Forced Touches

Contemporary art galleries tucked away in the Hertfordshire countryside aren't thin on the ground, but Forced Touches near Sawbridgeworth takes a different approach. This is a working artist space that doubles as a proper exhibition venue - the kind of place where you might stumble across someone actually making work rather than just viewing it behind velvet ropes.

The gallery showcases emerging and established artists across painting, sculpture, and mixed media. It's not vast - you're looking at maybe 45 minutes to an hour to see everything without rushing - but the work tends to provoke actual thought rather than just filling wall space. The industrial aesthetic of the space itself becomes part of the experience; raw brick, high ceilings, that particular quality of light you only get in converted farm buildings.

This is squarely aimed at people who genuinely care about contemporary art. If you're dragging reluctant teenagers along, they'll be bored within minutes. But for couples or serious collectors, it's worth the slight detour from Sawbridgeworth town centre.

The nearby holiday parks - particularly Toad Abode just up the road - make this a sensible addition to a wider Hertfordshire break. Pair it with a walk around Redricks Lake and you've got a proper weekend. Opening times and admission details aren't widely publicised, so it's worth ringing ahead before you set out. The gallery's not trying to be a roadside attraction, and it doesn't pretend otherwise.