Where To Find Local Art, Crafts and Designs In Glasgow

Merchant Square

The Best Places To Find Glasgow's Local Independent Makers. 

Glasgow has a rich diversity of places to see and buy a range of Scottish designed and locally handmade goods, whether it be from independent local outlets, weekend markets or simply one off events.

A wonderfully vibrant city, Glasgow has a gritty edge, honesty and humour, as well as a great cultural mix, perhaps due to its rich history of commerce and shipping. The city centre today comprises of a mosaic like grid of streets, centred around and running down to the River Clyde.

Exploring Craft & Design Outlets In Glasgow 

My favourite part of town to explore is Merchant City, and here you will find the converted fruitmarket at Merchant Square, which hosts a Craft & Design Fair each Saturday and Sunday. A wonderful "wet weather" option for browsers, more details about it are in my post here.

Merchant Square

A short walk away, right in the heart of the shopping district off Buchanan Street is Princes Square, a lovely converted former market and now an upmarket shopping centre. A beautiful venue, with lots of places to eat and drink. As well as the regular high street outlets there are a few market stalls which are occupied by independent traders.

Further up the hill the Scottish Design Exchange, located in the Buchanan Galleries, is a central outlet for design led, Scottish handmade products. This social enterprise was set up to give an independent city centre retail outlet for Scotland's designers and makers, and is a great place to browse a selection of Scotland's wares.

Heading out of the city, to the west, is the up and coming district of Finnieston. Here The Hidden Lane is located (as the name suggests) in a row of small cobbled alleyways tucked behind Argyle Street, comprising a labyrinth of studios and shops housing a wide ranging artisan community. A gorgeously quirky spot, and I have written a blog about it here. The Hidden Lane Tearoom is also a great stopping off point.

The Hidden Lane

Also worth a mention for some artisan retail therapy is Byres Road in the West End, where you can find various independent shops and boutiques tucked away in Ruthven Lane and Cresswell Lane. This happily leads onto Ashton Lane, renowned for its quaint independent bars and well known eateries.

To the east of the city, BAaD (Barras Art & Design) hold a regular succession of weekend markets in rotation in their covered courtyard design centre. The markets are a mix of arts and crafts, food and vintage wares. It's a small venue - on the day I visited there were around twelve stalls - but it incorporates a well regarded restaurant and is a great spot for people watching. The Barras Markets (a real Glasgow institution) are also just next door.

Barras Art and Design

Whats On: Art & Craft Fairs In Glasgow

I've also got a note in my diary to visit some of these up and coming craft fairs:

Art On The Exchange, an Arts & Design Market, is set to showcase local designers and makers, during the summer months. Details of their events can be seen here. The market is located in Exchange Square, next to the Museum of Modern Art. While you are there, don't forget to greet the Duke of Wellington with his traffic cone hat (I did mention the Glasgow sense of humour!).

The Glasgow Markets are an events team that run markets for both vintage wares and Art & Design. As I write this blog they are due to re-start their popular Super Market in a new venue at The Engine Works, out to the west of the city centre. Their forthcoming dates are shown here. 

Nice Markets run two "Makers" Markets, including one at the west end in Byres Road, which is on the last Saturday of each month. Their events page is here.

The Briggait, off Merchant City, is home to the WASPs Art Studios, and is located in a beautiful converted building off (you guessed it) Bridgegate. Its central courtyard is open to the public, and the building is often used for fairs and events - you can see them listed here.

Getting Around

Glasgow has two railway stations (Central and Queen Street) which both terminate right in the city centre. Most of the city centre is walkable on foot (albeit there are a few hills). There is a circular metro line which runs south and west from Queen Street Station, and buses operate all round the city.

That said, if required, it's pretty accessible with a car; there is metered parking (albeit expensive) in various streets and a great carpark at the Buchanan Galleries.

Verdict
A gorgeous city, Glasgow has a huge range and diversity of local art, crafts and culture on offer, with lots within walking distance in the city centre, or a short transport ride away.

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