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 LOVE the art that is showcased here. As a base for local artists, you'll see work by the likes…read moreof Lucy McLauchlan displayed alongside work by more unusual artists such as Jamie Hewlett of Gorrillaz fame. The gallery itself is tiny, but the walls are always full from floor to ceiling with beautiful works available to buy. They tend to show a lot of streetart inspired work, or more print-based pieces which helps to keep costs lower than if they were selling original oils. Alongside the framed works there's always a selection of unframed options available, and small pieces displayed in cabinets which accompany the exhibitions - anything from cross-stitched computer programmer jewellery to mini toys and zines. If you're visiting the Custard Factory and want to grab a few little presents for friends, this is always a good place to pop into.

The custard factory is renowned for its creative fashion, arts and culture so it only seems fitting…read morethat the Studio4 Gallery is situated here. Although only a small space, you'll be surprised by the amount of art work available to view and buy. When you first walk in you will be overwhelmed by the variety of modern art available. From the floor to the ceiling you will find art by a varied collection of British artists, some recognised and some undiscovered which makes the shopping experience even more special and intriguing. There's lots of cool what I call 'poster art', which would look great in any swanky city centre apartment of stylish home alike. There really is something for everyone from classic remakes to fresh and funky one-offs, next time you're in Digbeth I recommend you go and check it out.

Time Art Gallery in Solihull is a great addition to the Touchwood Shopping centre!…read more Located on the ground floor between Superdry and H&M, they offer a superb service and inspiring eye catching artwork on display. The images are all hand painted and then reproduced as prints or onto a canvass, and the genres cover sectors such as movies, music, cities and even a Volkswagen inspired range. The paintings are of such high quality, you have to look again! They have everything from Bob Marley to Madonna, Oasis to The Wanted, Amy Whinehouse to the Beattles. I liked the large canvass of the Joker. The great exceptional service which they offer includes having your own photo reproduced onto a canvass, from £20 for a 10"x10" upto a large 20"x40". You can email your picture in ( info@timeart.co.uk or adztimeart@gmail.com ), send it via text, MMS, take in a cd or dvd, or even an actual photo for them to scan in! They'll advise on the best suitable size depending on the quality of your image, and the canvass is produced to such a high quality with mounts, I was very pleased with my pictures. Also on display are paintings produced by local artists of Moulin Rouge, Paris, Butterflies, poppies etc hand painted directly onto canvass which were stunning! They currently have a sale on of upto 50% off for canvass printing, and they are usually ready within an hour. So what are you waiting for?....

A very well maintained gallery - there is always good quality & interesting art available with a…read moregood rotation of works available. The staff are very friendly, knowledgable & helpful and a warm welcome always awaits, this gallery doesn't feel stuffy unlike some I have been into in other towns.

Grand Union is an artists' studios and gallery space located in the Minerva Works complex in…read moreDigbeth. At the heart of Birmingham's artistic community, Grand Union hosts a programme of free public exhibitions, talks, workshops, screenings and other events throughout the year. The artists' studios are home to some of the best-known Birmingham-based artists and are opened up periodically so that people can visit and get a glimpse into the artists' individual working spaces. The Minerva Works complex which houses Grand Union has become a real hub of activity during Digbeth First Fridays. Also located in this complex are Vivid Projects, Centrala and Stryx, which all have busy programmes. There's also a printers, graphic designers and an art supplies shop.

Grand Union is an art collective that has 8 studios and a project space for exhibitions and events…read more As I share a studio in the same building (Minerva Works) I often see them putting together projects and while some of the exhibitions they have might seem a bit left field they are certainly trying something new and bringing diversity to the industrial backdrop of Digbeth. As it is a non profit organisation they are always keen to have people help out. If you would like to get involved you should check out their website and drop them a line. It is definitely something different and interesting and I recommend supporting it even if everything they do might not be to your taste.

Home & garden store, Local Art and Sculpture Gallery, Garden Design studio, Garden and Homeware,…read moreGifts and Plants, First class light refreshment facilities. Situated on an A426 between Rugby and Lutterworth, the calm within is amazing and the wealth of gift ideas and quality goods for home and garden. Visit their website and read about the history of the farm and, in particular the barn itself? It's an education. An absolute must, and my main reason for visiting regularly, is the refreshment area. It really is sublime. There is a small seating area right opposite the counter which, in the colder months, has a log burning fire. There is a larger and very comfortable seating area in an upstairs lounge with mixed seating.sofas, armchairs, tables.another log burning fire which is regularly attended to. Sink into one of the cozy chairs and watch the traffic pass yet at the same time feeling, as if perhaps, you are somewhere else? An impressive array of homemade cakes etc., awaits your attention when you place your order which, even if you choose to take a seat in the upstairs lounge, will be brought to you by a member of the pleasant staff. For a light lunch you may try their delcious homemade soup with a roll? I would be happy to recommend this establishment to my female contacts as a place for the unaccompanied traveller to stop and rest a while in a spotlessly clean and safe environment. Worth a detour!!

Garden store with a small cafe, the cafe has some lovely cakes and drinks. The owner is very…read morefriendly. The shop is full of interesting products which I love to fill my home with

We were having a day out in Tamworth as we'd had lunch nearby. We noticed that the Town Hall was…read moreopen and had a look around (shown round by the Mayor himself!!) - do look out for their opening days, it's a real hidden gem. Then we had a look around Tamworth. It isn't brimming with tea shops like Lichfield, but we noticed a little girl offering some cake samples which hooked us in. Created in Tamworth is the reason a High Street should exist. It's a friendly co-operative of artists, all showing their wares. We had tea and cake and sat chatting with some of the artists who make up the collective. Even with meeting the Mayor earlier, this really was the highlight of our trip - it was a delight to see people engaged in their community and doing something so very unusual. Tamworth isn't the most obvious place to have a day out, but this shop really makes it worth visiting. Along with the Castle, the Town Hall (and apparently the main church has a really interesting double-helix staircase, but it was closing as we got there) - there is a reason to visit Tamworth if you're in the area.

Twenty Twenty is always full of beautiful artwork, sculptures, furniture and jewellery. Although…read morerather pricey there is a lot of work from local artists and makes for a perfect special present or treat. The staff there are lovely, really helpful and always remember you. Theyyre always happy to chat and tell you more about the artwork. If youure looking for something really special, you can usually find it here.

I heard about Bear Steps Art Gallery as a result of seeing the advertisement for an exhibition of a…read morelocal artist who I'm connected with on Face Book. Fancying a trip somewhere new for my day off, I decided to go along and visit Shrewsbury, catching her exhibition at the same time. The gallery is tucked away in an idyllic little courtyard, near to a church, and next to Bear Steps Cafe. It's in an old building situated over two stories with 3 open plan rooms and the reception area. It's full of character and is very light with a great feeling of space. The exhibition I was going to see took up a little over two thirds of the space, with another equally interesting exhibition upstairs in the furthest room. From the looks of their website, they have local exhibitions on all the time, so with free entry, it's worth popping along if you in the area and seeing what's currently on show.

We held our exhibition at Bear Steps Art Gallery last winter and despite the freeing conditions…read moreoutside the gallery was warm and cosy and really busy the whole time we were there. We are holding another exhibition this Spring and really look forward to welcoming more visitors. There is a cafe next door, so it's ideal for those wanting a spot of lunch or refreshments and a look around some original and local artists work. A lovely little secret that is easily missed but well worth seeking out!