Over the past three decades we have purchased two water colour paintings by George Sheridan Knowles…read morefrom David Gilbert at the Driffold Gallery, Sutton Coldfield and we are still extremely pleased with them. David, over the course of many years, has valued many of our paintings and given us expert advice and his time quite freely when required. We have subsequently purchased other paintings from the gallery. We highly recommend this gallery.

I've been using the services here for many years. Printing, poster designing, picture framing and…read morethe odd gift are among the some of the things I've ventured in for. I've always found the service to be swift and efficient, friendly and helpful. Excellent equipment for full colour printing, take your own design or discuss your requirements with a small team to come up with a professional solution. Business stationary, letter heads, business cards and flyers all at very reasonable cost. I am considering using there service to print a photograph onto canvass, they offer sizes up to 44 x 72 inch, that's big!

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.

Jenny Wren Gallery isn't really an art gallery, nor is it a gifts & cards shop; it's a bit of both,…read morebut at the same time, the shop is impossible to catagorise. Mainly because the store sells some of the most unusual items that I've ever seen. Jenny Wren is absolutely jam-packed full of surprises, from odd little Russian Dolls, to tiny little shoes made from jewels, to really detailed puppets. It's probably not advisable to bring children into the shop, because a lot of items, (including the puppets) have 'do not touch' signs on them; and there are quite a few breakable objects around the store too. I literally could've bought all of the puppets, especially the Henry the 8th one. Each puppet is amazingly crafted. Okay, so they're a little pricey, but well worth the money. The outside of the store looks a little generic and stereotypically, highbrow 'gallery-like'. I think the shop could entice more customers to view the wonders inside if it dressed the store front more funkily, in order to reflect the products sold. One thing I will say, they could so with cutting back on the perfume smells in the shop, I'd appreciate that greatly. I couldn't get the smell out of my nose until the next day - it nearly knocked me out in the shop too!

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.

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.

I think the best word to describe the Eastside Projects is probably esoteric - which obviously…read moremakes it a toughie to write about. However, it's a lovely space and a lovely concept so I will try...Based just down the road from the altogether different Air nightclub and not far from The Custard Factory, Eastside Projects is an exhibition space that hosts and commisions experimental contemporary art exhibitions as well as a kind of collective that looks at ways in which art may be useful to society. Or as their website and rather beautiful user manual (copies of which are available in the gallery and are well worth picking up) puts it "EP is a questioning structure that in turn produces more questions and also, of course, possible answers. Our ambition is to incorporate the methodologies of art-making at all scales and functions of the organisation.We believe in working collaboratively towards change and do so to support the cultural growth of Birmingham. We do not make art for the public. We are the public that makes art. The artist run space is not a stop gap. The artist run space is a public good." As well as regular exhibitions they hold lunch time talks and are one of the stops on the Art Bus route - they also have an amazing office - a piece of artwork originally commisioned for the 2007 Venice Biennale and created by Heather & Ivan Morison and that has been transformed into a space that holds a desk, shelving and a kitchen.

I often go to the Custard Factory to for a range of events or to buy vintage clothing. So when I…read morefirst heard about the Eastside Project, which is around the block, I was excited to go and view it as everything about this little corner of Birmingham oozes creativity and independence. This large exhibition space has been utilized by a group of artists to offer people like you and me an opportunity to experience contemporary art at its finest. What I like most about this place is that it continually encourages both new and old artists and creative people with a vision, to experiment with new ideas and get involved with utilizing the exhibition space. Alongside the art exhibitions, they also run a number of events which tend be an opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing. Definitely worth checking out if you're passionate about making your mark on the industry.