8 Art Galleries in Southend-on-Sea That You Shouldn't Miss

The Estuary Gallery Barge is a 21 metre floating Art Gallery showing Fine Art Photography by resident artist Ian James and Watercolour and Mixed Media Paintings by Josephine James. Also showing additional work by invited artists during the year. Open Saturdays 10am to 5pm and other times by arrangement.

We are a group of local artists, who have come together and opened as an independent gallery co-operative, Kerry Doyland, Susan Allen, Terry Sibson, Jon Trim, David Greenwood, Adrian Lane, Nicola Upton and Yu Lan Burkmar

A contemporary Art Gallery with a working pottery and painting studio by the Thames Estuary in the quaint Old Town of Leigh-on-Sea. Established in 1991 by potter Richard Baxter and artist Sheila Appleton, now joined by ceramicist Julie O'Sullivan & painter Ian E Smith. Works on sale and to commission.

Piece is a gallery of globally sourced art with an extensive range of styles to suit all tastes. A selection of high end home accessories complement our art and include beautiful glassware, handmade candles, vases and ceramics. Hand painted and individually designed ornamental apples in a variety of sizes are exclusively available from Piece.

The Forum Southend-on-Sea is an innovation with community in mind - a library, gallery and educational resource in a contemporary shared space. The Forum is a collaborative project from three partners: Southend Borough Council, University of Essex and South Essex College. It houses Southend Library on the Ground & First floors, Focal Point Gallery on the Ground Floor, University of Essex on the Second floor and South Essex College utilise the top level. Nosh restaurant operates on the Ground Floor independently. This listing is monitored by Southend Library. Comments regarding other sections of the building will be passed on to the appropriate partners.

Focal Point Gallery supports the production and presentation of new and recent contemporary art that challenges us to think and feel differently about locality, our sense of self and the importance of communities. Our wide-ranging and pioneering artistic programme is relevant to local and national audiences alike, through exploring current concerns that also resonate internationally. Based in Southend-on-Sea on the Thames Estuary, FPG’s activities take place in locations across the region with our reach extended by working collaboratively with like-minded partners. FPG commissions and presents major solo exhibitions, group and thematic shows, events and off-site projects, which develop new audiences and engage local communities.

The Beecroft Gallery is the largest public art gallery in Essex and holds Southend's historic art collection. The collection holds works by the likes of Molenaer, Ruisdael and Berchem plus 19th-century artists including Rossetti, Constable and Edward Lear. Our photography collection includes notable works by Josef Koudelka and we have a large collection of historic costume. There are works by Carel Weight, the Great Bardfield Group, and a fine bronze by Jacob Epstein. The local artist Alan Sorrell is represented by his Drawings of Nubia series depicting a visit to Egypt prior to the building of the Aswan Dam. The Thorpe Smith Collection of local landscape views contains paintings, drawings and prints from as early as 1803. Due to the size of the collection, key works are displayed on a rotational basis. The Beecroft also has a rotating programme of touring exhibitions Some of our recent exhibitions have included 'Subcultures', 'Colour' and artwork from the local community.

The Old Waterworks (TOW) is a project space and artists' studios based in a former pumping station in Southend-on-Sea.