I have seen many different exhibitions here, but this weekend was Marvellous Machines by Russell…read moreEmmett. Worth popping down if you can! The building is easily accessible, staff are friendly and helpful and the size of the room means that you can spend maybe an hour here, but don't get too overwhelmed by the information as some exhibitions can make you feel. Prices obviously vary, but this one was £5 well spent:)

The Gas Hall is the where Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery houses its major temporary exhibitions…read more It is a large, bright and grand space that is a work of art in its own right. That said, it makes a good blank canvas for many of the exhibitions that come and go. I was amazed to visit a couple of times last year and see the transformation from the gloomy Home of Metal exhibition space to the sparkling magnificence of Lost in Lace. The Gas Hall exhibitions normally involve paying an admission fee. The admissions desk staff are really helpful and will answer any questions you may have before handing over the cash. I have always found the exhibition attendants to be incredibly helpful and genuinely thrilled to answer questions - I review exhibitions there quite often and tend to ask LOTS of questions! They have always been patient and enthusiastic. There are lockers for bags and coats opposite the ticket desk and some well maintained toilets. Check online before visiting to find out what is on and how much it will cost.

What a lovely creative space!…read more The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists will be TWO HUNDRED years old in 2021! Which is pretty amazing. This current location was opened by HRH Prince Charles in 2000! Three floors of art, design and sculpture bust over the walls and floors around this building! Robert Neil the current Society's president was at the gallery when I visited today. He's friendly and passionate about the work of the Society and that passion puts a ery modern face on such a historic group. Take a look around. See what's there you will find art to challenge and inspire you!

I love popping into this place when I am walking through the jq. It's right on the square so easy…read moreto find. There are roughly 5 cabinets displaying jewellery for sale from local artists -prices vary widely depending on the items. Really good for gifts for mums or sisters I think. There is also a good selection of cards and even a small cafe. Upstairs they have exhibition space which installations changing every couple of months.

Free museum in Birmingham city centre focusing on contemporary art. It's in a very grand building,…read moreso I thought the museum would be big too, but it wasn't. Well there is a lot of empty space, and not that much to see. Few different rotating exhibitions, I saw some on the rave scene in the 80s and also racial violence from the 60-90s. On the way out I accidentally insulted one of the artists, but he just brushed it off.

We visited this museum yesterday and we really liked it. Both the exterior and interior of the…read morebuilding are beautiful. The museum has a terrific selection of paintings from the 15th, 16th & 17th centuries and a particularly good selection of Pre-Raphaelites. There's a *gorgeous*/large Edwardian tea room and also a separate café (the latter is small and attractive). The gift shop isn't very large, but it had some nice items. Also, I had a wonderful conversation with one of the guards; she was very friendly and kind-hearted.

Gallery 3 is a light and spacious art gallery in the Barton Marina Complex. The staff greet you…read morewith a smile and pass the time of day, which is a nice touch. Most of the pictures in Gallery 3 are either originals or limited edition prints, with a good mix of different media - watercolour, oils etc. There are small alcoves that highlight a particular artist, where you can sit in a comfy seat and peruse some stunning paintings. Next to each artists group of paintings, was a photograph of them, with a piece about their life and inspirations, a nice idea. Art is very subjective, but for me the large oil paintings of a bustling Piccadilly Square and a Parisian street at night were the pick of the bunch. Obviously being mostly originals, the prices were high, but I genuinely thought some of the paintings were worth their price tag. You can even get a limited edition print by none-other than Mr Rolf Harris!

I'll be honest with you I've only been here twice and both times it was shelter from the rain…read morewhilst I waited for my bus to turn up at nearby Colmore Row - both times it reminded me a bit of my time at Athena (I know this ages me somewhat but I loved working at Athena) - the artwork for sale here is all very nice and discrete and would probably look lovely in a show home but therein lies the problem - it's art designed to go with your sofa. A visit to their website confirms this - they offer an art consultation service which promises advice on what art work to acquire for your home or workplace, which given the photographs seems to depend on what shade of wallpaper you own. I'm sorry to sound sniffy but this really isn't my cup of tea - and this is from someone who rather likes L'enfant prints (we're back to my time at Athena again) and the odd Monet. Still, its a nice enough place to spend a few minutes and if you find yourself left stranded by the 22 bus and without an umbrella its definitely worth a look.

I left a recent trip to the an art gallery rather creative. After stumbling upon the Whitewall…read moreGallery I was extremely inspired but I didn't know what to do with it. The gallery is home to a variety of high end art pieces from all around the world They offer an art consultancy service which helps you find that special investment art piece for you or a gift for a loved one. They specialise in providing fine contemporary art which represents individuality and quality. If you're a true art love then this gallery is definitely worth checking out.

The Gallery space at the Library of Birmingham is one of the city centres hidden gems. You can…read moreeasily miss it - tucked away in a corner on level 3 of the Library - but it is well worth a look. In my opinion its one of the best features of the new library building. The space is home to the GRAIN photography hub, a network for photography and photographers in the region, working with national and international photography collections. GRAIN curate photography exhibitions in the gallery space, which is really contemporary and versatile. GRAIN's current exhibition explores the work of photographer Daniel Meadows and is well worth a visit. The exhibition takes you on a fascinating journey through Meadows' early work of from 1971-87. Its full of hair, flares and a double dekker bus converted into a mobile studio. Look out for the screen showing some of the people 'then and now'.

The Halcyon is located inside the convention centre, at the Brindley Place end. It's worth a look…read morearound if you have 10 minutes, as it always has an interested selection. There's always a bit of a wow factor seeing a price tag of £150,000 on a painting.

Ooops! is a new artisan gallery & Gift shop opened on Sandon Road by business woman Jacqui Chana…read more When you step through the front door, the cool, crisp white decor provides a contemporary look with splashes of colour. The walls are adorned with tattoo-inspired stained glass panels, the handcrafted cards are quirky alternatives to the more "acceptable" ones found on the High Street and the gifts range from small bespoke pieces to large upcycled items. It doesn't just stop there. Downstairs is the gift shop but upstairs is a small area which offers an excellent, intimate space for independent artists/photographers and the ilk to stage their own exhibitions. Beyond what is the "artist's gallery", there are two rooms which will have the capacity to provide workshops, a meeting space and hold small events. This is a great little gift shop, which is sure to inspire and attract not only the "creative types" but also the discerning customer and supporters of independent stores. Ooops! is a welcome addition to Bearwood.