Soma

I completely fell in love with Soma when I first entered. They stocked Amelia’s Magazine, and that was enough for me.
It opened in 2004 as a shop and gallery space for contemporary art, illustration and craft. All the featured artists are from the UK, many from the area, and it really does feel as though you’ve ambled into an illustrators studio. They go out of their way to find the featured artists, but do get the occasional submission. As an illustrator myself it is the kind of place I would love to sell my work in.
There are stacks of prints, quirky pieces of ceramic work, arty farty magazines and zines, jewellery (notably from the well known Tatty Devine), cards and other bits and pieces. Though disguised (probably down to its setting in the Arcade) as a gift shop, it’s easy to forget that this is a brilliant way to support new artists, and is also a gallery space. The cards are not mass produced, and are works of art, rather than the Forever Friends one you might buy from your nearest Clintons. That is why prices may seem higher than expected.

I’d forgotten how much I like this little art gallery/​shop. Their selection of contemporary prints is impeccable from UK-​wide artists and illustrators. My favourite at the moment being Dee Beale but it isn’t all that safe and pretty!
The shop also has artistic nick nacks — Camila Prada’s salt and pepper pots for example, Donna Wilsons knitted woodland creatures and Tatty Devine jewellery. This is a great place to pop into for original greetings cards as well.
Expect to pick up a print from about £20 which is average, the staff know a bit about each artist if you want to know more.

In A Brave New World Aldous Huxley paints a picture of a distopian future (I’ve always wanted to a book review) where people consumer ‘soma’, a drug with similar effects to alcohol but lacking some its more unpleasent aspects. As a shop, Soma is enjoyable enough but perhaps not evoking anything as the drug its named after.
The space is small but its been kept clean and space. This makes it a good space to view the various prints and other works on display. It’s all contemporary, and British, by-​and-​large. You can also get various knick knacks. To be honest, this part of the shop is slightly for people with more money than sense, with things like £7 dish cloths. You can find some good gift ideas though. Soma is sophisticated and intelligent, probably nothing like taking the fictional drug then.