. The next exhibition is from ELPH ONE and LYKEN LOVE and its opens on the 18th September. For more information visit http://recoatdesign.com/

When my mum comes to Glasgow there is always one place we have to visit without question every time…read more- Millers. As a craft obsessive she is like a child walking into a toyshop. This place has everything you could ever want in terms of craft, art and technical materials and I even find myself feeling all creative as I wander through its two floors. The thing that my mum raves about is the 'fill a box' which allows you to fill a rectangular box full of all different types and colours of card and paper to suit your needs. As long as the box closes then you get it all for £7.25 (or £5-odd for a smaller box). The concept is unique and it is the only place in the vicinity that I know of that does this. They also do a 'bonus card' - you get 10 points for every £1 you spend which you can later redeem against some of your favourite goodies. 1 point equals 1p so you are essentially getting 10% off every time you spend. My only qualm? The prices. A lot of their products could be found online on crafty websites for about half the price.

A cracker of an Art Shop that is particularly popular with art students in the many surrounding…read moreUniversities and Colleges in Glasgow. There are alot of things in here, including a great range of inks and paints as well as paper and pencils. I recently topped up on good high quality paper (with high quality prices!). The selection is excellent across the board with alot of stuff that I don't even know the name of so I won't even embarass myself by trying to find appropriate labels for them. 'Crafty stuff'. The staff are friendly and helpful and the place is always busy which is a good sign, particularly given there is another rival store just up the road that is also excellent. Well worth a look.

I often feel guilt and shame entering galleries like this - I love looking around but I'm nervous…read morethere is an expectation to buy! Annan Gallery's owners are more than happy to let you browse, however.. Even though the woman in charge was preparing for an exhibition tonight she let me look around to my heart's content. There're many understated Scottish artists represented in this space that I had not discovered until I found them within. Peter Nardini's work in particular caught my eye and seems to be the latest artist being promoted here. His paintings remind me of a cross between seaside nostalgia and Jack Vetriano: they'd make lovely original addtions to your home. There are also a few pieces by Adrian Mc Murphie, who apparently illustrated for J K Rowling's Guide to Edinburgh! If you can afford to buy a painting I would highly recommend it. But if you're just looking for a browse the lady in charge could not be friendlier or happier to leave you to it! Five stars, a great flavour of the amazing divergence Scottish contemporary art has to offer.

This West End shop has been promoting Glasgow artists for about 150 years: it has regular solo…read moreexhibitions, and seems to find work that is both suitable for the front room but retains a bit of contemporary edge. The paintings are often scenic, but still ask questions about the nature of art- expect strange perspectives, interesting use of colour and more. Best way to enjoy the Annan is to catch an opening- it's when the wise arrive to check out the artist, and is usually full enough so that it is possible not to feel singled out. I have a habit of whispering when I visit galleries, in case anyone overhears my opinions- an opening lets me be expansive and chatty.

I love being a tourist in my own city when I have time, and we are so lucky to enjoy free entry to…read moreGlasgow's museums, so I took a break from Christmas shopping to spend an hour or so in GoMA. I hadn't been in a while and the exhibits have changed - there is a wide variety of contemporary work on display in different media. Art is subjective so I would say just go and see what piques your interest! Even if the work on show is not to your liking, the building itself is magnificent. The shop is well worth a look and has some cool arty gifts and souvenirs. There's also a café and public library downstairs.

Free to enter, this is a very disappointing gallery save for the architecture. Spread across four…read morefloors the permanent collection is low-impact while July's special exhibit was a single piece with limited appeal. It may be worth a look if nearby, but definitely not worth going out of one's way for.

Showcasing the work of local and international artists, Art Forum is something of an institution in…read moreMilngavie having first opened its doors in the area in 1992. Barely big enough to swing a kitten in, visiting here with a rucksack on your back is akin to a bull in a china shop as I learned the other day. With works of fine art placed in every nook and cranny, one wrong turn and you could find yourself with a fairly hefty fine to pay. In saying that, staff here are overwhelmingly friendly and obviously very proud of the business they have helped create. Best of all, if you do buy yourself a painting from here, you can even try it out in your home first before completing the purchase.

Art Forum sells a selection of paintings on print and canvas of many different scenarios, both home…read moreand abroad. For example, when I visited, I saw a painting of entitled "trees of Carbeth" as well as a painting of Uluru in Australia. The prices are not cheap. Most of the paintings I saw were over £100. However, I'm not much of an art expert so I can't confirm if this is good or bad value for money.

Established in 1992, the Roger Billcliffe Gallery is a gem of an art shop located on Blythswood…read moreStreet. Although it's so close to the bustle of Sauchiehall Street (about ten metres to be exact) on stepping into this Art Gallery you will feel as if you have been transported miles away. The Gallery is very spacious and boasts beautiful art exhibitions over three floors. One of these floors also contains a mixed exhibition - so you'll always find something that catches your fancy. At the moment the Roger Billcliffe Gallery houses an exhibition from the painter James Fullarton - and prices range from the very pricey to the horribly pricey. If you don't have that sort of money to throw around (don't worry, most of us don't!) this gallery is simply a wonderful place to have a wander around. You'll also find collections of jewelley and small sculptures on sale here - so it really is worth having a look. Plus, all three members of staff are very friendly and happy to talk to you about any of the art on display.

Roger Baillcliffe is a nice pretty gallery for those with more than just a few notes in their…read morepocket. From the lighting to the small gift sized things, and sculptures, it is a nice pleasant experience if not a useless one. I can only afford the tiny replica prints which means that I am not necessarily a great customer, but I would reccomend this gallery if you are thinking of moving to a new home and would like a theme to go with. Why not start with a greatly expensive framed picture?

Although Chieftain arts paints itself as a framing business, there is more to it than meets the…read moreeye! Based in a small, modest space, this place not only offers an affordable framing service for your pictures, but offers a selection of locally themed art prints itself. Crammed into this petite establishment is a wave of lower key paintings by Scottish artists, including their affordable prints. Of high quality and immortalised in delicate yet robust frames, these prints would look cracking in your home at a tenth of the cost you'd be paying for the original. When I last visited Chieftain Arts the woman sitting at the desk was more than happy to let me browse at my own leisure without pressuring me to buy, and I felt free to observe the pretty prints in peace. With some lovely depictions of abstract sunsets and boasting some quaint looking impressionist styled paintings of Morningside in Edinburgh, there will be hidden treats in store within Chieftain Arts for the casual, recreational art lover.