Joanne Wishart Gallery

The Joanne Wishart Gallery sits in Whitley Bay, a seaside town that's seen better days but retains proper charm. This is a working artist's space rather than a grand civic institution - the kind of place where you might catch someone actually making things, which beats a sterile white cube any day.

Inside you'll find contemporary visual work, typically painting and mixed media, with an emphasis on local and regional artists. The space itself feels intimate without being cramped. It's the sort of gallery where you can spend twenty minutes or two hours depending on what's on and how much the work grabs you. There's no sense you're being rushed through for footfall numbers.

This works best for people with a genuine interest in contemporary art rather than casual browsers looking for something to fill an hour. If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Whitley Bay Holiday Park, it's barely a stroll away - absolutely worth popping in on a drizzly afternoon. Even the Old Hartley Campsite guests, three miles south, won't find it a hassle to visit.

Check ahead for opening times and what's currently hanging - independent galleries don't always keep rigid schedules. Admission details aren't always publicized online either, so ring ahead or just turn up. On a quiet weekday morning you might have the place nearly to yourself, which is when small galleries shine. It's not the kind of detour you'd plan a day around, but if you're exploring Whitley Bay properly, leaving it out would be daft.