Portrait artist PM

Portrait Artist PM is a working gallery tucked away near Southminster where you can watch an artist actually creating work rather than just gawping at finished pieces behind glass. It's the sort of place that appeals to anyone who's ever wondered how portraiture actually gets done - and yes, that includes curious kids who might tire of conventional galleries within twenty minutes.

The appeal here is the live element. Seeing someone sketch or paint a face in real time is genuinely engaging in a way a static exhibition rarely is. You get a sense of the skill involved, the false starts, the way an artist thinks through a likeness. It's intimate and unpretentious, which is refreshing.

Timing-wise, allow an hour or so if you want to watch some work happen without feeling rushed. The big caveat is that opening hours and admission details aren't readily available online, so ring ahead before making the trip - nothing worse than driving out to rural Essex only to find the shutters down.

If you're staying at any of the nearby parks - Steeple Bay is closest at just over two miles, or Osea Leisure Park and Riverside Village further out - this works as a rainy afternoon diversion or a quieter alternative to beach time. Southminster itself is a proper little spot for provisions and a decent cup of tea. Worth the detour if portraiture genuinely interests you; probably not worth it if you're just killing time.