Art Galleries in Kettering

At Ashan Property letting agents Kettering we aim to give some brief guides and information for those looking for property to rent in the area. Whether you are a family moving into a three or four bedroom house, or are professional renting a terraced home or apartment in the town, there are plenty of places to visit during your leisure time. If you are an art lover, this article looks at some of the best art museums and galleries to visit in the area.

Meanwhile, family-run company Ashan Property has a range of flats and houses to rent in the Kettering area, including in Corby, Rothwell, Rushden, Desborough, Market Harborough, Wellingborough, Irthlingborough and Burton Latimer. To find out more about our services and to see our full range of properties to let, just click on the link above.

Alfred East Art Gallery (also known as Kettering Art Gallery) – This popular art gallery, which recently celebrated its centenary, can be found next to Kettering’s Manor House Museum. The gallery’s permanent exhibition has nearly 900 works, many of which relate to Northamptonshire in some way, either because of the scenery depicted in the artwork, or because the artist lived in the area. Here you can find nearly 100 works by artist Sir Alfred East (who the gallery is named after) as well as works by T C Gotch and others. In addition, the gallery, which is free to visit, also displays year round temporary exhibitions by local artists.

Rothwell Arts and Heritage Centre – This lively centre, situated in Bridge Street in the market town of Rothwell, was founded in 2003 and has a number of changing exhibitions. On the first floor of the centre are temporary art exhibitions in oil, pastel and watercolour, by local artists and crafts people. These temporary exhibitions last for eight weeks, so there are always new works to see. In addition, the centre hosts permanent history exhibitions on Rothwell’s boot and shoe industry, the social history of the area, and Rothwell’s famous name, Carry On star Jim Dale MBE.

Northampton Museum and Art Gallery – If you are interested in fashion, the ground floor of this 150 year old museum on Guildhall Road, Northampton, houses the world’s largest collection of shoes depicting the history of footwear. You will find as many as 12,000 shoes from Egyptian times to the present day. It also hosts temporary exhibitions on art as diverse as kinetic sculptures, embroidery, designs using paper and metal, as well as paintings, sculptures and prints by Northamptonshire artists. Among the permanent exhibitions are a collection of fine arts, Oriental ceramics and Italian paintings from the 1400’s.

The Dolby Gallery – This fine arts and crafts gallery found at Westgate, Oundle, houses exhibitions of contemporary and traditional art including paintings, prints, photographs, furniture, pottery and ceramics. It was founded at the turn of the century by artists Simon and Gillian Dolby. Their aim was to exhibit a collection of art from all over the country which can be bought at reasonable and obtainable prices. (So you may find something to decorate your new rental apartment!) The artistic duo is also known to nurture up and coming artists, many of whom have gone on to have successful careers in their own right.

The Charles Rennie Mackintosh House – This award-winning internationally renowned building and art museum can be found near Northampton Museum at 78 Derngate. Fully restored, the 1916 built premises is the only house in England designed by architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Among the rooms are light and airy art galleries depicting inspirational artwork and exhibitions. The house is closed on Mondays, with the exception of Bank Holidays.

NN Contemporary Art – Based in the centre of Northampton, in Guildhall Road, this venue exhibits contemporary art from all over the world and the top floor, Project Space, is dedicated to visual artists to showcase their work. Earlier in the year (2015) the gallery hit the local news headlines with a modern outdoor spinning sign, which formed part of a wider campaign to highlight global warming.

Travelling Art Gallery – This Northampton art gallery, founded by Greg Norden, can be found in Birch Barn Way and houses the largest collection of carriage prints in the country. The gallery sells a huge range of original railway carriage prints and reproductions, as well as landscapes by contemporary artists and photographers.

For more information and to rent property in the area, contact Ashan Property letting agents who offer a professional service for landlords and tenants.