Gorgeous creative space with 20 plus studios bursting at the seams with unique, one off pieces…read moreranging from jewellery to artwork. I LOVE this place, they showcase a lot of local talent. There is a cute coffee shop that sells the usual tea, coffee, cake and small plates so it's perfect for a coffee and a browse. Fun Fact: Back in the day this used to be the local fish market, the original features including the tiles still remain in tact. On some days I swear you can smell residual fishiness but that could just be my mind playing tricks on me!

Angela's absolutely right, this place is so easy to miss. When I first happened upon this place by…read moreaccident, thankfully after I'd hauled Lex G all over the Northern Quarter in an attempt to locate Teacup she still had the energy to spot this gorgeous, adorable building and say, 'What's that?' Me being the investigative yelper that I am said, 'I have no idea. Let's have a look.' Thank goodness we did, because I thought places like this only existed in small towns, at Cedar Farm (a beautiful little crafts-driven farm with shops in Mawdesley that I highly recommend... ahh, my rural homeland radius) or in Brighton. Literally, I felt like I'd stepped into somewhere along the seafront in my brother's resident city, because the last time I saw open studios and handmade jewellery for sale, I was indeed in that picturesque place by the sea. From the outside the building is pretty, but when you walk in it really takes your breath away. Delightful little exhibitions, artists at work... I instantly made a mental note to bring mothers here, mine or in-law, the next time they're in Manchester as they love places like this. The centre has such a lovely quaint feel to it, and goodness me, tranquil? I couldn't have felt more tranquil had you tipped a load of Kalms tablets down my throat and given me a Slanket and a chocolate Horlicks. And whether you're naturally a chilled out person or slightly neurotic and over-organised like myself, no doubt walking in here will instil in you a sense of calm that you'll struggle to find anywhere else in Manchester. The work for sale is exceptional, and I myself was instantly attracted to the wall hangings comprising of collages of iconic Manchester photographs, such as street signs, buildings, bands, restaurants and so forth. I could have stayed in here for hours.You're bound to come home with something special and unique here gifts-wise. Cafe Aromat has its own website and looks absolutely mouthwatering, so I promise that when we pop in again I'll get some munch there and let you know how it is. I know, I suffer for my art don't I. *Winks.*

Upper Space art gallery is quite new to Manchester and is in Sunshine Studios, a smaller version of…read moreAfflecks palace and much better. The gallery is small but well laid out and concentrates on street/subversive/underground art. They have prints, canvasses and small sculptures on show and the art is of an excellent quality and from emerging Manc artists. It is great to have a gallery dedicated to street art and not just Banksy rip-offs, and the fact that the artists are Manchester based is fantastic. The prices of art are affordable too. It is a great place to dicover new art and buy art that is truly unkown. Recommended.

Found on the 2nd Floor of brick and mortar indie womb Afflecks Palace, Stick 'Em Up Art offers you…read morethe rare opportunity to witness genius at work. Selling original, hand painted canvas artwork and customized lamps at bogglingly affordable prices, they also let you watch as work is produced. Work can also be commissioned so you get something really personal to you. The guys in store are really friendly and approachable so don't be afraid to get down there and discuss your ideas- good art can come from anywhere and anyone.

Great little gallery/ art shop with fantastic concept. Here you can choose what you want and…read morewitness it being made- wooohoo. Entertaining aswell as stylish. Great prices and lovely lovely staff. I adore places that really let you get involved in the creative aspects of art. Makes it so much more fun and personal to you. Wish I was creative so I could get a job here- beats the office!

This is a lovely little shop, I must have walked past a dozen times but something caught my eye…read morethis time. A great selection of kitch gifts and cards. Everything from fake moustasses to funky mugs. They even stock Polaroid cameras and film A great selection of cards for all situations although lots you wouldn't want your mother too see. Spend your time in here and explore every corner.

A little update to say this place sells Impossible Films for polaroids at a great price!…read more Well I say great, £2.18 a print, but they don't come cheaper than that anywhere!

Takes art away, strips it of it pretentiousness then sells it back to you with a smile rather than…read morea smirk. The work on show is captivating, fun, sublimely executed and reminds you that not all modern art is talentless. Many pieces reference famous classics, helping to bridge the gap between the then and the now and make art relevant to young people again. If only I had a bigger house!

Lily Greenwood is a local artist based in the awesome Manchester Crafts Centre. Her studio is…read more lovely little haven away from the hustle and bustle of Manchester, and as well as her incredibly beautiful canvasses, she designs and sells tote bags and greetings cards. Lily Greenwood (real name Liz) has been working and exhibiting as an artist in Manchester for over 4 years, and has gained quite a following, taking up commissions from businesses across the North West. Her paintings are priced £100 upwards, which is not a lot to pay for an original work. She's a super-friendly, lovely girl, and she'll give a lot of time over to chat if you pop in on a quiet day. As I said before, the studio really is something. Softly lit and furnished with vintage furniture that complements her works, it is obvious from the off that Liz has put a lot of thought into making the studio as lovely as possible, and that she has an eye for what really works in a room. The art (which can be found at her website) is lovely. Probably more on the girly side, which is alright by me, she paints large vividly coloured canvasses with butterflies and flowers. Some of the most lovely works have a Japanese feel to them, and I sorely wish I could afford her Irises picture! The MCC is a great place for local artists, and I highly recommend a visit to Lily Greenwood, whether you're looking to spend a few hundred on a unique piece of art, or a few quid on a lovely card for our mate's birthday, a trip to Lily Greenwood is support for a fresh young local artist, and is well worth doing if you're in the NQ. Liz prefers not to be contacted by phone, but if you email her at mail@lilygreenwood.com you'll get a pretty prompt reply.

If you're looking for something to cheer up a bare wall, beige office space or dreary nook, then…read morelook no further. Lily Greenwood paints bright, vibrant canvases that are ready to hang. A common theme in her work is nature and in particular butterflies. Her artwork combines original painting with mixed media embellishments. Japanese kimono designs are also evident in the colours and pattern. Commissions are welcomed if you're looking for something unique and a little bit special.

A design studio, gallery and furniture studio based in Manchester's Northern Quarter, is exactly…read morewhat you'll expect in terms of style and products in this trendy, creative part of the city. Choose to provide your own canvas to be stretched onto board, or alternatively you can provide image files or negatives to be turned into works of art for a unique gift idea - either as a canvas or as part of a photo book. Next door to the studio where all the technical business goes on, there is a small showroom full of art, furniture and home accessories to really inspire you to get something that noone else will have!

Whilst the original Richard Goodall Gallery on Thomas Street specialises in cool music posters,…read morescreenprints, photos and vinyl toys, this sister gallery on High Street is a more high end affair. Housed in a big space with floor to ceiling glass windows, Richard Goodall Contemporary exhibits large paintings, photographic prints and ceramics by emerging and established artists. Rock photographers Gered Mankowitz, Mark Seliger, Kevin Cummins and Graham Nash have all shown their work here alongside painters Jamie Baldridge and Dan Baldwin. Work changes regularly and the gallery have some great names lined up for 2010. My only grumble, is that it doesn't look or feel as inviting or exciting as the original gallery.

This is a lovely, airy, bright gallery with bags of character. One of those places that you don't…read morestay in long (as it's not that big...) but a great place to have a break from a hectic shopping day. I popped in while I was doing my Christmas shopping, and was met with a lovely exhibition of John Lennon's art work. Now me, I'm not a big Beatles fan. I mean, I like the music, especially that bit in Hey Jude that goes "hey Judey Judey Judey Judeeeeey!!!" but I've never really gotten into them. Still, Lennon's slapdash scribbly art granted me the perfect escape from the horrors of Christmas shopping. The Gallery also has great collections, including a collection of Leonard Cohen's artworks. The RG also sells books. But not like other gallery bookshops do. Their David LaChapelle tome Arists and Prostitutes will set you back a cool £2000, which is a lot to spend on a coffee table book. Heck, it's a lot to spend on a coffee table! Still, exciting stuff, and considering a shoot with Dave LaC. will set you back $1,000,000, this is a slightly cheaper way of getting a bit of that magic, right? (OK, I give up, I can't justify a £2k book...) Back to the RG, it's a jolly nice gallery with quite a bit of character and a real sense of arty trendiness. Or should that be trendy artiness? Oh I don't know. Just pop in next time the Market Street madness has you reaching for your hipflask.

Castle Galleries is a franchise with stores across the country, I've visited the Leeds, York and…read moreLondon branches as well as Manchester. They're all pretty similar and the staff are usually very friendly and happy to chat. There are two stores in Manchester, one on Deansgate and one in the Trafford Centre. As a student I frequently popped in to the Manchester store on Deansgate, I find they house beautiful pieces and the staff are very chilled out and helpful. Whether you buy or not is besides the point. Over the years I've been to various launches and events, drank copious amounts of free wine and even won a book in a raffle! So it was only fair that once I started 'adulting' (working, saving, being a grown up *yawn*) I bought my first piece from here - see attached picture. It wasn't cheap, but I adore it and it makes me smile every time I look at it. I found the painting online for a little cheaper than the gallery price and when asked they matched the online price which was excellent. I felt incredibly drawn to Bob's paintings from the first moment I saw his work. There was something warm and familiar, soothing even about his style. The almost gloomy settings appealed to me, I love the way he uses light and dark to bring the paintings to life. I came to learn that Bob Barker was born and raised in Bradford and that his workshop isn't far from where I grew up! His background is reflected through his work. This connection plus the fact that I love his style of painting meant I needed to own a piece! The piece I bought really spoke to me, I was going through a bit of a rough patch at the time I bought it and now whenever I look at it, it reminds me that I'll be ok, 'Whatever the weather' :)

Castle Galleries on Deansgate is the Manchester arm of a pretty big chain - the UK's leading art…read morestore according to their website.. I'd never heard of it before so went in to have a look at what they had to offer. Beats waiting for the bus across the road anyway. I saw some interesting stuff from a few artists - most notably Paul Corfield's Dorset inspired candy coloured landscapes and Jeff Rowland's beautiful, dark, rain filled scenes. Prices ranged from just over a hundred for glycee on paper to £300-£700 for canvases. If you're not in the market for a piece it is still worth having a look around; the staff here aren't all steely and unfriendly if it becomes obvious that you are not buying as with some art stores and small private galleries. They are a bit Bob Dylan mad at the moment - they have limited edition prints from his Drawn Blank Series. So if you are a fan of legends in one area of creativity branching out into another then you might consider one of these crazy pieces.

Incredible art store. I was blown away by how well stocked the store is. I loved the top floor with…read morecool crafts and unique art gifts to purchase. The second floor had every art supplies I could dream of, and the bottom floor was an amazing selection of paper and canvas. Truly a great art store for all

Incredible place, but dangerous at the same time as you could easily spend a lot of money in here!…read more The first time I popped in was when I needed a few items for an event and I thought I'd gamble on Fred Aldous having the stuff I needed - they did! Anything you need for arts & craft or decorations they have it and with some good choice! I've now been in a few times when I need to pick up bits and bobs or essentials for work i.e. scissors etc. Loads of interesting present and gift ideas in here as well so if you're out and about birthday shopping or it's coming up to christmas - I'd say Fred Aldous is a great option with some similar style stuff to Oklahoma! Most of the stuff here is well priced and I've always been fairly surprised that my total wasn't higher when purchasing as I think the interior and style gives off an expensive vibe but really it's good value for money! A short simple review for a top NQ shop!