Guy Allen’s Studio

Guy Allen's studio sits quietly on the Norfolk countryside edge, a working space where you can actually watch the artist at work rather than just gawk at finished pieces behind glass. It's the sort of place that rewards a slow wander - his abstract and landscape paintings have a real sense of light and movement that photographs don't quite capture. The studio itself is unpretentious; Allen clearly cares more about the work than the setting.

This is genuinely one for people who take their art seriously. If your idea of a gallery visit is a quick march through rooms, you'll be bored in ten minutes. But if you like understanding how someone thinks and what draws them to particular subjects and colours, it's proper worth the trip from Holt. Art students and practising painters will get the most from a visit - there's always something to learn from watching someone who's been at it for decades.

You'll want to allow an hour if the studio's open and Allen's about. Best to call ahead and confirm times, as working studios don't always keep strict hours. It's a natural pairing with a stay at North Norfolk Camping Glamping just down the road - gives you a reason to explore the quieter bits of the coast rather than heading straight to Cromer or Wells-next-the-Sea every afternoon. Free or paid, I'd wager admission is modest - that's typically how it works at artist studios. Worth ringing ahead to check.