Top Floor Art Gallery & Open Studio, Saintfield

Top Floor Art started life in 2010 as studio space for fine artist Stephen McClean and textile artist Emma Whitehead, but quickly expanded into a bright, welcoming exhibition space for artists working in a range of disciplines including textiles, glass, wood, and painting.

In addition to both owner-artists' work, visitors can find work by over 30 artists and the gallery space welcomes visitors from Wednesday to Saturday. But that's not all. Top Floor Art now offers a range of creative kits designed by their artists and an extensive collection of vintage and new haberdashery; tools, notions and materials which can be used to kickstart your own creativity. And it houses an associated textiles-focused studio group whose own reputation has been growing through their involvement in a wide range of community-based arts participation opportunities and annual exhibitions.

Textile artist Emma Whitehead said: 'From quirky to exquisite, we wanted to build a reputation for being somewhere you could find unique, handmade work of incredible quality from artists and makers living and working in Northern Ireland. Post lockdown we also wanted to share our ethos to re-use and recycle and give people the opportunities to make their own art. Whether purchasing a kit designed by one of our artists as a starting point to their creative journey or using a beautiful vintage haberdashery tool warmed and worn by the hands of many generations, we want people to make as well as appreciate art and of course we are on hand to help.'

Top Floor Arts shares a premises with Agar Antiques on the ground floor.