Trip to Sheffield

This month we took a trip to Sheffield City centre by car, parking in a multi storey car park that was quite central. Next time we will remember to scan the QR code at the entrance to save money on the parking! There is also a tram network with park and ride car parks around the city for those less keen on driving in to the city.

First, we went to the Fronteer Gallery in Orchard Square. It’s a smaller gallery but still crammed full of amazing artwork. The exhibitions change regularly, and the topics are varied so there’s bound to be something for everyone. The exhibition that we saw was about abstract art and each piece was by a different artist. There were many that I loved.

Next, we took a short walk to the Graves Gallery which is above the Sheffield City Library. It’s a huge gallery split into separate gallery spaces. The charity owns a massive collection of historic paintings and drawings of which a selection is always on show, and it also showcases many other artists, past and present. You can stroll through the elegant halls surrounded by work that spans the centuries as well as spanning so many artistic styles. There are works by famous people, such as ‘Turner’ and Grayson Perry. There are portraits and landscapes, pencil drawings and paintings, sculptures and artefacts, some contemporary and some more traditional. I was really impressed with a ceramic display pictured above. This gallery is truly inspiring and it’s free to visit.

Across the road from the Graves Gallery is the Winter Garden housing the Millennium Gallery, also run by the same charity as the Graves Gallery. This gallery is more of a museum but also has lots of artwork and sculptures to view including sculptures made of cutlery. There is a large collection of cutlery and tableware which is a big part of Sheffield’s history. When we visited there was also a moving exhibition of embroidery dedicated to people that had committed suicide. The gallery has a cafe and a lovely shop selling a selection of Sheffield based goods.

The Winter Garden itself is also wonderful to see. There are over 2,500 plants inside the massive glasshouse as well as more cafes and shops. It’s a green oasis in the middle of the city and a lovely place to take a break before heading home.