& By Donna Reeves

& By Donna Reeves is a contemporary art gallery just outside Hertford, run by the artist herself. Walk in and you're straight into work that feels lived-in rather than precious - textiles, mixed media pieces, installations that actually engage you instead of leaving you standing there wondering what you're meant to be thinking.

Donna's approach is refreshingly unpretentious. The space works best for people who care about process as much as the finished piece. If you're the type who reads the artist's notes and has strong feelings about composition, you'll find plenty to sink your teeth into. Families with older kids interested in art will get something from it; very young children might struggle with the lack of interaction, to be honest.

It's free to visit, which is proper good value. Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you want to really look. Don't rush it. The best time to go is mid-week when it's quiet enough to actually think.

If you're based at Hertford Camping and Caravanning Club Site - which is excellent, just 2.3 miles away - this makes a solid morning or early afternoon outing. The gallery pairs well with a wander around central Hertford itself. It's not a destination on its own, but it's exactly the sort of unexpected cultural stop that lifts a park holiday above the ordinary. Check ahead for opening times before you visit.