Sunny Bank Mills Gallery
Alice Hiley
Sunny Bank Mills Gallery is a light and airy art gallery inside a former cloth warehouse. The mills, situated in the heart of Farsley village just outside of Leeds, have undergone a cultural rebirth since ceasing the manufacture of worsted cloth in 2008.
The gallery is joined by a gift shop, tea room, bar and cafe inside the impressive and much-loved building, as well as many creative businesses, artists’ studios and independent shops.
Sunny Bank Mills Gallery works with regional artists, makers and curators to give them a platform to exhibit in Leeds. Shows rotate roughly every two months, and both established and emerging artists and makers are represented. Exhibitions include traditional art forms such as painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics and textiles alongside more contemporary media such as film.
The gallery hosts regular events, from film screenings to craft workshops, which allow you to immerse yourself further in the exhibitions on offer. The annual Ones to Watch exhibition showcases the talents of artists studying in or from Yorkshire. There’s also an outdoor garden gallery displaying the work of 17 Yorkshire artists.
The gallery has a relaxed and chilled-out atmosphere, and you’re welcome to bring a book or use the free WiFi to complete some work while you soak up the artwork on display.
After browsing the gallery, you can buy a selection of beautiful handmade gifts, prints, homeware and books from the Sunny Bank Mills gift shop, or relax with a slice of fresh homemade cake and a cup of tea at the cafe, surrounded by stunning art. Stay later in the evening for fresh, modern cooking at the Mill Kitchen, or enjoy a wood-fired pizza at Grumpy’s Bar.
Entry to Sunny Bank Mills Gallery is always free, and the venue is accessible for wheelchair users with mostly level access and disabled toilets.
