With Cowbridge being the most affluent town in South Wales, and possibly the entire country, it…read morecomes as no surprise that they have a couple of galleries, despite being a small market town. This is the more conventional of the two in that it is curated by the owners and displays an ever-changing stream of work by local and internationally acclaimed artists. The other, Sue McDonagh Artist Studio & Gallery, as the name suggests, is a personal endeavour on the part of the artist-owner Sue McDonagh. I appreciate both galleries immensely., and feel tat they enrich the creative wealth of the town considerably. These galleries, coupled with the fact that there are a wealth of artisans working in the town also, means that the cultural heritage of the town is assured. The price tags accompanying the work regularly exhibited here can be hefty, but with a good selection of prints, which you can either self-frame, or draw on the services of the gallery, and their expertise in this field, there is an eminently affordable means of putting something fine on your walls.

It's such a shame that Kingfisher gallery is closed on a Sunday because it's exactly the kind of…read moreplace you'd stroll around on a lazy day out in Cowbridge. Still, it's a great little gallery that stocks paintings and sculptures by local and well established artists. If you don't have the budget of a collector, fear not because some prints are available to buy which make excellent gifts. The atmosphere is laid back and welcoming and the space itself has great light (which is sort of what you want in a gallery). There isn't a great deal of edgy/modern pieces (don't expect to see a dismembered doll or a Banksy) but if you like the gentle classics you'll love it here.

I really and truly cannot express my love of this place enough!…read more St. Donats Arts Centre is situated near on the South Wales coastline in the grounds of a medieval castle (complete with jousting field), which is now an International College. Imagine a Hogwarts by the sea, and you're mostly there. They offer a large bar area with outstanding views, a gallery and cinema, and theatrical and musical performances go on in the traditional Tythe Barn. This is also the venue for the critically acclaimed Beyond the Border storytelling festival, which takes place every year. Although this venue is small, the staff are friendly and eager to please, and the regular clientele are an amazing mix of locals. The only downside to the centre is its distance from most major areas. But it is certainly well worth the trip, just make sure you check out their website before going down, as there are not events happening each day, and you certainly don't want to turn up and be disappointed!

Within the grounds of St Donat's Castle lies the enchanting St Donat's Arts Centre, housed in a…read more14th century Tithe barn which has been converted into a fully-equipped theatre. Another modern addition to the barn is the completely new and contrasting 'Glass Room' on one side. The publicly-funded centre puts on a high quality arts programme throughout the year in this unique setting, which has wonderful views right across the sea towards Exmoor. The barn itself is widely considered be be one of the most inspired public buildings in Wales. The centre provides a really diverse programme of children's theatre, craft classes, dance sessions, cinema, exhibitions, world music events, jazz in the Glassroom. festivals, choir rehearsals, workshops and live shows. It also hosts the internationally renowned Beyond the Border storytelling festival, and it's the perfect, enchanting venue for this lovely event (with outreach storytelling in venues elsewhere in the area, too). The Box Office and Gallery are open 10am - 4pm on weekdays, plus evenings and weekends when there are performances taking place. Check the website for upcoming events, and keep your fingers crossed that the weather is fine when you visit so you can also enjoy far-reaching views out to sea.

Outspoken art Anarchist Howells has a past as colourful as his graffiti inspired paintings. He has…read morebeen in trouble with the council over his billboard art, painted Manic Street Preachers album cover 'Know your enemy' and even faked his own death. His approach is refreshing in the small Welsh art scene. Howells paintings are bold, fun, detailed, laboured, filled with layered acrylic outlines, shapes and drips, words and genitalia. Unit 21 studio is open to the public for two days a week - Thursday and Friday afternoon 2-4. Check the art and meet the man. Call for more information.

If I had the money I'd be visiting this place all of the time! They have a beautiful selection, and…read moreeven manage to make Wind street look tasteful (which is clearly proof that miracles do exist)!

From the owner: Gower Gallery is a wonderful place to visit for art, arty gifts, crafts and ceramics. We also offer…read morea professional framing service all done to artist quality. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed and we pride ourselves on having lovely things for every budget. We exhibit originals and prints by R N Banning, Valerie Ganz, Katie Allen, Michelle Scragg and Arwen Banning as well as a host of other Welsh artists.

Sue McDonagh has quite an incredible biography. I recommend that everyone read it before paying her…read moregorgeous little gallery a visit. It will provide a context for meeting the woman, and the work that she creates. I love the kind of story that Sue's life has taken on. It is a tale of triumph in the face of adversity of some considerable scale. It is also a narrative that suggests, to me at least, that dynamic forces are at play in our lives, leading us to where we are 'meant to be'. Sometimes the precursor to this type of life-changing circumstances can be terrifying and tragic, but the brave will always come through with flying colours. Sue McDonagh has courage by the bucket-full, and so, unsurprisingly, this untrained artist has hung her work at some of the most prestigious galleries in the UK, including the Mall Galleries in London. There's no question that she has a huge talent. Her figurative work is amazing, but it's her more abstracted seascapes that really talk to me. They are utterly gorgeous. Sue welcomes commissions of any type. She is a particularly accomplished portraitist, but will also consider commissions for land and seascapes.

if you like caulture then this is the place to go. very relaxing place brings a bit of harmony to…read morethe place and very interesting.

The gallery section of this store has a wide range of prints and originals from a wide selection of…read moreartists both local and national. The prices range from reasonable to ridiculous but there is somwething for everyone,all styles and budgets. The store is well laid out and nice and bright

Certainly not a fancy gallery, the building itself is if anything slightly run down; none of that…read morereally matters though, as I was most impressed by the actual exhibitions and the staff, which make this gallery worth a visit. The building is not too large, there are only really three rooms with art on display (one of them is rather minuscule). Whilst this inevitably makes the exhibitions small, I believe the available space is effectively used and the work on display is integrated seamlessly. The gallery generally houses exhibitions with pieces focusing on the topic of pre and post apartheid South Africa. Whilst mainly works of photography, there are one or two sculptures, and there are two installations which feature a projector. I found the present exhibition to be: - fascinating, evocative, odd, thought provoking, and on occasion slightly disturbing; reactions that I'm sure the gallery and the artists featured would desire. I was particularly impressed by the staff, who were both incredibly knowledgeable yet un patronising (they really offered a wealth of information). Unless you're particularly fascinated by art of South African origin, I wouldn't recommend making a trip to Penarth solely to visit this gallery, advice which is not issued in criticism, but due to the small size of the gallery (it would only take you 30mins at the most to explore). Penarth however is a fantastic little area of South Wales, so I recommend that you combine a trip to this gallery with a visit to other local attractions.

I'm a big fan of this gallery…read more Despite living just down the road from it for a number of months, I only really ventured in for the first time last week. I was pleasantly surprised by the modern and professional atmosphere that I suddenly found myself in. I'm not entirely sure what I had been expecting, but it was certainly not the wonderful photographic presentation before me. Although the gallery is small, they do a lot to maximise their space and put their artwork together in a thought provoking and interesting way, rather than just hanging it on the wall. This is a lovely gem not far from the train station, Penarth Pier and lots of cafes. I advise you to make a day of it.