Shipley Art Gallery

Origins

The Shipley Art Gallery first opened to the public in 1917. This was made possible thanks to a bequest it received from wealthy local solicitor and art collector, Joseph Ainsley Davidson Shipley (1822–1909).

Shipley was a rather enigmatic person about whom little is known. He was born in Gateshead, near High Street. He was a solicitor in the Newcastle firm of Hoyle, Shipley and Hoyle. From 1884 until his death, he leased Saltwell Park House, now known as Saltwell Towers. Shipley’s main passion in life was art and collecting paintings. He bought his first painting when he was sixteen and by the time he died he had amassed a collection of some 2,500 paintings.

On his death, Shipley left £30,000 and all of his pictures to the City of Newcastle, which was to build a new gallery to house the collection. This was to be known as “The Shipley Bequest”. His will specifically excluded the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle from benefiting from the bequest, and this clause became the subject of much public discussion, and eventually led to Newcastle's rejection of the bequest. It was only following this that Gateshead Municipal Council was offered the collection. As it was impossible to house all of the paintings, only 359 of the pictures recommended by the executors of Shipley's will were selected. A further group was then added by the Gateshead Committee, bringing the total to 504.

After the sale of the remaining paintings, work began on the new art gallery. The building, which was designed by Mr. Arthur Stockwell, M.S.A. of Newcastle, finally opened on 29 November 1917. The building was designed on classic architectural lines. The front was of stone with an entrance portico that had four Corinthian style stone columns flanked by solid pilasters on either side. These were surmounted by two sculptured figures, one representing the Arts, the other, the Sciences. The figures were the work of Mr. W. Birnie Rhind, R.S.A. of Edinburgh.

The original 504 paintings represented all the main European schools from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. Since 1917, the collection has been added to, and now comprises some 10,000 items.

Present gallery

The Gallery itself is an excellent example of Edwardian architecture and is a Grade II listed building.

William C. Irving's painting, “Blaydon Races” captures the spirit of the traditional Blaydon Races, and takes pride of place at the gallery. The gallery also holds a strong collection of 16th and 17th century Dutch and Flemish paintings, as well as 19th century British works, watercolours, prints, drawings and sculpture.

Since 1977 the gallery has become established as a national centre for contemporary craftwork. It has built up one of the best collections outside London, which includes ceramics, wood, metal, glass, textiles and furniture. In 2008, the Shipley opened its new Designs for Life gallery which showcases the gallery's collections of contemporary craft and design. The Gallery also hosts a varied programme of temporary exhibitions and has a strong partnership with the V&A Museum in London.

The Shipley Art Gallery is managed by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums on behalf of Gateshead Council.

How to get there

From South, take the A167 into Gateshead. At the Springfield Hotel, branch off to the left (signed Shipcote). From North, follow A184 to Central Gateshead, then follow signs for A1 South and Shipcote.