Bankside Gallery

Bankside Gallery stands beside the Thames Path in Southwark, a short walk from Tate Modern. The gallery opened in 1980 with Queen Elizabeth II present. It is run by an educational charity and shows work by two long-established art societies. The Royal Watercolour Society and the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers both date back roughly two centuries. Members join only after being chosen by fellow artists. The gallery’s changing exhibitions display contemporary watercolours and prints. Alongside each show there are talks by the artists and guided tours. Every year a full programme of classes explains art theory and lets visitors practise techniques. These events introduce visitors to the skills behind the pictures on the walls. Inside, walls hold delicate sheets of colour and finely etched plates. Outside, the Thames flows past and the City skyline rises across the water. The building itself is modern yet calm, a place where quiet concentration meets the river’s constant movement.