Where Welsh Art
Finds Its Voice
A beautifully restored historic Custom House, now home to some of the finest contemporary Welsh art, craft and design. Set in the heart of Cardigan on the Teifi estuary.
A beautifully restored historic Custom House, now home to some of the finest contemporary Welsh art, craft and design. Set in the heart of Cardigan on the Teifi estuary.
Now Showing: Tir a Mor — New landscape works by Megan Hughes & Rhodri Parry. Running until 28 March 2025. View exhibition details
Custom House Gallery occupies one of Cardigan's most cherished historic buildings — a Georgian custom house that once oversaw the commerce of the Teifi estuary.
Today, those same rooms resonate with a different kind of commerce: the exchange of ideas, craftsmanship, and artistic vision. We exhibit and sell work by established and emerging Welsh artists, celebrating the extraordinary creative culture of West Wales and beyond.
From oil paintings that capture the wind-swept Pembrokeshire coast to meticulously thrown ceramics, finely crafted jewellery, and limited-edition prints, our programme spans the full breadth of contemporary Welsh artistic practice.
Land and Sea — New works exploring the liminal edges of the Welsh landscape.
Megan Hughes and Rhodri Parry have spent two years travelling the coastlines and mountains of Wales, gathering material for a body of work that speaks to the ancient, elemental relationship between this land and its people. Hughes works in oil on linen; Parry in relief printmaking on handmade Welsh paper.
Megan Hughes & Rhodri Parry
Carys Williams
Iwan Thomas
Seren Griffiths
Eight Welsh Artists
Various Artists
Four disciplines, one shared commitment: work of lasting quality made by artists rooted in Welsh culture and landscape.
We represent over one hundred artists, from celebrated names to emerging talents. Each one brings something irreplaceable: a vision shaped by Welsh land, language and life.
Meet All ArtistsOur workshop programme invites you to learn directly from the artists we represent.
Whether you are a complete beginner or a practised maker, our workshops offer something rare: the chance to learn craft skills in a beautiful historic building, guided by artists who have dedicated their lives to their discipline.
Sessions run throughout the year across ceramics, painting, printmaking, jewellery making and drawing. All materials are included. Group sizes are kept small to ensure individual attention.
Book a WorkshopLearn the fundamentals of working on the potter's wheel with Carys Williams. Suitable for complete beginners. You will leave with two finished pieces to take home once fired.
A full day in the gallery and outdoors exploring watercolour technique with Non Puw. We begin inside studying colour mixing and wash techniques, then head out to paint the Teifi estuary.
Learn the core techniques of silversmithing with Seren Griffiths. You will make a simple silver ring from sheet metal or wire, learning to saw, file, solder and polish.
The building that houses our gallery was constructed in the early nineteenth century as the official Custom House for the port of Cardigan — one of the most significant trading ports in Wales at the height of its activity. Ships carried timber, slate and woollen goods from these quays to ports across Britain and Ireland.
As the port declined in the late Victorian era, the building passed through various uses before falling into disrepair. Its restoration, completed in 2004, was carried out with meticulous attention to the original Georgian detailing: the arched windows, the flagstone floors, the proportioned rooms that now serve as gallery spaces.
We founded the gallery with a straightforward conviction: that West Wales produces artists of national and international significance who deserve a dedicated platform in their own community. Twenty years on, that conviction has only deepened.
We are not a London gallery that has come to Wales. We are a Welsh gallery, shaped by this landscape, this language, and these people.
— Founders, Custom House Gallery, 2004All exhibitions are free to attend. Always.
We return the highest possible proportion of sale proceeds to our artists.
All gallery materials are available in Welsh and English.
We host regular free community events, talks and open studios.
Custom House Gallery, Cardigan, SA43
Est. 2004Every exhibition, every purchase and every workshop directly supports working artists based in Wales. We are committed to ensuring that exceptional Welsh talent is visible, celebrated and financially sustained.
The gallery is free to enter. The building is fully accessible. We run a dedicated programme for schools, community groups and visitors with additional access needs. Art belongs to everyone.
We show only work of the highest craft quality. Our selection process is rigorous because our artists deserve to be shown alongside work that matches their ambition and skill.
Cardigan is not a backdrop. It is the reason we exist here. We are deeply embedded in the life of this town and the Teifi valley, and our programme reflects that relationship.
Custom House Gallery is one of the finest small galleries in Britain. It has an extraordinary ability to discover artists of real significance and give them the space they deserve.
I have sold work through many galleries over the years, but nowhere has ever felt as genuinely committed to its artists as Custom House. They understand what we are trying to do.
The workshop I attended last spring was one of the most genuinely enriching days I have spent in years. Carys is an exceptional teacher and the building itself inspires creativity.
Join our Friends scheme and play a direct role in sustaining one of Wales's most important independent galleries. Every membership directly funds exhibitions, workshops and artist commissions.
We are in the heart of Cardigan town centre, a short walk from the castle and the Teifi quayside. Admission is always free.
Custom House Gallery
2 Quay Street
Cardigan
Ceredigion, SA43 1HR
Note on parking: Cardigan town centre is served by several free and pay-and-display car parks within easy walking distance. We recommend the Leisure Centre car park on Bath House Road for the closest and most convenient access to the gallery.
Whether you are interested in a specific work, considering commissioning a piece, enquiring about workshops, or simply want to know more about the gallery, we are delighted to hear from you.