1 Ben Oakley
Ben Oakley is a contemporary artist with a twist of modern conceptual thrown in. He opened his own pop-up gallery in Greenwich Market to showcase his own works alongside regular exhibitions by local artists, and after four successful years, it now has a permanent home on Turnpin Lane. Use Your Loaf, a defunct bakery, forms an intimate, atmospheric gallery space. The presentation of the gallery compliments the artwork adding depth and character to the experience. Specialising in cutting-edge originals, limited-edition prints and sculptures by a strong collection of prominent and up-and-coming artists.
9 Turnpin Lane, Greenwich SE10 9JA; 07976 692 751; benoakleygallery.com
2 GX Gallery
Established in 2001, GX Gallery in Camberwell is a contemporary fine art gallery specialising in recognised artists with a focus on contemporary abstract figurative. The gallery, which is located in a Grade II listed building within walking distance of Camberwell Arts College and South London Art Gallery, represents a roster of artists and specialises in thematic group exhibitions and focused solo exhibitions. Featured artists include Tristan Piggott, who explores how people perform in everyday life, and Ed Gray, primarily a painter of London who is inspired by Hogarth, Breughel and the Tintin cartoons of Herge. The gallery also offer painting restoration, resale or direct purchase of single pieces or entire collections and bespoke framing (undertaken by sister business GX framing gxframing.com).
43 Denmark Hill, Camberwell SE5 8RS; 020 7703 8396; gxgallery.com
3 M1 Fine Art Gallery
Occupying a beautiful Grade II-listed Victorian building in Greenwich, the M1 Fine Art Gallery represents and develops some of the finest artists on the globe. Their portfolio includes only the most exciting emerging talent and established names on the contemporary art scene, in media such as original paintings and sketches, limited edition prints and sculpture. Recent exhibitions include Camberwell College of Arts-graduate Hazel Soan’s A Life in Art – Solo Exhibition, and The Thames Exhibition – Celebrating The Tall Ships in Greenwich, a collection of works depicting varying high-profile artists’ representations of the Thames.
20 Nelson Road, Greenwich SE10 9JB; 020 8269 0906; m1fineart.com
4 Enclave
Established in 2012, Enclave is an experimental artist-run infrastructure in Deptford that aims to promote contemporary, critical art practice. Enclave comprises three spaces – Enclave Gallery, Guest Projects and Machine Party, the curatorial and social HQ – and also houses seven independent spaces in an incubator set-up, where artists and curators can establish long-term project spaces. Enclave is the sister project to The Old Police Station.
Resolution Way, Deptford SE8 4NT; enclaveprojects.com
5 Made in Greenwich
Made in Greenwich Gallery made its home on Creek Home more than two years ago and has since done a great job of showcasing the enormous amount of talent in the area. The gallery takes a multi-media approach to exhibitions, linking images with the spoken and written word. The front window has digital and back-projected screens to display images and videos of the exhibitors and their making processes, and the rear Hothouse has uninterrupted wall space, light-boxes that double up as benches and a large TV screen. As well as paintings, prints and photography, you’ll also find jewellery, ceramics, glass, small sculptures. Don’t miss co-owner Edward Hill’s 360° ‘photospheres’ of Greenwich and beyond.
324 Creek Road SE10 9SW; 020 82939823; madeingreenwich.co.uk
6 The Old Police Station
This old Edwardian police station has been transformed into a DIY arts centre where Police Holding Cells are available to hire for exhibitions, performances, parties, screenings and more. Set up in 2009 by Anthony Gross from the curatorial partnership TemporaryContemporary, it houses a heady array of happenings among its 42 spaces, from Deptford X, the annual showcase of local visual artists, to art installations, gigs, supper clubs and speakeasies – the last Friday of every month is Dirty Cop Friday, an afterparty for local late gallery openings with a charity fundraising bar open from 7pm-1am.
114 Amersham Vale, New Cross SE14 6LG; theoldpolicestation.org
7 DoopoDoopo
Founded in 2012 by Agata Zielinska-Hryn to showcase local artists, DoopoDoopo has grown into more of an arts village, with people from many different disciplines coming together to showcase their work, connect, collaborate and learn. The shop-cum-gallery sells a range of pieces by local artists and designers, while also offering workshops and events that promote creativity.The Vortex Cinema Club was introduced a year ago to deliver a diverse program of film, but it has grown beyond its current confines of the shop and Agata is now raising funds to convert the basement into a cinema and theatre.
15 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill SE23 3HN; 020 3632 5041; doopodoopo.co.uk
8 Greenwich Printmakers
The Greenwich Printmakers Association was founded in 1979 and celebrated its 35th anniversary this year. The cooperative, located in Greenwich Market, aims to provides a permanent display of members’ work in their own gallery. It is run as a cooperative, staffed and administered by the artists themselves who mount five exhibitions of new work each year, in addition to several other locations which have been as far afield as Germany and the USA. You can also find them at large annual London exhibitions such as the Affordable Arts Fair in Battersea. Members include Sue Whitmore, whose landscape work has taken her all over the world, and Phillip Solly, who uses etching, engraving and aquatint to explore the forms and rhythms in animals.
1a Greenwich Market SE10 9HZ; 020 8858 1569; greenwich-printmakers.co.uk
9 The Flood Gallery
The Flood Gallery, a boutique gallery that opened its doors in Greenwich Market in July 2011, specialises in contemporary gig posters, art posters and film posters. The concept of concert-poster-as-art emerged in the late 60s but dwindled away when music went mass market and stadium rock took hold. Over the past 10-15 years there has been a resurgence of the form with a whole new breed of talented artists expressing their love of music through beautiful and hand crafted gig posters.
8 Greenwich Market SE10 9HZ; 020 8269 0372; thefloodgallery.com
10 Canvas & Cream
Canvas & Cream is ostensibly a family run café serving up brunch and lunch. But it also opens in the evening as a restaurant, and through the back you’ll find the C&C Gallery showcasing contemporary art, an art bookshop, artists’ studios and a therapy room. So from a good feed to your creative fix to reflexology, it’s all here!
18 London Road, Forest Hill SE23 3HF; 020 8699 9589; canvasandcream.com
11 Gerald Moore Gallery
Eltham College launched the Gerald Moore Gallery in 2012. Influenced by its scholastic settings, the gallery hosts contemporary artist-run programmes for all age groups. It is also the base for South London Network of Artist Teachers (SLNAT), which allows art educators to share teaching practices. A recent exhibition, Under the Greenwood: Picturing British Trees, showcased the work of 32 artists including Turner Prize 2011 nominee George Shaw and Old Elthamian Jemma Appleby.
Mottingham Lane; 020 8857 0448; geraldmooregallery.org
12 Jane Newbery
Below the Jane Newberry homewares and gifts boutique in Dulwich Village is a basement gallery space. The shop houses an eclectic and stylish mix of home accessories, gifts and artworks, often craft-led, while the basement showcases a number of local and established artists including Lesley O’Mara, a graduate of Central St Martins who has exhibited at Bankside Gallery and The Mall; Greg Becker whose paintings are often inspired by daily walks around the Dulwich area; and Anna Dickerson, Artist in Residence at London Zoo from 2009-2010, whose incisive bird paintings and drawings have an enduring presence.
33 Dulwich Village, SE21 7BN; 020 8693 2634; janenewbery.co.uk
13 Stephen Lawrence Gallery
The Stephen Lawrence Gallery promotes diversity in the representation of young artists across a range of disciplines, including art, design and architecture. The gallery stages six curated exhibitions each year, covering a variety of approaches within a selected subject area, as well as end-of-year student shows. The gallery also runs an outreach role alongside other museum and gallery spaces in Maritime Greenwich.
Queen Anne Court, University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, Park Row, Greenwich SE10 9LS; gre.ac.uk/pr/slg
14 The Royal Gallery
Situated on Royal Parade in Chislehurst, The Royal Gallery specialises in original limited-edition artwork by leading artists. Current featured artists include Ben Riley, whose iconic portrait paintings use only ground-down record dust to create a sensational finish, and Fanny Gogh, who creates 3D artworks of knickerbocker glories. The team also provides an onsite picture framing service with an extensive range of mouldings as well as clocks and mirrors for sales.
9 Royal Parade, Chislehurst BR7 6NR; 020 8467 5575; theroyalgallery.co.uk
15 Lewisham Arthouse
The Lewisham Arthouse is an artist-run cooperative based in an Edwardian ex-library on Lewisham Way with 45 studios, a gallery, classes and workshops. The volunteer-led co-operative, formed in 1992, is based in a Grade II-listed old Carnegie library. The aim is to foster and promote local artists. Recent exhibitions include London artists Michael McManus’ Solitary Spaces, an exploration of landscapes bordering on the abstract, and An Aggregate Material, a group show by Garage Projects that challenges, debates and comments on contemporary society.
140 Lewisham Way SE14 6PD; 020 8691 9113; lewishamarthouse.org.uk
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