I first came across this art gallery whilst taking a stroll through Brindley Place on my lunch…read morebreak. Although I'm not a professional art lover nor could I afford to pursue a hobby of being a full time art collector, I do enjoy visiting galleries from time to time and have purchases a few canvases to date. This particular gallery has a really good variety of art for sale both from more recognizable artists and also local artists whose work can be purchased at reasonable prices. I was speaking to a man who works there and he told me that they do everything to give local artists a platform to showcase their work. He also said that he puts people in contact with most of the artists should someone wish to commission a personal project which I thought I was fantastic. Yet another fine example of an art gallery with a creative yet diverse approach to working, definitely worth checking out.

If you have a keen eye for paintings, sculpture, ceramics and glass and you've a few quid to splash…read morearound then pay a visit to this place. It is beautifully laid out, presenting some of the finest works from local as well as international artists. Lee Benson is the owner and he is a top chap. The gallery was recently voted as Broad Street's Best Arts and Entertainment Venue 2012 by readers of the Birmingham Post, an award well deserved. It's in the heart of Brindley Place and fits in well, surrounded by trendy bars and restaurants. Pop in and tell Lee I sent you.

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.

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.

I love Walsall Art Gallery, not least because of the free food they dish out at private views. They…read moreused to have school style dinner ladies, spooning out curry from big silver trolleys but last time I went they had the most amazing samosas. They probably don't even do free food any more due to all the cuts but the gallery is worth a visit any day time - private view or not - because it's a beautiful building and usually well curated. I can't say much for their shop as it's nothing in comparison to the Ikon shop but they do have some lovely pieces by Tatty Devine.

Looking like something out of Grand Designs New Art Gallery is a fresh, modern building in an…read moreotherwise outdated town centre. I think it's quite funny that it is called New Art Gallery even though it has been open since 2000. Housing the Garman Ryan collection which is a permanent fixture featuring works by the likes of Jacob Epstein alongside artists in residence such as Bob and Roberta Smith, the New Art Gallery also features various tempoarary exhibitions which are usually held on the upper floors. The New Art Gallery has a splendid mix of contemporary and historic artwork. I went recently specifically to see the touring exhibtion Transmitter/Receiver: The Persistence of Collage which features works by Grayson Perry, Eric Bainbridge and Margaret Harrison amongst others. Whilst I was there I took the opportunity to look at some of the other art on show, one of the standout areas for me was the section dedicated to Epstein's Rima which is a memorial sculpture that seems fairly innocuous to modern eyes but when it was revealed by the then prime Minister Stanley Baldwin it proved to be very controversial, as well as showing sketches of the design process there are also newspaper articles of the day which recount the outrage caused at its unveiling. On the whole I think the various areas are set out well but there was one piece which seemed out of place in iits section. David Shrigley's All The Arrows Missed Thank God was placed alongside traditional representations of religious artwork. Maybe I'm missing the point but apart from it using the words Thank God I couldn't work out why it was there. Perhaps one of the curators has a dark sense of humour!

This is a gorgeous little art gallery situated in the historic and picture perfect town of…read moreBournville. The thing I like best about the Purple Gallery is that they make a real effort to sell not only quality, but also sometimes locally, sourced art at reasonable prices. Sometimes in galleries, the art will all be of similar trends such as canvas paintings of scenery. What makes this gallery different is that there is a real variety of work on show and it's all for sale. When I last went there was everything from pottery to paintings, and from sculpture pieces to jewellery. I recommend going on a sunny day so you can sit outside in the sculpture garden. Perfect choice for a relaxing afternoon.

What makes the Purple Gallery a really lovely place to visit, it's not definitely just the fact…read moreit's placed at the gorgeous Bourneville. Even if it's really a plus! So if you are nearby this picturesque area of Birmingham, don't miss the Purple Gallery. I'm not a painter and have no talent for arts at all; but if I was, I would certainly try to reach the level of these artists' paintings exposed in this gallery. Not mentioning that all jewellery pieces have such a unique modern style. It has something to do with the fact they work with new artists and this gallery works with the Own Art project, which makes it affordable for all of us. If you're looking for some inquisitive pieces the price ranged at the Purple Gallery is from £20 to £500.

A convenient centrally located art gallery within the ICC complex, this offers both contemporary…read moreand good classical art. I liked the paintings, sculptures and they even have a Bob Dylan hand signed limited edition graphics collection on display! I remember the bright red coloured lip sofa you see as you walk in, which reminded me of something out of Absolutely Fabulous, darling. During the weekends it can get very busy in here, especially when the ICC Symphony hall has a show on. So if you can, best to visit this free gallery during the week days. A good day out, but you may also find you can spend a lot of time in here.

Well what a splendid establishment we have here!…read more I stumbled across Castle Fine Art after I saw their intelligently place board advertising their Salvador Dali sculpture exhibition titled 'Of Time & Space'. I was intrigued to discover somewhere such as this as I wandered absent-mindedly through town. I am simply curious about art and it was a pleasant surprise to find somewhere that had an eclectic mix of artists on display, which included Bob Dylan, Lorenzo Quinn, Daisy Boman and Ronnie Wood (yes, the Rolling Stone) What a nice deviation from the rampant consumerism that is in central Birmingham's fabric, to the thoughtful, inquisitive and unique nature of Castle. Art can't be summarised or conveyed adequately with my vocabulary - so you'll have to go and see this one for yourself.

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.

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.