- About us - 
As Gilpin Fine Arts our company has been trading now since 1989, moving to its present location in October of 1994. We started selling a few art materials as a service, but we soon realised that a there was also a need for craft supplies as well. This side was expanding that fast, Gilpin Smart Arts was formed in May 1997, this was to enable us to keep abreast of all the new products coming in from America and across the world.

SMART STAFF.........SMART CUSTOMERS

Our aim is not just to sell you the products but allow you the customer the benefit of our knowledge. It is one thing to be able to go into a store and buy the art and craft materials you see advertised on television and in craft magazines, but what if after getting them home you need to know how to achieve a particular style or effect? Grace Gilpin has a vast knowledge about art and crafts, what she does not know she will try and find out. Grace and Alan now have numerous friends and contacts, here and abroad, to call on to help and advise. This is Alan's specialty, he loves to source and find out all the details of new products coming into the U.K. market.

Throughout the year Grace runs classes on a wide variety of art and craft subjects, from watercolour painting, pastel drawing, through to glass painting, silk painting, decorative painting, marbling and parchment craft. Also once a week she holds her ceramic class where you can learn to use different glazes and stains to decorate earthenware pieces cast in house by ourselves.

As an added service you may prefer to book Grace to give a demonstration or workshop at your club or village hall.

JUST A FEW OF OUR PRODUCT LINES

Within the store we endeavor to cater for everyone from the hobbyist to the serious crafter. We stock a very wide range of product lines from artist materials and accessories through to crafts such as glass painting, silk painting, and plain silk by the metre. Also in stock we have parchment craft, coloured cards, pottery tools, rubber stamping and books on both art and crafts. If you don't see what you are looking for, our motto is

"IF WE HAVEN'T GOT IT, WE WILL TRY AND SOURCE IT FOR YOU" 

so please it costs nothing to ask.

QUALITY PRINTS & ORIGINALS BY GRACE GILPIN M.A.

We offer a range of quality prints by Grace on a variety of subjects of local interest, from views to sheep, cows, horses and dogs. Until now our range of prints has not been distributed through a national network of galleries, so is quite unique. Grace also undertakes commissions either from good quality photographs or from life, please phone for quotations. We accept most major credit cards over the phone.

BESPOKE FRAMING DEPARTMENT

Also in house we have our own framing department where you can have your cross stitch, prints, photographs or original artwork framed in a wide variety of different moulding styles. We have a good selection always in stock and if you prefer you can buy the materials and do it yourself.