Artists and Art Galleries in Saddleworth

UPPERMILL

The Saddleworth Museum and Gallery on the high street is open every day from 1pm to 4pm.  They’re on a wonderful location on the canal and have a super gallery collection that tells the story of Saddleworth through the eyes of Saddleworthians. They have regular exhibitions of artwork by amateur and professional local and nationally acclaimed artists. The details of their art exhibitions can be found here.

They also have a decent shop that sells local hand-crafted items, many with a Saddleworth theme, alongside toys, DVDs, cards, souvenir items, jewellery, maps, walking guides, and books about Saddleworth. One great resource available at the museum is their archive that contains photographs, deeds, wills, census returns and Parish records dating back as far as the late 1500’s.

They also have the nicest toilets in the village at (20p a go if you are not visiting the museum) and the friendly and helpful staff are great sources of local knowledge.

The Millyard Gallery was established in 1985 and they are located near Dinnerstone Restaurant in Uppermill.  This deceptively spacious fine-art gallery situated across two-floors has developed a reputation as one of the leading galleries in the North West. They specialise in original artwork by established and emerging artists, and they supply limited edition silkscreen prints by artists from the Royal Academy of Arts. The Gallery has two major exhibitions annually, with constantly changing artwork throughout the year.

They also have displays of ceramics, jewellery and designer homeware for sale. The Gallery also houses Saddleworth Picture Framing, a high quality, bespoke framing service. 

The Weavers Factory is located on New Street in the centre of Uppermill. Every floor of this magnificently renovated Grade II-listed building is filled with the beautiful and the unique. They also have a gift shop, workshop, tea bar, garden and two galleries. The Weavers Factory is worth a visit to see the building alone, and the story of how a weavers cottage built in 1808 became the newest art gallery in Uppermill is just wonderful. 

DELPH

The Gallery Down the Stairs is hidden away below Saddleworth Crafts Centre in Delph. They generally open at weekends (Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 1pm to 4pm), but its worthwhile checking in advance before visiting. They present the artwork of local artist Richard Clare, famous for his wonderful Saddleworth Daily Sketches series and have a collection of oil paintings by Joyce Parfitt. Pop in for a chat and a glass of wine or a coffee!

John McCombs Gallery on the high street in Delph presents a collection of works by local artist John McCombs. He focuses mainly on the Saddleworth landscape and has developed a comprehensive visual record of the area in and around the village of Delph. He also has a collection of beautiful figure paintings with many iconic Saddleworth characters captured such as the Saddleworth Morris Men and Brass band members. The gallery is open daily 9.30am – 5pm, Sunday 11am – 4pm (closed on Mondays).

FURTHER AFIELD

The Holmfirth Artweek exhibition held in Holmfirth every year is one of the largest open art exhibitions in the UK. The exhibition is traditionally held over a week in July, the 2022 event will be held from the 3rd to the 9th of July 2022.

The main exhibition is held in the Holmfirth Civic Hall but exhibitions are also held at over 40 Fringe venues across the Holme Valley, Colne Valley, and Saddleworth area,  fringe venues that took part in artweek in Saddleworth in 2019 are Scona in Greenfield, Millyard Gallery and the Weavers Factory in Uppermill.

LOCAL ARTISTS

Chris Cyprus is a local artist based in Woodend Mill, Mossley, his paintings of Saddleworth are the Greater Manchester are unique and very much sought after.

Ashley Jackson is a celebrated artist and one of the country’s leading and most successful landscape watercolourists. He is famous for his paintings of the area around Holmfirth where his studio is located.

Angela Tate-Wright is a local photographer who presents a unique vision of Saddleworth and the surrounding area through her atmospheric photography.

ART GALLERY DIRECTORY

Pots & Pans Cottage is a charming L shaped 18th-century weavers cottage located in a small hamlet 10 minutes walk from the centre of Uppermill in Saddleworth. If you are interested in visiting Uppermill and exploring beautiful Saddleworth then click on the book now button below to view the prices and availability and make a booking.