The Aberdeen Art Gallery is a beautiful and prestigious gallery which reopened on November 2, 2019 following an impressive £34.6 million renovation.

In terms of prestige, it won the 2021 Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award, courtesy of The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.

In terms of the curation of the gallery’s art collection, it is unparalleled in the UK. It includes works by essential Scottish artists and internationally-acclaimed artists such as Joan Eardley, Rachel McLean, Francis Bacon, Bill Gibb, and Claude Monet.

The gallery also utilises a wide range of media and various art forms, including distinctive uses of color, hands-on interactive exhibits, and innovative display methods which all help in immersing the viewer in the cultural significance of each masterpiece. 

What’s more is that this gallery is highly accessible as it is open seven days a week. It offers access for the disabled as well.

In addition, the space welcomes children and offers educational tours, which art-loving families will appreciate. 

Admission is free, and donations are welcome. Also, no advanced booking is required.

However, some visitors have had bad experiences with the staff. One stated that the staff did not know anything about the exhibit when he asked, which is a shame.

Despite this, this art gallery is still worth visiting. If you would like to visit a beautiful art gallery with an extensive art collection, then this is the place to go in Aberdeen.

Hailed as one of the best independent galleries in the UK, Gallery Heinzel has been one of the most well-kept secrets in Aberdeen. 

What’s cool about this gallery is that it highlights various forms of art, including original paintings, sculpture, ceramics, and glass. Admission is also free.

This prestigious art gallery has been around for over 30 years, and it features primarily artworks from various Scottish artists – some who are well-known and some just starting their careers.

We love their art curation, especially seeing that Northern Lights Lounge at Aberdeen Airport chose to display a selection of original paintings by Scottish artists from this gallery.

It also has its own website wherein you can purchase one of their featured artworks, and they can arrange national or international delivery.

One thing we noticed is that the art gallery is not very spacious. The displays seem cluttered, and those in a wheelchair might have a hard time navigating around the art pieces on the floor.

Also, some of the artworks are a tad pricey. For instance, an oil painting by Chris Bushe would set you back £5,500.

If you do not mind the small space and are mostly there to browse and appreciate the art, then do visit this well-established, independent gallery in Aberdeen.

The Suttie Arts Space is a beautiful arts venue within the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. This interactive and reflective art space is fully designed by the Grampian Hospitals Art Trust (GHAT). 

When you enter, you will notice the huge floor to ceiling windows, flooding the art space with light. The space is quite roomy with the occasional bench that you can sit on if you want to immerse yourself in the art.

This gallery introduces a unique arts programme that welcomes patients, visitors, and NHS staff. It differs from other art galleries as it actually provides a safe space for people to reflect, rest, and recuperate, much like the hospital where it is located.

Right now, the art gallery houses the works of Hélène Bellenger and Charlotte Perrin – their first UK exhibition. This installation is open all year round, 24/7, so if you are a night owl, you can check out their artworks after dark.

What’s great about this gallery is that it has access for the disabled, blue badge parking, and walking assistance. Public transport is also walking distance from this space.

The Suttie Arts Space also has a lovely roof garden which adds to the gallery’s contemplative charm. Guests are more than welcome to access this area.

You can also take pics of the World’s 1st full body MRI scanner which is such a unique touch, incorporating a significant piece of medical history in a hospital setting.

Also, since it is in a hospital, the audience it caters to is primarily patients, hospital workers, and people related to the hospital.

Overall, the Suttie Arts Space offers a unique and reflective art experience, so do make time to visit this Aberdeen jewel.

For a whopping 157 years, Blairs College was home to a stunning collection of art which includes church textiles, paintings, Jacobite memorabilia, and sacred silver. When the college closed in 1986, a trust was created to establish The Blairs Museum.

Now one of Aberdeen’s hidden gems, it is arguably one of the best art galleries in locale.

Right off the bat, a young man in a three piece suit will accompany you for an informative historical guided tour. Visitors recommend this even though you are not a fan of guided tours as the guide is very knowledgeable and offers interesting insights.

Visitors rave about the Edwardian early Renaissance art which includes memorabilia of the Queen of Scots as well as the history of Catholicism in Scotland. There are also some Jacobite memorabilia and magnificent medieval embroidery.

There’s also the gorgeous chapel. The New Chapel is a Category A listed building, which means that it is a building of special architectural or historic interest.

Unfortunately, accessibility is very limited. It is only open on Saturdays between April and the end of September and other times by appointment only.

Also, there is an admission fee for people ages 9 and up (£3.50). Kids who are 8 years old and below have free admission.

As a whole, if you are the type to plan ahead and want to view an internationally renowned collection, then do visit this hidden gem. 

Supported by Aberdeen City Council and Creative Scotland, the Peacock Visual Arts gallery is an innovative art space which offers a splendid curation of artistic techniques.

These techniques are intaglio, relief printing, screenprint, risograph, lithography, and letterpress, and the Peacock Visual Arts offers workshops for these skills.

The gallery has facilities to support these open access workshops such as digital equipment from their digital fabrication studio and printmaking facilities as well. They also sell high quality contemporary art prints by local, regional, and international artists.

This amazing art gallery is open five days a week, and the admission is free. For the use of production facilities, modest charges do apply.

Some visitors, however, reported rude behaviour from the staff. One visitor stated that during an art exhibition, the staff serving juice was unpleasant to him and made him feel quite unwelcome.

Another customer stated that he asked for framing to be done according to conservation standards and paid for this service, however the framing was done using substandard materials.

Despite these drawbacks, this state of the art gallery in Aberdeen is still one of the best in Aberdeen. For those who love print art and who would enjoy various workshops and artworks related to printing, this gallery is for you.