In Paddington, you get to see a lot of specialty shops that cater to your every need. Now, if…read moreyou're looking to buy a picture frame or have your picture framed, one of the best shops to visit is Matrix Framing located on Paddington Street. It's a relatively small shop with a pleasing atmosphere, showing off their frames and their work. They have personalised service so you're sure that all your framing requirements are seen to and followed to the letter. The staff are extremely helpful and patient. They always answer your questions and help you find the exact frame that's perfect for your picture. Aside from their wide selection and great service, Matrix Framing will also give you great value for your money. Overall, highly recommended!

A complicated series of referrals led me to The Framing Workshop, strange not least for the fact…read morethat the path roamed all over Sydney but brought me to a framer right round the corner. Three things you want from a framer: a good range of materials, some creative advice about how to put a piece together, and an efficient delivery framework. The Framing Workshop came up trumps on all these, even though I was actually after mirrors and not art! This is a business that the proprietor sinks his heart into. It's also in a fab location - in amongst the re-purposed Georges Heights Harbour Trust development, with the added advantage of parking right outside the door, so when you collect up your prized framed pieces, its a cinch to get them into the car.

I first used the Framing Workshop in 2000. I was looking for a framer for a donated signed…read moreWallabies' rugby jersey as a prize for the local public school's Quiz Night fundraiser. I walked in off the street, never before having used The Framing Workshop's services. The generosity of community spirit shown by the proprietor, blew me away. I have used Framing Workshop for all of my framing needs since that time. I am delighted to report that, in my experience, Richard's work is of excellent quality. As an added bonus, he is pleasant, prompt and diligent. He also has a keen eye for aesthetics, but is far too polite to judge the customer's taste. He will also recommend less extravagant/expensive options for the customer's consideration. The location of the shop is such that it is always a pleasant diversion to go there. It is so nice to avoid the hassles of finding somewhere to park the car and so peaceful.... Ginta Viliunas

Excellent inventory, service and location. Went here to buy a frame and the staff went above and…read morebeyond to help me. They have anything you need to create, frame and care for your art projects.

For all your art needs, there's only one place in Sydney to go: Parkers Sydney Fine Art Supplies…read more They offer a wide selection of art supplies from paints and brushes to linens and frames. They also sell dvds on how to paint and books on different art topics (from teaching you how to create art to catalogues of contemporary art). And if you're looking to have a picture framed or a canvas stretched, they can do that too. They have everything related to art that you're looking for and more. They even rent out easels for those who can't afford to buy one at the moment! A store with a long-standing history and reputation, it has excellent quality products and great customer service. You won't go wrong buying from this store.

In the heart of Paddington, Blender gallery specialises in music and rock & roll photography. In…read morethe age of digital, it's the specialist in analog, it makes you remember old film photography, both through the graceful and inspiring photographers that it promotes, and the analog photo shop, built to support the rebirth of analog in our digital time. So if you feel like wandering around some art galleries, and tell me who doesn't (makes you feel so European) Blender has both local and international music photographers and it's a major brand in fine art music photography in Sydney, Australia. Immerse yourself in and experience their fantastic historical images of rocks' yesteryear. Hop onto their website to view inspiring piece, and get connected to the upcoming exhibitions, which are guaranteed to be jaw-droppingly great.

Very small gallery in an old terraced house. It's dedicated to smaller, affordable works of art,…read moresometimes by newer artists. It's free, full of interesting bits to fit any pocketbook, and very casual. I like the lack of pretentiousness. I was here for an exhibit of photographs of the band AC/DC: not exactly highbrow material, know what I mean? Just enjoyable, accessible, and affordable.

Hello art heaven. This place has some of the cheapest supplies out there and it sucks they're not…read moreopen on Saturday afternoon and Sundays, but they are worth waking up early on the weekend and trekking down there. The staff are accommodating and friendly.

Check out the 'Flying Possum' illustration from 1789 - colonial Australian art is like watching…read moreminds melting, trying to assimilate what they saw into a context that didn't have room for it. The possum looks goofy and ungainly, and sure to plummet straight to the ground. The Antique Print Room is like a visual history lesson, from politcal cartoons to Art Nouveau advertsing prints, amazing Gould's bird illustrations and maps of all vintages and varieties. Before you dismiss it all as hopelessly out of your price range, you can find a bargain here. I once bought a lovely illustration as a gift for about $25, and framed it up. Looked a million bucks. When gazing at the beautiful art the other day, the cheapest I saw was about $40, but still a great option for gift giving. Unless your recipient has a vast collection of old French Fashion plates or botanical illustrations, you're unlikely to double up. And more welcome than socks, surely. I've got my eye on some Ida Rentoul Outhwaite prints (early 20th century Australian children's writer and artist), they'd be spectacular for a kid's room. They do framing here too, and the staff are quiet and kind, and don't mind people just looking.

I only found this place yesterday: it's a bit 'hidden away' on the third floor of the QVB which,…read moreonce you know it, is in fact the most interesting floor. The owner? staff? is very friendly and clearly enjoys her job. She also has a very distinct and interesting dress style. There are beautiful prints in various price ranges and books-with-prints. I bought a relatively cheap book (about 20 AUD) with maps of Australia since it was discovered until it was rounded for the first time - a fascinating follow-up of man's development in this area. Even then, the service was impeccable. I may go back for more..

Home@735 is a cool little art gallery operating out of a gorgeous terrace house in Bourke Street,…read moreRedfern. I was invited here recently and found the space to be very engaging, giving the artworks a definitive backdrop and allowing them to exist in their own distinct way. I met the owner of the gallery, the charming Anthony who offered me a glass of wine as he welcomed me into his home and ushered in a troop of eager art lovers behind me. On display was everything from abstract photography to creative ceramics to real-life illustration from a range of up-and-coming artists. Overall a great little gallery in an amazing location in Bourke St.

Current exhibition: 26 May - 6 June 2016…read more Dance For you by 'Get To Work' 'Get To Work' collaborative work by Tracy Quan, Paris Taia & Georgia Taia exploring cultural identity, through amateur dance, body & performance by 3 girls who have Chinese, Solomon Islander, Cook Islands, Samoan & European heritage who have grown up in Australia. Filmed in the pristine Solomon Islands. All members graduated from Sydney College of Arts.

A really cool art space, uniquely laid out. It's a long, tall building, with a central skylight and…read morelight-well that opens the middle section up and lets sunlight descend right to the ground floor hallway. The separate rooms downstairs make it easy to stage little micro-shows off that main hall. The larger space upstairs lets you wander amongst the art in a more typical room-into-room arrangement. Near the entrance there's a shop with some great examples of Australian craftwork, and a cafe (Klink) open during the day. I was here for an Elite Event and it was really great for that.