Colour Shed by Cathy Pearce

Cathy Pearce's Colour Shed sits just outside Melksham in Wiltshire, a working gallery and studio where the artist's bold, energetic paintings fill every corner. It's the kind of place that rewards a genuine detour - you walk in and immediately understand why someone chose to set up here rather than in a city gallery. The work is contemporary, colourful without being gimmicky, and Pearce herself is often about, which makes the whole experience feel less like a transaction and more like stumbling into someone's creative space.

This isn't a massive operation. You're looking at an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're genuinely interested in the work and chat to Cathy. It works brilliantly for art enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates painters working outside the London circuit - there's something refreshing about encountering serious contemporary art in a converted barn rather than a white-walled Chelsea space. Families with restless kids might find it a bit sparse for entertainment value, though if your teenagers have any interest in visual art, they'll get more from watching a working artist than queuing round a major institution.

If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Devizes Camping and Caravanning Club Site is only 2.5 miles away, or Mill Farm Glamping a bit further - it's a worthwhile addition to a Wiltshire break. Combine it with a walk around Melksham's waterways or a drive towards the chalk hills. Check ahead on opening hours and admission before you go, as smaller galleries can be variable on when they're actually welcoming visitors.