Surrey Art Society Portraits of children by ex RA student

The Surrey Art Society's exhibition of children's portraits by a former Royal Academy student is a surprisingly affecting experience, tucked away in the Chessington area. Walk in expecting gallery formality and you'll find something more intimate - these aren't abstract daubs or conceptual nonsense, but proper observational work. You're looking at real children rendered with genuine skill, the kind of paintings that make you pause and actually study the faces.

It works brilliantly if you've got an interest in figurative art or portraiture specifically. Parents might find it oddly moving - there's something about seeing childhood captured so carefully on canvas. But if you're expecting the sort of contemporary gallery experience with installations and interactive bits, you'll be disappointed. This is traditional art, well-executed, nothing more.

The logistics are a bit vague - opening hours and admission aren't immediately clear from what I can find, so ringing ahead is essential before you trek over. Allow 45 minutes to an hour depending on how thoroughly you look at each piece. It's the kind of stop that slots nicely into a broader park-based holiday in Surrey. Norbury Park and Surrey Hills Park are both within easy reach for walking or a short drive, so you could combine an hour here with a proper day outdoors. On balance, worth the diversion if portraiture genuinely interests you, but not a reason to build a whole day around.