Cheltenham Arts and Crafts

Art and pottery classes, the Open Studios artist community and galleries and museums in and around Cheltenham.

Arts and Crafts in Cheltenham

Cheltenham has a long creative tradition, and today it shows in its working studios, hands-on classes and public galleries. Whether you want to learn to throw a pot, meet local artists in their own studios or simply spend an afternoon looking at great art, you will find somewhere to start below. Nature in Art and The Wilson are both public museums, and the Montpellier quarter is home to a cluster of independent galleries within a few minutes’ walk of each other, and Cheltenham Open Studios has grown from a biennial event into a year-round community of local artists.

Workshops and Studios

Art Craft Workshop

Termly art and pottery classes in Montpellier: pottery and ceramics, pottery throwing, sketching and drawing, and life drawing with a model. Courses suit beginners and more experienced students, and the pottery classes are popular, so book early.

Cheltenham Open Studios

A not-for-profit association run by artists for artists. What began as a biennial Open Studios event has grown into a year-round community, connecting artists, audiences and creative spaces across Cheltenham and the surrounding area.

Cheltenham School of Fine Art

Studio art classes in painting and drawing, including life, portrait, landscape and still life, plus evening classes, weekend workshops, summer schools, craft sessions, yoga and studio hire.

ColourWheel Art Classes

Part-time adult courses for beginners and improvers, held on Wednesday mornings and afternoons at Cheltenham Cricket Club. Students work through drawing, colour mixing and painting in a variety of mediums, with all materials supplied and a free taster session available.

The Art Studio

Adult classes in drawing, painting, printing, mixed media and 3D work, held in a garden studio on weekday mornings and afternoons. Suitable for beginners and more experienced artists, with refreshments provided.

Galleries and Museums

Nature in Art

The world's first museum and gallery devoted to art inspired by nature, housed in a Georgian mansion just outside Gloucester, around 7 miles from Cheltenham.

Wilson Art Gallery and Museum

Cheltenham's art gallery and museum, renamed The Wilson in 2013 in honour of polar explorer Edward Wilson, a son of Cheltenham.

Montpellier Galleries

Park Gallery

An independent contemporary gallery over three floors, showing wall art, sculpture, glass and ceramics by established and emerging artists.

Paragon Gallery

Exhibits and sells contemporary art and Modern Masters from local, UK and international artists.

The Gardens Gallery

Cheltenham's community art gallery in the Proscenium Building in Montpellier Gardens, opened in 2007. Local art groups and individual artists rent the space to exhibit, and entry is free.

Spring Cheltenham

An art gallery hosting curated exhibitions and letting artists present their own shows, from paintings and sculpture to ceramics.

Sixteen Gallery

A contemporary art venue that artists can hire to run their own exhibitions, with an online platform for showcasing portfolios.

The Gloucestershire Guild Shop

A contemporary craft shop selling handmade jewellery, ceramics, textiles, furniture, leatherwork, glass and basketry.

This is a curated list rather than an official register — if you run an arts or crafts venue, studio or class in Cheltenham and would like to be added, please contact us with your details.