Christmas promo is everywhere! It’s hard to ignore the contact bombardment by the goliaths of retail; namely Amazon, Temu, John Lewis etc. But for every mega retailer out there with £millions in advertising budgets demanding your attention, there are dozens of small businesses trying to cut through the noise.
However, if you want a truly original gift that is thoughtful, unique and beautiful, there is no better place to look than in your local art gallery.
Art galleries often get some stick for being too expensive and too elitist, selling paintings for £1000s. We are here to show you that you can grab something truly special from your local Birmingham gallery, for less than the cost of a posh perfume. We have compiled a list of some truly awesome gift ideas, to show you that purchasing artworks and supporting artists doesn’t have to break the bank.
This is just a fraction of the affordable gifts available through Birmingham Independent Galleries. Be sure to check out each gallery’s own website for all full list of all their artworks and giftware.
Birmingham Independent Galleries are a joint membership consisting of Purple Gallery (Bournville), Seventh Circle (Moseley) and Lux Gallery (Edgbaston)
UNDER £75
PG Linda Frances, Dachshund, Bronze Sculpture approximate size 5 cm x 5 cm £62
Linda Frances 'Dachshund' | Bronze Sculpture | £62 from Purple Gallery
SC BLACK COUNTRY TYPE BOOK – TOM HICKS £35
'Black Country Type' Book by Tom Hicks | £35 at Seventh Circle
Full Circle Jewellery 2023-1
Full Circle Jewellery 'Square Pin' | One-off silver studs | £55 from Lux Gallery
SC SMALLBROOK QUEENSWAY – DANIEL LOPEZ £30
Daniel Lopez 'Smallbrook Queensway' | Limited Edition Prints | From £30 at Seventh Circle
SC BRUSHSTROKE CHAWAN TEA BOWL – JAMES SMITH £25
James Smith 'Brushstroke Chawan Tea Bowl' | Ceramic Bowl | £25 at Seventh Circle
Andrew Matheson March 2023-9
Andrew Matheson 'Curved Landscape Plus Trees' | Ceramic Form | £70 at Lux Gallery
Demonstrating that local galleries offer more than just large statement paintings, above is a selection of affordable original gift ideas for under £75.
Inspirational ideas include homemade candles, small bronze works, limited edition prints and books, showing that BIG galleries are not simply about wall art, nor unaffordable. Seventh Circle in Moseley have a wide range of budget-friendly and original gift solutions.
UNDER £150
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Elliott Packham 'Alpha Tower' | Limited Edition Print | From £109 at Lux Gallery
PG Speed Kills! Limited Edition, Enhanced Giclee Print image size approximately 29 cm x 42 cm, Mounted and Framed. £90
Richard Russell 'Speed Kills' | Limited Edition Prints | £90 at Purple Gallery
RETICULATED BODY – BILL SANKEY
Bill Sankey 'Reticulated Body' | Limited Edition Artwork | £90 at Seventh Circle
Maureen Charles May 2023-1
Maureen Charles 'Red Ragged Central Square Dish' | Unique Glass Dish | £120 at Lux Gallery
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Tina Braddock 'Docks And Socks' | Original Etching Print | £70 at Purple Gallery
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Laura Tinald 'Prince' | Limited Edition Prints | From £85 at Seventh Circle
BIG galleries exist to support the creative community and local artists. They give local creatives a platform on which to showcase their craft, and to raise their standing in the community. This can include the gallery owners themselves, who also happen to be artists in their own right, like Richard Russell at Purple Gallery, Bournville.
In fact all 3 BIG galleries are owned by local creatives, with a desire to support the artistic community.
UNDER £500
Cat Santos March 2023-8
Cat Santos 'Birmingham Vessel' | Handmade Ceramic | £220 at Lux Gallery
PG Pauline Grace, Sculpted:Blown Glass Vessel. £195
Pauline Grace 'Sculpted' | Blown Glass Vessel | £195 at Purple Gallery
LIGHT THE WAY – IAIN PERRY £250.00
Iain Perry 'Light The Way' | One-off Screenprint | £250 at Seventh Circle
Petra Nov 2023-18
Petra Röhr-Rouendaal 'Branching Out' | Hand-Crafted Ceramic | £195 from Lux Gallery
PG Giuliana Lazzerini, Mixed Media Painting, Fox and Crescent Moon. Image Size 30 cm x 30 cm £450
Giuliana Lazzerini 'Fox and Crescent Moon' | Framed Painting | £450 at Purple Gallery
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Gent 48 'Print 1' | Artist Print Edition | From £200 at Seventh Circle
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Kelly Stevens-McLaughlan 'Vibrant Haremony'| Original Artwork | £495 at Lux Gallery
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Amanda Horvath 'Apricot Wood' | Acrylic Painting | £295 at Purple Gallery
Are you after something extra-special? Push the budget a little further and artworks generally become larger and more unique. This can include paintings, glassware and ceramics – all one-offs that you will not find anywhere else on planet Earth.
Purple Gallery and Lux Gallery, Edgbaston Village are also able to offer 0% finance on all original artworks over £100 via The Own Art Scheme
