HOFNorthlew Gallery

The HOFNorthlew Gallery sits just outside Okehampton, a working studio space where you can actually watch the artist at work rather than just gawp at finished pieces behind glass. It's that rare thing - a gallery that feels lived-in, with canvases propped against walls and the smell of paint still fresh. The work tends towards contemporary art with a strong emphasis on landscape and colour, which makes sense given the moorland views on the doorstep.

Visitors get a genuine sense of process here. You're not shuffled through on a prescribed route; instead you wander at your own pace, and the artist often emerges to chat if they're not mid-brush stroke. It appeals most to people who care about the thinking behind the work rather than just Instagram-able backdrops - though the moorland setting certainly helps on that front.

There's no formal admission charge that I can pin down, though a donation is expected and very reasonable given what you're getting. Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're the chatty type. It's worth timing a visit here alongside Wolf Wood Treehouses, which sits just four miles away and offers proper forest camping if you want to extend a Devon arts pilgrimage. The gallery works brilliantly as a half-day venture combined with walking the moor itself - Okehampton's the practical base for supplies and fuel.