Book 1/2 price tickets: Buy Art Fair at Old Granada Studios

Buy Art Fair returns this year with a bumper number of exhibitors and collaborators from the UK and beyond. Alongside the exhibitions on show, there are a whole host of artist talks, print workshops (such as those hosted by Hot Bed Press), live art demonstrations and panel discussions taking place. Expect plenty to please the palate as well as the eye, with Bangers and Bacon’s BEASTro cafe open all hours alongside the main cafe bar, run by Teacup. So whether you’re looking for that perfect piece for the bedroom wall, or picking up the scent of the next big thing as a collector, Buy Art Fair has the answer. The show takes in both limited edition prints and original works and here are a few must sees we recommend this year:-

1. The best modern art: the Manchester Contemporary
Track down The Manchester Contemporary. This section of the event is slightly separate and showcases what the organisers describe as ‘critically engaged art’. Buy Art Fair has teamed up with Manchester galleries like Castlefield and Paper and exhibition spaces like Sheffield’s S1 Artspace to present the best new work in a non-gallery context. Previous years shows have included the gothic pencil drawings of Rachel Goodyear and large-scale portraits by Lindsey Bull. The future of art is here – and it’s affordable.
www.themanchestercontemporary.co.uk

2. Limited editions by leading artists: Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
We like the sound of Baltic Editions. This is a range of limited edition exclusive works by artists (including Turner Prize winners) who have exhibited at Newcastle’s famous Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. Other big name galleries with stands at the Fair include The Whitworth, London’s Royal Academy of Arts and Liverpool’s Walker Gallery.

3. Prints of your favourites at Children’s Book Illustrations
Images we hold dear are often cast in childhood; what better way to spend your hard earned cash by purchasing a beautiful children’s book illustration byThe Gruffalo illustrator, Axel Scheffler, Lucy Cousins (Maisy the mouse) or Guess How Much I Love You illustrator, Anita Jeram? If fashion illustration is more your thing, head to stall 87 for images from brands like YSL.

Thu 22-Sun 25 Sep, Old Granada Studios, Quay Street, Manchester, M3 4PR, Thu 5.30-9pm, Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm, £4 for Fri 23-Sun 25 Sep (£12 including opening night on Thu 22 Sep). Manchester Wire readers can get half price tickets using code BAF25 when booking at www.buyartfair.co.uk.