Peter McArdle . Artist

Peter McArdle's gallery sits in Stanley, a town that's seen better days but that's rather the point when you're looking at contemporary art in the North East. The artist works across painting, sculpture and installation - the kind of work that makes you either nod thoughtfully or wonder what you're looking at. Both reactions are valid.

It's a proper working studio space rather than a polished white-cube operation, which means you get the sense of an actual artist making things rather than just viewing finished pieces behind velvet ropes. The energy of the place comes from McArdle's commitment to his craft and the fact that he's still producing and experimenting rather than resting on past work.

You'll want to allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're genuinely interested in talking through the pieces. Not a destination that'll exhaust the kids in ten minutes, but equally not a place to drag reluctant teenagers. Best suited to anyone with even a passing interest in contemporary practice - the sort of person who visits artist studios on holiday rather than just the major galleries.

Since you're heading out to Beamish Holiday Park in the area, this makes a decent wet-weather option or a morning visit before exploring the open-air museum itself. Stanley's fifteen minutes from Beamish, so it slots neatly into a broader itinerary. Ring ahead before you visit - these independent spaces don't always keep rigid hours.