Honest & Down To Earth Part 1

Contemporary art galleries tucked away in Derbyshire aren't thick on the ground, which makes Honest & Down To Earth all the more worth tracking down from Derby. This is a working gallery space where the name actually means something - there's no pretension here, just artists and their work displayed without the usual gallery theatre.

The space functions as both exhibition venue and studio, so you're getting the real deal rather than some sterile white-box experience. Walk in and you'll find rotating shows, the kind of contemporary work that ranges from painting and sculpture to mixed media installations. The beauty of a smaller operation like this is that there's proper air to breathe around each piece. You're not shuffling past hundreds of artworks in two hours.

Who'll get the most from it? Anyone with genuine curiosity about what working artists are actually making right now, rather than what's been vetted by major institutions. Families with older kids interested in art will find it engaging without being overwhelming. A couple of hours is realistic, depending on what's on.

Since opening hours and admission details aren't readily available online, phone ahead before you go - that's proper local practice anyway. If you're based at Hill Farm Camping & Caravan Park or Field of Dreams Glamping during a Derbyshire break, it's worth the short drive into Derby to see what's hanging on the walls. It fills an afternoon nicely and supports the local creative scene while you're at it.