About us

An independent art gallery in the centre of the historic city

our story

Established in 1996, the gallery prides itself on its careful selection of some of the best artists in the UK.

The gallery represents over 100 artists and has a varied exhibition programme of solo and group exhibitions. Original paintings are shown alongside a range of wood, ceramic, sculptures, metalwork and limited-edition handmade prints, by both emerging and established artists. All work is handmade in the UK. The current owner Nathalie Staples has worked at the gallery since 2000 and in 2009 launched our sister gallery cambridge contemporary crafts to showcase a wider selection of handmade artwork. We ship artworks nationally and internationally and offer a 0% finance option, Own Art, to help spread the cost of over 10 monthly repayments. The gallery atmosphere is open and welcoming to all visitors. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be delighted to assist you if you require.
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Our team
Gallery Owner

Nathalie Staples

After completing her schooling at the French Lycées in London and Lisbon, Nathalie studied Art History at UEA, Norwich with a year out in Paris. Following graduation in 2000 she started working at cambridge contemporary art as a maternity cover, then in 2005, at the age of 26, she bought the gallery independently. In 2009 she set up a craft gallery, cambridge contemporary crafts to showcase even more handmade artwork.
Gallery Manager and Photographer

Zuza Grubecka

Following International Baccalaureate in Poland, Zuza came to the UK to study Photography at Manchester School of Art. After 10 years in Manchester she moved to Cambridge and took a role of manager and photographer at the gallery.
Deputy Gallery Manager

Alexis Mitchell

Alexis is a graduate of Cambridge School of Art. Her first love is illustration but she is also keen on stained glass and sewing.
Administrative Supervisor

Nicola Killen

After working as a designer in the greetings industry, Nicola returned to her home city to study for an MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. Since graduating from the course she has been writing and illustrating picture books, board books and pop-up books too!
Gallery Assistant

Amealia

Amealia is an illustrator from the Peak District and a recent graduate of the Illustration BA at Cambridge School of Art.
Gallery Assistant

Jodie Howard

Jodie is an artist originally from the Peak District. She graduated from Cambridge School of Art in 2020, and since then she's had the pleasure of working with a variety of clients and publishers, as well as being long-listed at the World Illustration Awards.
Gallery Assistant

Frances Ives

Frances is a freelance illustrator and artist, currently based near Cambridge after graduating from the MA Childrens Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. She spent a while dabbling in all kinds of illustration, but wasn't until her first picture book was picked up by Michael O'Mara that her love for narrative was cemented.
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submissions

cambridge contemporary art welcomes artists to submit work for consideration

Please send us an email at admin@cambridgegallery.co.uk with 3 images of your best, most recent work along with prices and dimensions. Please include link to your website and/or Instagram.
Please note that we only sell work that has been handmade in the UK.
Due to the high volume of applications and enquiries we receive we are unable to provide personalised feedback to unsuccessful submissions. Please refrain from submitting to the gallery between October and January.
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visit us

Planning on visiting?

cambridge contemporary art is on (we think) one of the most beautiful streets in the world! The gallery is nestled between King's College, Gonville and Caius College, Trinity College, St John's College and down the street from the bookshop Heffers.

If you are driving to Cambridge, the closest car park to the gallery is Grand Arcade carpark - it is about 10 mins walk away. You can also use the Park and Ride which runs 7 days a week.
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Own art scheme

Collecting made Accessible. Own Art is a national initiative, supported by Arts Council England, to make it easy and affordable for anyone and everyone to buy contemporary art.

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The Own Art Loan Scheme

The Own Art Scheme is an interest-free loan scheme set up by the Arts Council that is designed to make it affordable for everyone to buy original, high quality contemporary art and craft by letting you spread the cost of your purchase over 10 months.

 

You can choose any work with a retail price between £250 and £25,000 from our great selection of prints, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, glass and wood. It is not possible to buy gift vouchers with the Own Art Scheme.

 

You can borrow from as little as £250 up to a maximum of £25,000 . We then spread the cost of your purchase over 10 months with an interest free loan. For instance, if you buy a painting from us that costs £300 through the own art scheme, you would pay £30 in 10 monthly installments.

get in touch
The Own Art Loan Scheme

The Own Art Scheme is an interest-free loan scheme set up by the Arts Council that is designed to make it affordable for everyone to buy original, high quality contemporary art and craft by letting you spread the cost of your purchase over 10 months.

You can choose any work with a retail price between £250 and £25,000 from our great selection of prints, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, glass and wood. It is not possible to buy gift vouchers with the Own Art Scheme.

You can borrow from as little as £250 up to a maximum of £25,000 . We then spread the cost of your purchase over 10 months with an interest free loan. For instance, if you buy a painting from us that costs £300 through the own art scheme, you would pay £30 in 10 monthly installments.

get in touch
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